324 



Nature-Study Agriculture 



Removing 

 causes of 

 disease 



Contagious 

 diseases 



free from lice and mites. Lice live and breed upon the 

 bodies of the fowls, but mites remain hidden in crevices 

 during the day, coming out only at night for their food. 

 Plenty of fine dust or ashes should be where the chickens 

 can wallow in it. The dust that they apply to their 

 bodies protects them against lice. A lice powder, sold 

 for the purpose, may be rubbed into the feathers, if it 

 is needed. This attention is especially necessary for 

 sitting hens (Fig. 266). A little lard smeared under the 

 wings and on the heads of young chickens helps to keep 

 them free from lice. For mites the best remedy is to 

 paint the roosts or even the whole interior of the coop 

 with carbolinium, a liquid which may be purchased at 

 paint stores. This not only kills the mites, but pre- 

 vents others from invading the coop for a long time. 

 (Exp. 7.) 



Disease, whether in men or other animals, is in most 

 cases the result of the work of germs; and the germs 

 that cause a disease are likely to pass from one animal to 

 another. To prevent a disease from getting a foothold or 

 spreading, premises should be kept clean, for germs are 

 abundant in filth. The drinking vessels of poultry 

 should be scalded or cleaned frequently with an anti- 

 septic to kill germs, and pure water should be provided. 

 Contaminated water is a very common carrier of the 

 germs of deadly diseases. 



When a disease like cholera or roup appears in a flock, 

 the sick fowls should at once be quarantined, or killed, 

 and the premises should be freed of all infectious matter. 

 Cholera is a disease of the digestive organs, and roup 

 is similar to a severe cold in the head. Chickens are 



