754 BIGGIE POULTRY BOOK. 



*ot to miss the obstruction. Have a needle threaded with white 

 silk ready, and take a stitch or two in the crop skin first, then 

 jew up the outer skin separately. Put the patient in a comfort- 

 able coop, and feed sparingly for a week on bran and meal in a 

 moist state, and give but little water. 



SOFT OR SWELLED-CROP arises from lack of grit, or from 

 eating soggy and unwholesome food. The distended crop con- 

 tains water and gas, the bird is feverish and drinks a great deal. 

 By holding it up with its head down the crop will usually empty 

 itself. When this is done give teaspoon doses of charcoal 

 slightly moistened twice at intervals of six hours. Restrict the 

 supply of water and feed chopped onions and soft feed in modera- 

 tion. Homeopathic Nux vomica, 3. 



EGG-BOUND, DISEASES OF THE OVIDUCT. Overfat hens are 

 often troubled in this way. Forcing hens for egg production 

 will sometimes break down the laying machinery. Give green 

 food, oats, little corn, and no stimulating condiments. I,et the 

 diet be plain and cooling in its nature. To relieve hens of eggs 

 broken in the oviduct, anoint the forefinger with sweet oil and 

 deftly insert and draw out the broken parts. When the hen ia 

 very fat and the egg is so large it cannot be expelled, the only 

 ^-ay to save the hen is to break the egg and remove it as above 

 -directed. 



WHITE-COMB OR SCURVY, caused by crowded and filthy 

 quarters and lack of green food. The comb is covered with a 

 white scurf. This condition sometimes extends over the head 

 and down the neck, causing the feathers to fall off. 



Change the quarters and diet, give a dose of castor oil and 

 follow this with a half a teaspoonful of sulphur in the soft food 

 daily. 



Anoint the parts every other day with vaseline. Add rusty 

 iron to the drinking water. 



RHEUMATISM AND CRAMP caused by cold and dampness. 

 Chicks reared on bottom-heat brooders are particularly subject 

 to these troubles. Damp earth floors and cement floors in poul- 

 try houses produce it in older birds. 



Give dry and comfortable quarters, feed little meat, plenty 

 of green food, and soft feed seasoned with red pepper. Put fifteen 

 grains of iodide of potassium to one quait of water. If meat is 

 fed it should be cooked, never raw. 



