PART FIFTH. 



Diseases and Treatment. 



As we have"already trenched on the limits or this book, we can 

 only give but a few of the most common diseases, with brief 

 descriptions of their symptoms and treatment. 



Cholera. — This disease is aptly called the "scourge of the 

 poultry yard." A. bird which falls a prey to cholera, becomes nerve- 

 less; it staggers and its wings droop;- its rufHed feathers make it look 

 like a ball; it is overcome with intense lirowsiness, and if one makes 

 it open its eyes, it seems as if disturbed from a long sleep; the eye- 

 lids soon close again, and generally death overtakes it where it 

 stands, after a noiseless agony; occasionally for a few seconds its 

 wings quiver. There is also associated with this disease, severe 

 diarrhoea, which first comes thin and frothy, and later, yellow and 

 green discharges, and the comb and face turn purple. 



Treatment : — There is no specific known for cholera, except, 

 perhaps, inoculation by cholera virus, though by the number of so- 

 called cures before the public, it seems to yield to treatment in some 

 stages. The investigations of Pasteur, Woritz, Peroncito and 

 Touissaint, show it is caused by a living organism which, in count- 

 less numbers, attack the blood and all the vital parts. 



This disease calls for heroic treatment, and if half is saved by 

 the experiments, it is much better than to allow the disease to run 

 its course. In all diseases of an infectious nature, the sick birds 

 should be removed to clean, comfortable and airy quarters from those 

 that are well. Calomel and blue mass in two grain doses, or four 

 grains of blue mass mixed with two grains each of gum camphor, 

 cayenne pepper and rhubarb, divided into four parts — one to be 

 taken every four hours, and followed with a small dose of castor oil 

 after the medicine has had time to work, is a treatment which with 



