152 Diseases of Poultry 



(1) Removal of secretions. The mouth and nostrils and 

 the eyes, if affected, should be washed with warm water con- 

 taining 1 teaspoonful of common salt to the quart. A small 

 wad of absorbent cotton may be used to apply this cleansing 

 solution. The sides of the head under the eyes and around 

 the nostrils should be massaged gently to loosen the secretion. 



(2) Disinfecting the air passages and eyes. The air pas- 

 sages and eyes should now be disinfected with one of the fol- 

 lowing solutions, given here in order of preference : 



a. Potassium permanganate, 2 per cent solution. 



b. Boracic acid, 3 per cent solution. 



c. Creolin, 1 per cent solution. 



d. Hydrogen dioxide and water, equal parts. 



e. Carbolic acid, 2 per cent solution. 



These solutions may be injected into the nostrils with a 

 small syringe or a medicine dropper, but on account of the 

 small aperture of the nostrils they are more effectively ap- 

 plied through the internal opening of the air passages. This 

 is a long, widely open slit in the roof of the mouth. It is 

 easily exposed in a position to receive the treatment by hold- 

 ing the bird head down, grasping the head, comb down, in the 

 hand and opening the mouth with the thumb. The solution 

 may then be injected into the slit or poured in with a teaspoon. 

 The head should be held firmly in this position for several 

 seconds after the treatment to allow the solution to pene- 

 trate to all parts of the head passages. Gently massaging 

 the sides of the head also helps distribute the disinfectant. 

 The eyes may be washed with the same disinfecting solution 

 used for the nostrils. 



(3) Applying oil to the head passages. A quarter of a 

 teaspoonful of oil of thyme, oil of eucalyptus, or even sweet 

 oil should now be administered in the same way as the disin- 

 fecting solution. If the eyes are affected introduce 2 drops 

 of 15 per cent argyrol solution. 



