CHAPTER IX. 



TtlH DISEASES OF PIIEISAXTS. 



HEASANTS m a state of nature are parlicularly 

 -— -,^ liardy. ]>eing bred, as tliey generally are, t'reni 

 '-'■ strong liealtliy 2}arents, the few weakly eliickens 



I'l^ tliat are produceil die under tliat benevolent arrange- 

 ment which has been so justly termed the survival nf 

 the fittest in the struggle for life. Consecjuently the 

 most vigorous remain as brood stock, and propagate a 

 healthy offspring. Nevertheless, in some seasons, particularly 

 during those that are wet, the young liirds are affected by 

 certain epidemic diseases that are difficult either to prevent 

 or cu7'e ; amongst the first of these may be mentioned cold 

 or catarrh, which is generally caused by an undue amount 

 of wet weather acting on birds enfeebled by two close 

 inter-l>reeding, or by errors in the dietary and general 

 manasement, such as undue exposure to c<jld winds. All 

 that can be recommended m ease of the young birds being 

 thus afflicted is warm, dry shelter, and the addition of a little 

 stimulating food, as bread soaked in ale, and spiced with 

 any ordinary condiment, such as cayenne or conmion pepper, 

 and the moistening of the oatmeal, or other soft food, with 

 a solution of a quarter of an ounce of sulphate of iron in a 

 (|uart of water, using enough to give the meal an inky taste. 



Ki-iup is produced bv a small micro-organism known as 

 a prot(jZ(iou ; formerly it was always considered to be the 

 result of a neglected cold, but it is now recognised as a 

 highly infectious disease caused Ijy a specific parasite. 'Jdie 



