Diseases of Poultry. 201 



frequently extends to tlio throat, covering the back of the tongue with ulcerous formation, and 

 sometimes entirely filling the glottis and larynx with the diseased secretion, and killing the fowl by 

 actual suffocation, as in the most aggravated cases of roup ; to which disease in some particulars 

 it bears a striking analogy. Other mucous surfaces are also liable to such diseased action, the 

 exciting causes of which we believe to be either severe cold or local irritation. 



There are two remedies, both of which appear to exert a most marked effect upon these tiresome 

 affections, and may be employed at discretion : viz., Labarraque's Solution of Chlorinated Soda, 

 and M'Dougall's Fluid Carbolate. For canker of the head we should prefer to commence at least 

 with the chlorinated soda, washing the outside and eyes with a dilution containing four parts water 

 to one of solution, and " swabbing " the throat and tongue, if these parts be affected, with the 

 solution in full strength. This is to be repeated three times a day, also mixing about a tea-spoonful 

 of powdered sulphur in each feed. If marked benefit do not appear within a few days, which 

 is seldom the case, we would resort to the fluid carbolate, using for the eyes one tea-spoonful 

 to eight of water, and for other parts diluting the preparation with thrice its bulk. The car- 

 bolate, besides its disinfecting and healing properties, has a strong astringent effect, \\hich make.i 

 it preferable in sagne instances ; but we can say without hesitation that there are very few cases 

 which do not yield in due time to one or the other of these admirable preparations, which are 

 applicable to any diseased secretion whatever, with very little risk of injury. 



White-Comb.— See Eruptions. 



Wry-T.vil. — This deformity is in many cases owing to spinal causes, and in all such should 

 be ruthlessly stamped out, being strongly hereditary and sure evidence of a weakly constitution. 

 But instances occur in which it is more analagous to squinting in the human subject, being caused 

 by a slight inequality of the muscles or tendons on each side ; and, like squinting, can often be 

 cured by a simple operation, for the details of which we are indebted to Mr. Hinton. 



In very slight cases there seems little more ^lan a constant /labit of carrying the tail to one 

 side, and in these, quoting the gentleman to whom we have already referred, " it is 

 often sufficient to make a scar on the opposite side, either by snipping out a bit of 

 skin with a pair of scissors, or destroying it by rubbing a wetted stick of nitrate of \ / 



silver (lunar caustic) over the part. The scar or eschar, whichever way produced, " 



should be about half an inch in length by less than a quarter of an inch in width, the 



greatest length being in a downward direction ; and the position is at the junction of 



the projecting portion from which the tail springs with the body. In the annexed 



diagram (Fig. 56) the place is clearly shown at a or /;. If the tail be moved from side to side the 



joint will be found, and it is there that the operation must be performed. 



" The contraction of the scar or eschar will very probably effect a cure ; but if not, and it be 

 still concluded the case is unconnected with spinal deformity— the knife in the neighbourhood of 

 the throat, freely dividing the large vessels, is the only cure for this form ! — the finger should be 

 placed in the angle on the affected side, while the tail is forcibly drawn in the opposite direction. 

 If this is done several times, it is probable that under the finger a tight cord or tendon will be felt, 

 and this will have to be divided. This operation must be performed with a sharp narrow-bladed 

 knife, inserted under the cord without cutting the skin farther than just the point where the knife 

 enters ; and should there be bleeding, pressure on the aperture with the finger will control it. 

 After a week the tail should be moved daily to the opposite side, and manipulated till it assumes 

 the proper position. 

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