CHAP. vii. DISEASES OF POULTRY. 643 



diarrhoea, and when they are noticed the treatment recommended for 

 them may be adopted. 



Dysentery. Diarrhoea neglected often becomes dysentery, or this may 

 be symptomatic of a more serious state of affairs. The evacuations are 

 very profuse and most offensive. When the disorder assumes this 

 form cure is difficult. The feeding should be the same, and for 

 adult fowls five drops of laudanum mixed with the same quantity of fluid 

 carbolate should be given twice a-day. The patient must be kept warm 

 and dry. 



Enteritis. Large numbers of poultry die every year from this com- 

 plaint, which is an inflammation of the intestines. It is due as a rule 

 to poison, or to some powerful irritant, and generally the course of the 

 disease is very rapid. For treatment see Gastritis. 



Gastritis. In this case the inflammation is of the stomach. The 

 symptoms are intense thirst, constipation, quick breathing, and extreme 

 prostration, and the causes are over- stimulation, irritants in the 

 stomach, poisons, or internal injuries. Treatment should be a little 

 salad oil three times a-day, homoeopathic tincture of aconite, with lime- 

 water and milk, and light but nutritious food. Such diseases as these 

 are difficult to cure, and even if success be attained the bird will be left 

 so prostrate as to be useless for a long period of time. 



Liver Disease. The great development of this complaint during 

 recent years is of very serious import to poultry keepers, and of high- 

 class poultry there are comparatively few unaffected by it. It is due, 

 when not hereditary, to over-rich foods, to bad water, and to foul soil. 

 It takes several different forms, but the external symptoms in nearly 

 all cases are the same, so that it is difficult to determine them until 

 after death. There is a moping on the part of the birds, general 

 lassitude, an uncertain appetite, and a yellowish hue on the face, comb, 

 and wattles. The treatment must be eradicative, and the food of the 

 plainest nature, but at the same time nourishing. For medicine give 

 an aperient twice a-week, and doses of homoeopathic tincture of 

 podophyllin twice a-day. It is to be noted that all rich food must be 

 carefully avoided, and that the free use of Indian corn has been most 

 injurious in spreading this disease. When neglected it develops into 

 active inflammation of the liver, for which there is no cure. 



Crop Bound. By this name is meant the impaction of the crop, when 

 the passage of food from that organ into the stomach is stopped by the 

 presence therein of some obstruction. Therefore, however much the 

 bird may eat no good is done, for food remains in the crop. If in 

 time, gently working of the crop with the hand, after pouring a little 

 warm salad oil down the throat to soften it, is usually effective. Fail- 

 ing that, it becomes necessary to open the crop and remove the contents. 

 To do this the feathers should be plucked, and an incision made about 

 an inch long, through which the contents must be brought, taking care 

 to remove all, and after washing out with warm water, and oiling the 

 inside, stitch up again the inner and outer skins separately. Feed the 

 bird on soft food in small quantities for a few days, and put it on to 

 ordinary diet very gradually. 



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