igS The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



Lice. In other parts of this work we have stated how insect vermin of any kind may 



be kept from a yard generally ; but it may happen that individual birds or especially broods 

 of young chickens are so infested that personal measures are necessary for relief When small 

 chickens droop without apparent cau?e, lice may always be suspected ; and it is remarkable that 

 Asiatic breeds rarely suffer in this way, the feathers growing so late that the little pests have not 

 sufficient harbour. 



Relief can be given immediately. Put some oil in a saucer, and taking up every chicken 

 in turn, put some with the tip of the finger on the poll, at the back of the neck, under the wings, 

 and here and there about the body. Then for the hen : make some carbolic scouring soap into 

 very stiff suds, and with a shaving-brush, or some such implement, put this here and there about 

 the hen's breast and under her wings — in fact, "spot" her with it, under the feathers and down to 

 the skin, all about her body, but not enough to wet all her plumage. The cooping-ground 

 and sleeping-place should also be well sprinkled with carbolic disinfecting powder, and there will 

 be no more trouble. The scattering of the powder from a dredger in the nest and about the 

 sleeping-place will prevent any need for other measures. 



Liver Disease. — If neglected, mere indigestion may extend to serious enlargement or 

 other disorder of the liver ; and we have known many cases, in particular, v,here owing to the 

 indiscriminate use of wet custard for chickens, already so strongly condemned by us, this yiscus 

 has been permanently injured. Nothing can be done beyond giving a grain of calomel every 

 other day, and feeding as directed for indigestion ; but if the liver be seriously enlarged, little 

 improvement can ensue. A sickly yellowish look about the head and comb is the best symptom 

 of this complaint ; and in cases not too long established there is no doubt of at least a partial 

 cure being effected : but we should always dread breeding from birds whose constitution had been 

 thus contaminated. 



" In cold and damp localities CooJains especially are liable to what I believe to be strumous 

 disease of the liver. In these cases, the fowl will lose flesh and have a sickly appearance about the 

 head ; such birds will often die suddenly from the rupture of a large blood-vessel in the neighbour- 

 hood of the liver. The cavity of the bowels will be found full of blood, the liver very soft and 

 easily broken down, and most probably pieces of cheesy matter in its substance, varying in size 

 from a millet seed to a horse-bean. Here also alterative doses of mercury, followed by cod liver oil 

 and Parrish's Food, offer the greatest prospect of recovery ; but when the morbid structures are 

 any size, we cannot expect much success. I have not seen this disease in dry and warmer 

 regions.^). H." 



Moulting we have spoken of in discussing the general treatment of fowls. 



Paralysis. — See Apoplexy. 



Pip. — We do not regard the hard and horny appearance which often appears at the end of a 

 sick fowl's tongue, and goes by this name, as any disease whatever. It rather arises from obstruc- 

 tion in the nostrils, causing the bird to breathe through its mouth, and thus drying the tongue ; or, 

 where there is any «-eal affection, is analagous to a " foul tongue " in human beings. In the latter 

 case a dose of aperient medicine may be given, and chlorinated soda applied to the part with 

 benefit, removing any scale or crust which will come off without difficulty or giving pain to the bird, 

 before making the application. 



