76 999 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 



QUESTION What is the matter with a bird having the following 

 symptoms: There is an appearance of giddiness and the head is 

 thrown up and back or the neck may be thrown to one side. The 

 walk is unsteady and the bird may go backward or sideways or in 

 a circle. In some cases it falls to the ground fluttering and makes 

 convulsive movements? 



ANSWER The trouble is congestion of the brain. It may be 

 caused by overfat condition or as the result of fright or indigestion. 

 Sometimes worms in the intestines will cause it. Male birds during 

 the breeding season are especially subject to attack. It may be the 

 result of blows upon the head, or a complication of infectious diseases 

 or exposure to the hot rays of the sun. The treatment for the 

 trouble is to apply cold water to the head till it is thoroughly cool. 

 Confine the bird in a cool, shady place, and if a breeding male, take it 

 out of the breeding pen for a week. Give a dose of two teaspoonfuls 

 of castor oil and let the food consist principally of green foods. Give 

 three grains of Bromide of Potassium three times a day, dissolved 

 in a tablespoonful of water. 



QUESTION What is wrong with a fowl when it shakes or jerks 

 the head violently and is seemingly unable to swallow any food at 

 all? 



ANSWER In rare cases a grain of corn or other such article 

 may become fastened in the upper part of the digestive tract and if 

 the above symptoms are the only ones noticeable that is probably the 

 trouble. Raise the tongue and if the obstruction is found remove it. 



QUESTION What are the symptoms of vent gleet and the 

 cure? 



ANSWER There is a frequent passage of droppings in small 

 quantities and the parts are dry and swollen with fever. The dis- 

 charge is at first watery, but soon becomes white and very offensive. 

 It collects upon the feathers and irritates the skin and destroys the 

 plumage. The inflamed skin around the vent may become ulcerous. 

 For treatment procure a sufficient quantity of quite warm water to 

 immerse the lower part of the body and dissolve a tablespoonful of 

 bicarbonate of soda in each quart of water. Hold the bird in this 

 water for a half hour each day, and after removing it dry the parts 

 and inject a tablespoonful of the following mixture glycerine two 

 ounces, boric acid one and one-half drams, morphia sulphate one 

 grain and water a half pint. A small piece of cotton may be saturated 

 with the remedy and inserted into the vent twice a day, allowing it to 

 remain there till the bird expels it. If sores or ulcers form upon the 

 skin outside keep them dusted well with iodoform. The disease is con- 

 tagious and an afflicted bird should be at once isolated from the 

 remainder of the flock. 



