19G Diseases of Poultry 



Etiology. — The congestion of the brain is sometimes due to 

 blows on the head or to fright or other intense excitement. 

 Often it is associated with acute indigestion or with the pres- 

 ence of parasitic intestinal worms. 



Treatment. — Apply cold water to the head. Administer 

 a laxative (2 teaspoonfuls of castor oil, or 30 grains of Epsom 

 salts given in water or 1| grains of calomel). Keep the 

 fowl in a cool, quiet place. If this treatment is not efficient 

 Salmon recommends 1 to 5 grains of bromide of potassium 

 dissolved in 1 tablespoonful of water 3 times a day. If 

 intestinal worms are found in the droppings after the laxative, 

 treat for the removal of these parasites (p. 139). 



Prognosis. — The bird may recover if the cause is removed. 



Epilepsy 



This somewhat rare disease is characterized by occasional 

 fits. Between these the birds appear normal. 



Diagnosis. — Pearson ^ describes the behavior of the bird 

 during the fit as follows : " The fowl will make beating move- 

 ments with its wings, its legs will draw up and it will fall 

 down, sometimes turn over on its back, or it may stand 

 upright with its legs apart, head turned backward and mouth 

 and eyes opening and closing spasmodically." 



This spasm passes away after a time and leaves the bird in 

 a normal condition. 



Etiology. — It is often impossible to discover any cause of 

 the disease. It is said to be sometimes caused by tumors 

 on the brain and sometimes by intestinal worms. 



Treatment. — The only cases that can be treated are those 

 caused by the presence of intestinal worms. An affected 

 bird should be put up and given a laxative and if intestinal 



1 Loc. cit. 



