74 999 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 



is severe from the start, and the comb turns pale and seemingly blood- 

 less. In some cases the bird dies in convulsions. A postmortem 

 examination shows the gall bladder distended and the liver greatly 

 enlarged and dark green in color. Cholera is a germ disease and is 

 generally communicated by afflicted birds contaminating the ground 

 with their droppings and those coming in contact with food or grit 

 taken by other birds. The wisest course to pursue in case of cholera 

 is to isolate all afflicted birds, kill and bury them and thoroughly 

 clean and disinfect the houses and runs. As a disinfectant use one 

 pound of carbolic acid in 10 quarts of warm water. Use a sprinkling 

 can such as is used in sprinkling flowers and apply liberal quantities 

 of the solution once a day for at least a week. 



QUESTION What are the symptoms, the cause and the cure for 

 Bumble Foot? 



ANSWER Bumble Foot is a form of stone bruise. It is gener- 

 ally caused by constant confinement upon hard floors or runs, or 

 may be caused by the fowl jumping on a hard surface from the 

 perch or other high place ; extremely narrow perches will also cause 

 it. In mild cases the bottom of the foot is swollen and is inflamed 

 and noticeably painful. The foot should be held in warm water for 

 fifteen or twenty minutes, keeping the water as warm as the hand 

 can bear, after which apply boric acid ointment, which is made by 

 adding one part boric acid to five parts vaseline. Repeat this once 

 each day for three days and keep the bird confined on soft earth or 

 in a coop with some sort of soft bedding. In aggravated cases, ab- 

 scesses form and the swelling must be opened. Soak the foot in 

 warm water as above described, then with a very sharp knife make 

 an X-shaped incision and clean the wound thoroughly with luke- 

 warm water. Dust it with iodoform and apply the boric acid oint- 

 ment. Bandage the foot with cotton and dress it daily as above, 

 keeping the fowl confined till the wound has healed. 



QUESTION What causes white crusts to form on the comb and 

 what is the cure? 



ANSWER This condition of the comb is known as white comb, 

 and if not checked will cause the comb to crack and fall to one side, 

 destroying a portion of it in the same manner as a cancer. It may 

 also spread to the skin of the head and other parts of the fowl. The 

 growth is of a fungus nature and may be communicated by contact. 

 As much of the crust as can be scraped off without causing bleeding 

 should be removed. Apply tincture of iodine daily, also an ointment 

 made of I part of red oxide of mercury to 8 parts of vaseline. If 

 the case is too severe to yield to this treatment apply an ointment 

 made of 3 grains of nitrate of silver thoroughly mixed with a half 

 ounce of vaseline. 



