Diseases of Poultry. i^y 



chiefly found in Asiatic breeds. Tlie bird should be removed to a warm dry place, and given a dose 

 of jalap or calomel to open the bowels, after which a half-grain pill of extract of colchicum should 

 be administered twice a day. The legs and joints may be well rubbed with sweet oil daily 

 with benefit. 



Indigestion. — This may occur from the injudicious use of spiced food, over-feeding in any 

 way, or any other neglect of the rules of wholesome diet. The bird walks lazily about, with little 

 appetite, and will hardly touch ordinary food, while the droppings are scanty and unhealthy in 

 character. The immediate cause may vary ; the liver may be sluggish, or the stomach may be in- 

 flamed, or the system may be simply debilitated ; but in all cases where, from carelessness in diet 

 and the symptoms, there appears cause to suspect that it is the digestive organs which are in fault, 

 the treatment will be much the same, and will consist in the daily administration of five grains of 

 rhubarb, changed every fourth day for one grain of calomel, and the rigid restriction of the diet to 

 a small portion twice daily oi soft food, ivell cooked. Water must not be left, but only allowed in 

 moderation immediately after eating ; but a little fresh grass cut into chaff may be thrown down 

 several times a day. 

 % 



Leg-Weakness. — This is a very frequent affection in cockerels of the large breeds, being 

 evidently caused by outgrowing the strength. It may arise either from muscular weakness 

 or from a deficiency of bony matter ; and the symptoms, which usually manifest themselves 

 between the ages of three and six months, consist of a more or less constant squatting on l:he 

 ground instead of standing or walking. Where the weakness is caused by want of bony 

 matter, evidence will probably be found in a disposition to knock-knees, or perhaps a crooked 

 breast-bone. 



The free use of bone-dust, as already recommended, is almost a preventive of this afiection, 

 and on that ground alone is strongly to be advised ; but cure is not difficult in most cases. Either 

 form may be successfully treated by the following prescription, for which we were in the main 

 indebted some years ago to Mr. Hinton, but added the quinine ourselves, with evident benefit : — 



Sulphate of Iron . . . . i . . . . . i grain. 



Strychnine i'u " 



Phosphate of Lime 5 » 



Sulphate of Quinine i >> 



To be made into a pill, and administered three times daily, morning, noon, and night. Under this 

 treatment strength will rapidly return, and after a week or two the prescription should be changed 

 for " Parrish's Chemical Food," given in the water, say a table-spoonful to each pint, or half a tea- 

 spoonful in twice its bulk of water, morning and evening. 



If observed at an early stage we should prefer to commence with the Chemical Food, and use 

 no other medicine. We have no hesitation in speaking of this as the most valuable tonic we know, 

 where time can be given for its operation. It is also a most valuable aid, and very effective, in 

 invigorating the constitutions of weakly breeds, such as Spanish or Dorkings, the effect being very 

 marked ; and altogether we are acquainted with no preparation which is so literally invaluable in 

 the rearing of any high-bred stock. As an instance of this, we may add that a friend to whom we 

 had recommended it for his fowls was so pleased with its effect that he again " passed it on " to 

 another who bred dogs, and who was equally loud in his praises of the syrup as an aid in rearing 

 his particular favourites. 



I 



