Diseases of Poultry. 199 



Rheumatism. — The symptoms of this disease are an evident weakness of the legs, stiffness 

 in the joints, or contraction of the toes. One or more of these may also be caused from cramp J 

 but as both demand similar treatment, it is not very necessary to be particular in the diagnosis. 

 The disease is easily distinguished from leg-weakness by the fact that the latter occurs only 

 in young birds, and presents no symptoms beyond mere want of muscular power. 



The bird must be put in a warm and dry place, and fed with warm and rather stimulating 

 food. In the evening it may be put in a basket by the fire, and the legs should be bathed in rather 

 hot water containing some mustard, well rubbing the shanks whilst in the bath, and afterwards 

 carefully drying. Internally, half a grain of opium is to be administered twice daily. Recovery 

 will chiefly depend upon patience and regularity in these daily remedial measures. A little 

 cooked meat given every day is of great benefit, and so are minute doses of oil of mustard, which 

 in some cases have been of marked efficacy. 



Roup. — This formidable disease is now less dreaded than it was. Formerly, when fowls were 

 kept in close and ill-ventilated houses, fed on grain, and sent to shows in wicker basketsrit was the 

 scourge of the pc^try-yard ; but as knowledge increased, roomy houses were built, baskets were 

 lined with some material to stop the cold draughts on journeys, and warm soft food judiciously 

 given ; and with these roup ceased to be a terror, in spite of the undoubted fact that it is most highly 

 contagious. Of this there can be no doubt, the germs of the disease being communicated in any 

 way — by drinking or other contact — through the characteristic roupy discharge. 



The symptoms are those of catarrh or cold in a very aggravated form, with general feverishness, 

 wasting, and a fcetid, rather thick discharge from the nostrils. These last often become so clogged 

 with it that it fills the eyes, and if neglected may entirely close those organs, and, then collecting, 

 form a cheesy mass as large as a walnut. This swelling may require to be opened, and the cheesy 

 matter extracted, but usually, bathing patiently with warm water will open the lids and allow of its 

 removal without operation. Death usually occurs in from three to eight days from the specific 

 symptoms appearing. 



The only diseases which can be mistaken for roup are cold — which if neglected often indeed 

 passes into roup, but is not difficult of distinction — and canker or ulceration. So long as the 

 discharge remains thin, watery, and quite devoid of odour, there is usually nothing beyond severe 

 cold; but if it thickens and becomes offensive, the general health also suffering, roup has supervened. 

 Cases of mere cold may be so severe as to be fatal, and we have seen true roup of a very mild 

 character ; but as a general rule^ if not treated, a bird really affected with roup dies. 



The treatment we advise has rarely been known to fail, having been chiefly developed by 

 experienced fanciers in America, where the climate is more severe and cases far more numerous than 

 in England, and since confirmed by systematic experiment. The bird is at once to be isolated, and 

 for fear of contagion the water-vessel used by the fowls which have been in company should be 

 disinfected with M'Dougall's Fluid Carbolate, and refilled with water in which one spoonful of 

 carbolate has been mixed with each gallon of water. The fowl itself must be put in a moderately 

 warm place, perfectly dry and free from draught, and, if possible, with a good sand bottom. The 

 treatment will commence with a spoonful of castor-oil, washing the nostrils, eyes, and other affected 

 parts with the preparation known to druggists as Labarraque's Solution of Chlorinated Soda, 

 diluted with twice its bulk of water. If the discharge be copious, this is to be repeated several 

 times a day ; and when it is excessive in quantity the pure solution should be injected into the 

 nostrils by inserting the point of a small syringe into the slit in the roof of the mouth, and turning 

 it rather to the outside for each nostril: this will however be seldom required if taken in time. 



