GAPES 197 



When this disease is discovered, stringent meas- 

 ures must be adopted to prevent contagion of the 

 entire flock. Where chicks or fowls are kept in runs, 

 these runs must be thoroughly gone over with a 

 strong disinfectant or air-slaked lime, after which 

 they should be spaded over. Where the birds have 

 a large range, such a measure of prevention is not 

 practical, or in most cases impossible ; but the houses, 

 coops or brooders, as the case may be, and the drink- 

 ing vessels and feeding troughs, must be thoroughly 

 disinfected. Remove all the sick birds from the well 

 ones, and put a small piece of copperas in the drink- 

 ing water as a preventive. 



The treatment most commonly and most success- 

 fully used is extraction. This operation requires 

 some patience on the part of the operator, but it is 

 simple, and a little practice will make a skillful 

 operator out of the least experienced poultry raiser. 



Either purchase a wire gapeworm extractor from 

 a dealer in poultry supplies, or make your own ex- 

 tractor by looping a horsehair. Mix a solution of 

 good disinfectant, into which the extractor should be 

 dipped before and after using. 



Take the bird firmly in the left hand, head placed 

 firmly between the fore-finger and thumb, its mouth 

 open, and its neck stretched out straight from the 

 body. Dip the extractor in the disinfectant solu- 

 tion, then insert it gently into the windpipe and with- 

 draw it with a slight twist. Most of the worms will 



