210 GAPES IN CHICKENS. 



of shears trim the remaining feathers to a point, leaving them nearly 

 half an inch wide in the widest place ; then, holding the chicken's 

 legs between the knees, with one hand hold the chicken's head and 

 neck in a perpendicular direction, holding the mouth open with the 

 thumb and finger, with the other hand insert the feather into the 

 windpipe, the opening of which will be readily seen on the roots of 

 the tongue, and which the chicken will open in the act of breathing, 

 push it down gently as far as it will go, and twisting it round, pull it 

 out, which will either bring out the worms, or loosen them so that 

 the chicken will cough them up. In some cases it may be necessary 

 to repeat the operation, in order to effect a cure. In one instance I 

 extracted twenty-four worms from the windpipe of one chicken, none 

 of which were less than an inch long, and by only two insertions of 

 the feather. The chicken to all appearance was nearly dead before it 

 was operated upon, and in less than an hour after, it appeared and 

 eat as well any chicken I had. I presume I have saved more than 

 a hundred chickens by this simple process. 



H. V. N. DIMMICK. 



MR. MINER Dear Sir : For the benefit of all the subscribers to the 

 Northern Farmer, and fowl fanciers, I would say, that onions are a 

 sure cure for the gapes in chickens, and if fed on them daily, they will 

 not have any disease whatever. They do not like them at first, but 

 will soon be very fond of them. I bought one last summer, and found 

 after I had put it with my other fowls, that it had got the pip, as we 

 call it here, and in one week all of my chickens had this disease the 

 very worst kind. I gave them lard and Cayenne pepper, equal parts, 

 once a day, and fed them daily on onions, and in one week they were 

 as well as ever. ****** 



Norwich, Conn. 



GAPES IN CHICKENS, LICE, AND ROUP. For the benefit of all the 

 subscribers to the Northern Farmer; and those that are in the poultry 

 business, I would say that spirits of turpentine is a sure cure for gapes 

 in chickens, also the roup, if taken in season. I have tried it for the 

 last six months, with pleasing success in all cases when taken in 

 season. In the first stages, it should be given two or three times a 

 day with care. 



Those that use grease to kill lice on chickens, must be careful and 

 not use too much, as too much is sure to kill lice, chickens and all. I 

 have used spirits of turpentine mixed with alcohol and a little water, 

 with good results ; the chickens will soon dry, and be as lively as ever. 



W. E. W. 



GAPES. Several remedies have been given for the gapes. Salt 

 given in their water has been recommended. Spirits of turpentine, 

 mixed with rice, has also been used with success. The generality of 

 breeders agree that the gapes are produced by the fascicola, a para- 

 sitic worm in the windpipe, which may be removed by the introduc- 

 tion into it of a small feather, without any web, except at the farther 

 end. Give the feather a few turns, and the fascicola will be either 

 dislodged, and coughed up by the chick, or brought up on the end of 



