Diseases of Poultry. 185 



assistance of Mr. Joseph Hinton, a gentleman who combines the knowledge of a genuine 

 " fancier " with that of an experienced medical man ; and who has not only kindly revised the 

 whole, with an approval of our own prescriptions which warrants the entire confidence with which 

 we give them, but has added valuable contributions of his own, as mentioned in their place, 

 or distinguished by quotations and initials. 



For convenience of reference, we shall refer to the various diseases in alphabetical order. 



Abortion. — If violently driven about, hens sometimes suffer severely in this way; dropping 

 suddenly either a perfect or a soft egg, and afterwards moping about with every appearance of 

 being seriously ill. In such cases, which must not be confounded with the mere ordinary laying of 

 soft eggs, the bird should be put by herself in rather a dark pen, with a nest in one corner. A 

 little carbonate of soda may be put with advantage in the drinking water, and the diet should 

 consist of soft food only, given sparingly. This is to be continued for a few days, unless sooner 

 recovered. It is wisdom in all such cases to watch the yard closely ; it is quite possible, especially 

 with Malays and Game, that there is a bully amongst the flock, which is a terror to the whole of the 

 others. With this terror, if the yards are confined in area, abortion is very probable, and the 

 termagant had better be removed, and if not very valuable, killed. 



We have known abortion also take place in circumstances which left no other conclusion 

 possible than that the grass in the run was affected with ergot. Should this appear probable, 

 besides treating the birds, the whole run must be mo^\•n as close as possible with a machine, and the 

 cuttings carefully swept and removed. Fortunately this occurrence is very rare. 



Apoplexy — Paralysis. — These two affections are more or less connected. A true apoplectic 

 fit would more probably arise from high feeding than any other cause, and maize or Indian corn is 

 very injurious to some breeds on this very account. Apoplexy may give some warning symptoms. 

 We should fear its attack if a bird walked unsteadily and as if it were giddy. To such cases, 

 fasting and a brisk aperient — as fifteen grains of jalap and one grain of calomel — will be very 

 useful. When a vessel has given way on the brain, or in its substance, there will be then a 

 sudden attack of loss of power and consciousness, possibly only on one side. If a large quantity 

 of blood has escaped the case will end fatally in a short time, and it may be instantaneous. If life 

 does not appear extinct, the wing should be lifted, and the point of a lancet, or more probably 

 penknife (for not a moment must be lost), plunged longitudinally into the large vein which will 

 be seen under, and the bird allowed to bleed freely. If consciousness return, the flow of blood 

 may be stopped by some strong styptic, such as burnt alum, diluted carbolic acid, solution of 

 sulphate of zinc, powdered matico, or gallic acid; or pressure may be kept up by the finger 

 for some little time on the incision. In any case of operating on fowls, they must be carefully 

 watched, as they will try to peck open the place, and life may be lost from hremorrhage. The 

 fowl must be kept on low diet for several days. 



Generally the immediate cause is some sudden excitement or bodily effort. We have known 

 in our earlier days a highly-fed young cock drop down dead after being put back after show in his 

 old run with three others, before receiving a peck, but in the very moment of placing himself in 

 hostile position ; also when a young Cochin cock was taken up whilst fighting, he struggled so 

 violently that he died " iii. arms." Cochin hens, similarly, are sometimes seized while laying. 

 We need hardly say that after a case of this sort, the condition of the other birds should be 

 examined, and the diet reduced at once if necessary. 



True paralysis is the result of some pressure on the brain, it may be from effusion of blood, or 

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