154 biggie; POUI.TRY BOOK. 



nut to miss the obstruction. Have a needle threaded with white 

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

 sew vip 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. 

 B3' 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 laj'ing machiuery. Give green 

 food, oats, little corn, and no stimulating condiments. L,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 

 deftl}' insert and draw out the broken parts. When the hen is 

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

 way to save the hen is to break the egg and remove it as above 

 directed. Homeopathic— Pulsatilla, 3, one day, and calcarea 

 carbonate, 15, the next. 



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. 



Homeopathic— Sulphur for one day, followed by graphites, 6. 



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- 

 trj' 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. 



Homeopathic— Rhus tox, 3, followed by bryonia, 3. 



DiARRHCEA of chicks with clogging of the vent. Homeo- 



