DISEASES 
it will often be better to dispose of the entire flock than to 
combat the disease. Fortunately cholera epidemics are rare 
and in many localities have never been known. ‘ 
Roup. 
This disease is a representative of that class of diseases 
which, while being caused by bacteria, can be considered more 
of a disease of conditions than of contagion. Roup may be 
caused by a number of different bacteria which are commonly 
found in the air and soil. When chickens catch cold these 
germs find lodgment in the nasal passages and roup ensues. 
The first symptoms of roup are those of an ordinary cold, but 
as the disease progresses a cheesy secretion appears in the 
head and throat. A wheezing or rattling sound is often pro- 
duced by the breathing. The face and eyes swell, and in 
severe cases the chicken becomes blind. The most certain 
way of identifying roup is a characteristic sickening odor. The 
disease may last a week or a year. Birds occasionally recover, 
but are generally useless after having had roup. 
Sick birds should be removed and destroyed, but the time 
usually spent in doctoring sick birds and disinfecting houses 
can in this case be better employed in finding and remedying 
the cause of the disease. Such causes may be looked for as 
dampness, exposure to cold winds, or to a sudden change in 
temperature as is experienced by chickens roosting in a tight 
house. Fall and winter are the seasons of roup, while it is 
poorly housed and poorly fed flocks that most commonly suffer 
from this disease. Flocks that have become thoroughly roupy | 
should be disposed of and more vigorous birds secured. The 
open front house has proved to be the most practical scheme 
for the reduction of this disease. 
Chicken-Pox, Gapes, Limber Neck. 
Chicken-pox or sore-head is a disease peculiar to the South. 
It attacks growing chickens late in the summer. Southern 
poultrymen who give reasonable attention to their stock, find 
that, while this disease is a source of some annoyance, the 
losses are not severe and that it may be readily controlled. 
In the first place, the animal epidemic of pox can be practi- 
cally avoided by bringing the chicks out early in the season. 
If the disease does develop in the flock, the birds are taken 
from the coops at night and their heads dipped in a proper 
strength of one of the coal tar disinfectants. Such treatment 
once a week has generally been effective. This disease is an 
exception to the general rule that disinfectants which kill 
germs also kill the chicken. The explanation is that chicken- 
pox is an external disease. 
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