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municate the disease to the whole flock. Even where the dis- 

 ease is not serious, the patient is much better off if by herself. 

 The hospital should be kept scrupulously clean, and should be 

 thoroughly disinfected after a bird has been confined in it af- 

 fected with an serious trouble. 



DISEASES OF CHICKS. 



Lice. in the chapter on "Chicks and Their Care," I have 

 warned the breeder to be on the lookout for lice. I repeat the 

 warning here. More chicks are sacrificed in this way than in 

 any other. Even if the chick is not literally eaten alive its 

 vitality is often so much reduced that it readily falls a prey to 

 disease. It is never safe to give up the warfare against lice. 



Cramps and Rheumatism. Many persons who get out 

 early chicks have no proper facilities for handling them. Per- 

 haps there is snow on the ground and the chicks cannot get 

 out of doors, so they are left on a board floor or in a crowded 

 brooder, and in a few days their legs begin to draw up, the 

 joints become red and swollen, and the little things die. When 

 cramps, and rheumatism get among the chicks transfer at once 

 to dry and roomy quarters where their Teet can get on the 

 earth, give green food in variety, and rub their legs with witch 

 hazel. Sprinkle chaff about so that the chicks will have to 

 scratch for their food. Reduce the number of chicks in the 

 brooder, if crowded. Give as much baking soda as you can get 

 on the tip of the handle of a teaspoon, in a quart of water. 



Leg Weakness. Where young fowls are forced forward 

 for broilers or soft roasters they are apt to develop leg weak- 

 ness, the nature of which is sufficiently explained by the name. 

 The bird walks unsteadily, lurching from side to side, and 

 sometimes sits when eating its food. "In all cases give cooling 

 food, such as bran, barley, rice, green food, skim milk or but- 

 termilk and vegetables. Avoid condiments, meat and stimu- 

 lating rations of all kinds." 



Gapes. "Gapes are caused by small worms which attach 

 themselves to the membranes of the windpipe of the chick. A 

 piece of camphor about the size of a grain of wheat, daily, and 

 10 drops of camphor or turpentine to each pint of drinking 

 water, is a favorite and effective remedy." The tip of a feather 

 dipped in turpentine and run down the chick's throat will dis- 

 lodge the parasite. 



