130 California Poultry Practice 



give much attention to such things. Pumpkin seeds and garlic are 

 both excellent for tape worm, and in fact are good for both kinds. 

 Make the birds fast for twenty-four hours if you suspect tape worm, 

 then give a big feed of garlic cut in pieces and as many pumpkin 

 seeds as they will eat. If garlic were fed once a week to all kinds 

 of poultry the health would be improved and no worms would ever 

 get a footing. 



Diseases of the Crop and Digestive Tract 



The crop or sack through which is passed the food the chicken 

 eats is not very sensitive, but at times it gets packed from eating 

 food that contains too much fibre, and sometimes from too much 

 mash food that sticks. Again, when the digestion is not carried on 

 as it should be, the contents of the crop sours and we have a state 

 of fermentation set in that is carried all along the intestinal tract, if 

 not remedied. JMany cases of diarrhoea start from crop fermentation. 

 And yet if taken in time nothing is easier to cure. If the crop im- 

 paction occurs through too much coarse fibre, there is danger of the 

 gizzard being affected, and in that case sometimes an operation is 

 the best way out. This is not a very difficult job, but unless the op- 

 erator has a steady hand he may be so long doing it that the bird 

 will lose strength. The first remedy in such cases is to get a little 

 olive oil or castor oil down the bird's throat in a little warm water, 

 then commence to manipulate the crop. Hold the bird's head down 

 and work gently, squeezing and pinching the food towards the mouth. 

 If the food is too thick to be moved, insert a rubber tube and pour 

 warm water into the crop gently, then work again until you give re- 

 lief. Wash out the crop with a solution of baking soda and water, 

 as this will prevent fermentation. 



The Operation. — If the crop is in too extended a condition from 

 swollen grain to manipulate there is nothing to do but operate. It will 

 take two persons to work, one to hold the bird and the other to use 

 the knife. Pluck the feathers from the crop and make a clean cut, 

 lengthwise, of about two inches of skin first. Wait until the blood 

 stops running from the first cut before cutting the crop proper. Then 

 cut about one-half inch long into the crop and commence pulling the 

 food and other stuff out by degrees. Put the finger in to feel if there 

 is any obstruction, then if all is clear wash out with a little warm 

 water and salt, sew up the crop and keep the bird quiet for a few 

 days and feed a little soft feed. 



Inflammation of the Crop. — This is caused by an irritation of some 

 substance such as paint skins, salted meats, pieces of unslacked lime 

 that set up quick heat in the crop. Old paint cans should never be 

 left lying around. Old sausage meat that has been put up in brine is 



