POULTRY FOR PROFIT 191 



treat, since the causes are not so clearly understood. 

 On the other hand, since they are in many cases 

 local, instead of constitutional, a cure, when effected, 

 is more likely to be permanent. 



Dr. Pearl says: "The general symptoms of the 

 commoner diseases of the oviduct are very much like 

 those of constipation. The poultryman watching his 

 birds is indeed rather likely to confuse the two. But 

 if so no harm is done. The thorough cleaning out of 

 the alimentary tract and stimulation of the liver in- 

 dicated in the treatment of constipation is the very 

 best thing to be done in cases of inflammation and 

 similar disorders of the oviduct." 



Four diseases of the oviduct demand considera- 

 tion: 



1. Inflammation op the Oviduct. — This is one 

 of the most important and common of this class of 

 diseases. It is caused sometimes by irritation due to 

 too frequent laying or too stimulating foods; some- 

 times by the laying of too large eggs or the breaking 

 of eggs within the oviduct; sometimes by infection 

 of the lining membranes of the oviduct. 



Hill "Diseases of Poultry" gives the following 

 symptoms: "A bird affected with inflammation of 

 the egg passage suffers acutely. At first there is a 

 continual and violent straining (sometimes result- 

 ing in apoplexy). The wings are drooped and the 

 feathers puffed out. The vent is hot. As the inflam- 

 mation proceeds the bird becomes more and more 

 mopish and exhausted, but does not strain so vio- 

 lently. Ultimately the temperature becomes lower, 

 the body cold, and with a few convulsive gasps the 

 sufferer dies." 



Treatment must be early if it is to be successful. 

 Give a purgative dose of Epsom salts (half a tea- 

 spoon for a full-grown fowl) and follow with one- 



