POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 193 



than the strength. This results in a weak kneed, wobbling bird. 

 The disease is sometimes ascribed to other causes such as over- 

 crowding,, close, unventilated quarters, overheating, etc. Salmon 

 says ''It may develop in young chickens kept in brooders in which 

 the heat is not properly distributed or where there is too much 

 bottom heat, also in those which are kept constantly upon 

 wooden floors." Regarding these cases Robinson says "Where 

 such conditions are present the leg weakness is more likely to 

 be an accompaniment of diseases which plainly show other symp- 

 toms." 



Diagnosis. The symptoms are indicated in the name of the 

 disease. It first appears as an unsteadiness in the walk. This 

 may gradually become worse until the bird is unable to stand 

 alone and is constantly tumbling over. The birds are found sit- 

 ting while eating and are inclined to walk very little. When the 

 trouble first appears there is little else wrong with the bird. 

 The eye and comb are bright and healthy, the appetite is good. 

 Later, however, the bird being weaker than the others gets less 

 grain and becomes thin, feathers out poorly and is a distressed 

 object. It is said that rheumatism can be distinguished from 

 leg weakness by the swelling of the joints in the former disease. 



Treatment. This consists chiefly, of course, in removing the 

 cause. Since the most common cause is the overfeeding with 

 fat producing foods, the amount of these should be reduced. 

 The weak birds should be removed to a pen by themselves. 

 Substitute bran, wheat and oatmeal for the corn and corn meal. 

 Give skim milk, if possible, instead of water. Feed plenty of 

 green food. This is one of the most important measures. San- 

 born recommends rubbing the legs with tincture of arnica and 

 adding ^ teaspoonful of tincture of nux vomica to each quart 

 of drinking water. 



Aspergillosis or Pneumomycosis. 

 This disease, which is discussed on p- i, not only occurs 

 in hens but it is also a very common and fatal disease in young 

 chicks. It often occurs with white diarrhea and the double dis- 

 ease was for a long time considered as one. Poultrymen desig- 

 nated the cases in which' the lesions occurred in the lungs as 

 "lungers." Investigation has shown that there are tM^o diseases 

 which may occur separately or together. 



13 



