CHAPTER XU 



RHEUMATISM 



THIS disease in most cases affects the legs, although 

 it may affect any part of the body. The causes of 

 this ailment are exposure to dampness and cold, the 

 feeding of too much animal matter and not enough 

 vegetable matter; or it may have come down from 

 ancestors with rheumatic tendencies. It affects both 

 the old fowls and the chicks, the latter at brooderage. 



The symptoms are a contraction of the muscles of 

 the legs, which draws up the toes and flexes the 

 shanks on the knees, and whenever the bird tries to 

 straighten itself, it seems to have a severe pain. In- 

 flammation and pain in the muscles and joints causes 

 the bird to sit down most of the time, and in most 

 cases the joints will be swollen. 



Remove the ailing fowls to dry, sunny quarters, 

 with plenty of straw or other dry litter, and care 

 should be taken to keep this litter dry by protecting 

 the drinking fountains. Give them as much vege- 

 table matter as possible, and feed sparingly on animal 

 matter. Rub the swollen joints and muscles with 

 witch-hazel, and give them 15 grains of iodide of 

 potassium to every quart of drinking water. 



188 



