200 



THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



opium and one of powdered ipecacuanha may 

 be given every four or six hours. 



Dr. Bennett recommends, "when it arises 

 from undue acidity, chalk mixed with meal ; 

 but rice-flour boluses are most to be depended 

 upon." 



COSTIVENESS. 



"The existence of this disease," says Dr. 

 Bennett, "will become apparent by observing 

 the unsuccessful attempts of the fowl to relieve 

 itself. It frequently proceeds from continued 

 feeding of dry diet, without/access to green veg- 

 etables. Indeed, without the use of these, or 

 some such substitute, as boiled potatoes, costive- 

 ness is sure to ensue. The want of a sufficient 

 supply of good water will also produce the dis- 

 ease, on account of that peculiar structure which 

 has already been explained, by which fowls are 

 unable to void their urine except in connection 

 with the foeces of solid food, and through the 

 same channel." 



Remedy. Soaked bread, with warm skim- 

 milk, is a mild remedial agent, and will usually 

 suffice. Boiled carrots, or cabbage, is more 

 efficient. A meal of earth-worms is sometimes 

 advisable, and hot potatoes, mixed with lard, 

 are said to be excellent. 



LOSS OF FEATHERS. 



This disease, which is common to confined 

 fowls, is by no means to be confounded with the 

 natural process of moulting. In the annual 

 healthy moult, the fall of the feathers is occa- 

 sioned by the protrusion of new feathers from 

 the skin. In the diseased state which we now 

 consider, where the feathers fall, no new ones 

 come to replace them, but the fowl is left bald 

 and naked. A sort of roughness appears also 

 on the skin. 



The loss of feathers and the wants of poultry 

 in confinement, are clearly shown by a corre- 

 spondent of the Boston Medical Journal, in the 

 following amusing sketch: "A most pleasing 

 illustration," says he, " was the want of lime, and 

 the effects of its presence, which came under my 

 notice on my voyage from South America to 

 France. We had omitted to procure gravel for 

 our poultry, and in a few days after we were at 



sea, the poultry began to droop, and wound up 

 their afflictions with the pip, or, as the sailors 

 term it, the scurvy. Their feathers fell from 

 their bodies, and it was perfectly ludicrous to 

 see the numerous wnfeathered tribe in the most 

 profound misery, moping away their time in an 

 utter state of nudity. Amusing myself one day 

 by fishing up gulf-weed, which floated in im- 

 mense fields upon the surface of the ocean, I 

 took from it numerous small crabs, about the 

 size of a pea. The poultry, with one accord, 

 aroused themselves from their torpor, and seem- 

 ingly, as if by instinct, aware of the therapeutic 

 qualities of these interesting animals, partook 

 of them with greater avidity than any invalid 

 ever swallowed the 'waters of the springs.' 

 After a few hours, the excellence of the remedy 

 was apparent; the cocks began to crow, the 

 hens to strut and look saucy, and in a few days 

 all appeared in quite a holiday suit of feathers, 

 derived from the lime, the constituent part of 

 the crab-shells." 



Symptoms. A falling off in appetite, moping, 

 and inactivity ; the feathers staring and falling 

 off till the naked skin appears. 



Remedy. This affection is supposed by some 

 to be constitutional rather than local. Ex- 

 ternal remedies, therefore, may not always be 

 sufficient. Stimulants, applied externally, may 

 serve to assist the operation of what medicine 

 may be given. Sulphur may be thus applied, 

 mixed with lard. Cayenne and sulphur, in the 

 proportion of one quarter each, mixed with 

 fresh butter, is good to be given internally, and 

 will act as a powerful alterative. The diet 

 should be changed, and cleanliness and fresh 

 air are indispensable. ' 



EATING THEIR FEATHERS. 



Eating each other's feathers is a habit which 

 fowls often contract, when confined in yards, but 

 is not, perhaps, fully understood. " It is a mor- 

 bid appetite," says a writer in the Cultivator, 

 " apparently induced in the outset by the impa- 

 tience of the fowls under confinement." It is 

 well known that fowls are very fond of blood ; 

 and when moulting, the new feathers are what 

 is generally called blood-shot ; that is, the ends 

 of the quills, when quite young, have a drop or 



