CHAPTER XLII 



LIMBERNECK 



LIMBERNECK is a partial paralysis of the neck 

 muscles, the bird losing all control of the neck 

 muscles. A fowl thus affected may be able to lift 

 its neck at times, but generally the crown of the head 

 rests on the ground between its legs most of the time. 

 Intestinal irritations are, in most cases, the direct 

 causes of this disease, and frequently it is accom- 

 panied by acute indigestion, intestinal parasites, at- 

 tacks of colic or crop inflammation. The eating of 

 putrid meat or maggots are common causes, and 

 sometimes feeding on one grain or a sudden fright 

 may bring on this disease. Fowls running upon old 

 contaminated ground which has not been spaded or 

 properly renovated may also contract the disease. 

 Chicks and fowls of all ages are subject to this dis- 

 ease, and no particular part of the country is exempt. 

 A very successful treatment for this disease is to 

 give an adult fowl a mixture of one teaspoon ful each 

 of turpentine and sweet oil, and chicks three to 

 twelve drops of each, according to the age of the 

 victim. In about a half hour this should be followed 

 by some warm milk, to which has been added a lib- 

 eral sprinkling of black pepper. This should be 



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