DISEASES AND ENEMIES. 153 



drying and hardening of the end of the tongue in what is 

 called *' pip" is due to breathing through the mouth, which the 

 bird is compelled to do because of the stoppage of the nostrils. 

 By freeing the natural air passages the tongue will resume its 

 normal condition. 



Diphtheria is a contagious disease. The first symptoms 

 are those of a common cold and catarrh. The head becomes red 

 and there are signs of fever, then the throat fills up with thick, 

 white mucus and white ulcers appear. The bird looks anxious 

 and stretches its neck and gasps. When it attacks young chicks 

 it is frequently mistaken for gapes. When diphtheria prevails, 

 impregnate the drinking water with camphor, a teaspoonful 

 of the spirits to a gallon of water, and fumigate the house as 

 recommended for roup. 



Spray the throat with peroxide of hydrogen or with this 

 formula : i ounce glycerine, 5 drops nitric acid, i gill water. 

 To treat several birds at once with medicated vapor, take 

 a long box with the lid off", make a partition across and 

 near to one end and cover the bottom with coal ashes. Mix a 

 tablespoonful each of pine tar, turpentine and sulphur, to which 

 add a few drops, or a few crystals, of carbolic acid and a pinch 

 of gum camphor. Heat a brick very hot, put the fowls in the 

 large part and the brick in the other, drop a spoonful of the 

 mixture on the brick and cover lightly to keep the fumes in 

 among the patients. Watch carefully, as one or two minutes 

 may be all they can endure. Repeat in six hours if required. 



Homeopathic treatment— Use sulphurous acid spray, and 

 give internally mercurius iodatum, 1, every two hours. 



Crop-Bound. The crop becomes much distended and hard 

 from obstruction of the passage from the crop to the gizzard bj' 

 something swallowed ; generally, it is long, dried grass, a bit 

 of rag or rope. Relief may sometimes be afforded by giving a 

 tablespoonful of sweet oil and then gently kneading the crop 

 with the hand. Give no food, except a little milk, until the 

 crop is emptied. Wet a tablespoonful or more of pulverized 

 charcoal with the milk and force it down the throat. Should 

 the crop not empty itself naturally pluck a few feathers from the 

 upper right side of it and with a sharp knife make a cut about 

 an inch long in the outer skin. Draw this skin a little to one 

 side and cut open the crop. Remove its contents, being careful 



