228 DISEASES OF FOWLS. 



DISEASES OF FOWLS. 



The diseases of poultry are less understood than those of 

 any other living thing of equal service to man ; but the subject 

 is now of great importance, for the reason that we would as 

 soon lose a cow, in many instances, as a fowl. This is no 

 fancy sketch. I was offered fifteen dollars recently, by a gen- 

 tleman, for one of my Brahma pullets, and I refused to sell her. 

 The next day she died of a disease common to fowls in the 

 laying season. She was " egg-bound" as it is called. The egg 

 could not be discharged,, owing, apparently, to its having got 

 out of its proper position in some way. It was of the ordinary 

 size, and I tried to use artificial means to relieve her, but with- 

 out effect. There was a membrane, or bag that enclosed it, 

 which admitted of no egress, and the hen lingered about twenty 

 hours, and then died. 



I will now quote the best authorities on the most common 

 diseases to which fowls of mature age are subject : 



INDIGESTION. Cases of indigestion among fowls are common, and 

 deserve attention according to the causes from which they proceed. 

 A change of food will often produce crop-sickness, as it is.called, when 

 the fowl takes but little food, and suddenly loses flesh. Such disease 

 is of little consequence, and shortly disappears. "When it requires 

 attention at all, all the symptoms will be removed by giving their 

 diet in a warm state. Sometimes, however, a fit of indigestion 

 threatens severe consequences, especially if long continued. Every 

 effort should be made to ascertain the cause, and the remedy must be 

 governed by the circumstances of the case. Mowbray mentions a 

 hen manifesting all the symptoms of indigestion, in whose crop beans 

 were found, which had obstructed it long enough to present marks of 

 vegetation. An incision was made, the wound healed, and health 

 was restored. Generally, affections of this kind, as in the human 

 species, proceed from over-feeding or want of exercise. The symptoms 

 are, heaviness, mooing, keeping away from the nest, and want of 

 appetite. 



Remedy. Lessen the quantity of food, and oblige the fowl to exercise 

 in an open walk. Give some powdered cayenne and gentian, mixed 

 with the usual food. Iron-rust, mixed with soft food, or diffused in 

 water, is an excellent tonic, and is indicated when there is atrophy 

 or diminution of flesh. It may be combined with oats or grain. In 

 England, it is said that milk-warm ale has a good effect when joined 

 to the diet of diseased fowls. Dr. Bennett. 



COSTIVENESS. The existence of this disorder will become apparent 

 by observing the unsuccessful attempts of the fowl to relieve itself. 

 It frequently proceeds from continued feeding of dry diet, without 

 access to green vegetables. Indeed, without the use of these, or some 



