POULTRY HYGIENE AND SANITATION 497 
tions, it is possible to treat the whole flock collectively, with 
reasonable certainty of benefit. 
3. In the case of individual birds of high intrinsic value, the 
extent and the nature of the treatment must be decided by the 
poultryman himself. Here, however, there will be a much greater 
number of diseases that can be profitably treated. 
Prevention Rather than Cure.—The aim of all poultrymen, 
whether engaged in a large commercial business, a small backyard 
poultry plant, or the production of fancy specimens, should be so 
to care for the birds, and to institute such sanitary measures, that 
disease will be prevented, rather than to try to cure disease after 
it is firmly established. This accords with the present attitude of 
the medical profession, and bears out the old adage, ‘‘An ounce of 
prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Vigorous health is the 
first requisite in preventing and combating disease. The elemen- 
tary principles involved in maintaining a flock in healthy condition 
and free from disease will now be considered. 
Hereditary vigor of constitution helps to throw off disease, 
and must be bred into flocks in which it is lacking. Selection must 
go on continuously from year to year for this purpose. 
Practising sanitary and hygienic care,—that is, a system of 
management absolutely hygienic and an environment perfectly 
sanitary. 
Maintain a careful oversight, and immediately isolate or slaugh- 
ter any diseased bird or birds, with prompt and thorough disinfec- 
tion whenever any signs of disease appear. 
Poultry Hygiene and Sanitation.—Given healthy birds of vigorous 
constitution, an important necessity is to have absolute cleanliness. 
While some poultrymen may succeed for a time in defiance of this, 
yet the time is sure to come when neglect of cleanliness will make 
itself felt. Of course, disease may come in spite of all precautions, 
yet the possibility of its doing so can be reduced to a minimum. 
The word “ hygiene ” is‘practically synonymous with cleanli- 
ness, hence its use in the following discussion. The essentials of 
hygienic care may be summed up in the following groups: Clean 
housing; clean feeding; clean yards and runs; and clean birds. 
Clean Housing.—The first step toward securing a clean house, 
if a dropping board be used, is to remove the droppings at least 
once a week, and sometimes oftener. If an absorbent is used, a 
good plan is to clean the dropping boards whenever the droppings 
become wet or if they do not dry quickly. In a moist state they 
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