A GUIDE FOR KEEPERS OF POULTRY 105 
tirely on symptoms ‘readily observable, as there is no 
practical means of taking the temperature or judging as 
to the circulation. In all intestinal diseases the trouble 
lies in getting medicine to act, as the digestive organs 
cease to perform their functions and medicine lies inert 
in the crop, often doing harm rather than good. A great 
many authorities frankly recommend that a fowl which 
seems seriously ill be killed to save the remainder of the 
flock from danger of contracting the disease. Where a 
fowl-is valuable it is quite often feasible to save its life 
if prompt remedial measures are taken, but a very sick 
fowl is as likely to die as to recover, no matter what is 
done for it. Fortunately fowls kept under sanitary con- 
ditions, such as dry, light and warm houses, fed sound 
and wholesome feed and given plenty of exercise, have 
little tendency to become affected with any disease. It 
may safely be said that at least three-fourths of the dis- 
eases that afflict the fowls are of a kind that easily might 
be avoided. One who pays any particular attention to 
his poultry will at once note any departure from the nor- 
mal. Dullness, lack of activity, a disposition to stand 
with the head drawn down and the eyes closed, halting 
in walking, lack of luster in the eyes, congested appear- 
ance of the comb, are all noticeable at once, and denote 
that disease has fastened on the birds showing any one 
or more than one of these symptoms. If this disposition 
to droop is accompanied by a diarrhoea the character of 
the droppings will often give a clue to the nature of the 
disease. If the droppings are a sulphur yellow the 
trouble is likely to be a very severe intestinal disease and 
may be cholera, although this is now very rare. ‘Chalk- 
white droppings indicate coccidiosis in chicks. 
If the fowl seeks isolation the trouble may be cholera 
