642 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK VH. 



Professor Walley recommends swabbing the throat with a solution of 

 carbolic acid, so as to destroy the skin which forms across the throat. 

 The medicines named already are very useful in combating cases of 

 roup in the earlier stages. The following treatment is recommended 

 in a recently published work on Poultry Diseases, issued by Mr. L. 

 Upcott Gill,* " Bazaar " Office : 



" First, for immediate relief, liberal spongings of the head with toler- 

 ably hot water half a dozen times a day. Immediately after the bathing 

 hold the fowl's head over a wide stoppered glass bottle so as to inhale 

 the fumes from its contents, which are to be as follows : Carbonate of 

 ammonia, broken into rough powder, two ounces ; rectified oil of amber, 

 twenty drops ; essential oil of copaiba, fifteen drops ; and pure carbolic 

 acid, ten drops. These must be well mixed and pressed firmly into 

 the bottle ; a very large smelling-salts bottle answers well. The roupy 

 bird must be given whiffs of this three or four every half hour. When 

 the ammonia becomes exhausted a few drops of the strong liquid 

 ammonia may be added. At the same time that these measures are 

 being taken the following medicine should be given : Balsam of copaiba, 

 one drachm ; sub-carbonate of potash, one scruple ; powdered gum 

 ammoniacum, half a drachm; and powdered gum acacia, one drachm. 

 Make into a paste, and give a piece the size of a horse-bean three 

 or four times a-day." 



Again would we repeat that care must be taken to prevent the spread 

 of the disease, as it is very contagious. 



DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 



Derangements of the digestive organs are very common amongst 

 domestic poultry, and are largely due to the improper methods of 

 feeding adopted, the giving of too rich foods, and the unnatural con- 

 ditions under which many birds are kept. If unnoticed, and in too 

 many cases they are unnoticed until serious mischief nas resulted, or 

 if neglected, they develop into the forms noted below. 



Indigestion. This may arise from sudden changes of the weather, as 

 well as from those causes which have already been named, but if taken 

 in time need not cause much trouble. Want of or a depraved appetite, 

 indolence, lack of lustre, scanty droppings, and paleness in face are all 

 indications, as is a bad breath. When these symptoms are noticed, a 

 mild aperient should be given, followed by a rhubarb pill on alternate 

 daj's, and very plain food, somewhat limited in quantity. 



Diarrhoea. A slight attack of diarrhrea is often merely due to nature 

 correcting herself, and we should hesitate to stop it at first. If con- 

 tinued it is then necessary to take steps, and in case of adult birds the 

 best drug of which we know is chlorodyne, but it should be given 

 carefully. Rice boiled in milk, and a little chalk mixed with it, is an 

 excellent thing as food. For chickens the rice should only be employed 

 at first, and to it should be added bone-meal, which is an excellent 

 preventive of all such complaints. Sometimes worms are the cause of 



