POULTEY. 133 



by fowls, without attention to cleanliness, to renovation of the soil, and 

 a proper allowance of gravel, ashes, fresh vegetables, etc. ; these are the 

 causes which produce this and many other diseases. The gapes is an 

 epidemic disease, which often thins the preserves of pheasants and the 

 coveys of partridges. 



Inflammation of the lungs, including the bronchial tubes, is not un- 

 common. Its symptoms are quick breathing, often with a rattle or r&le 

 very audible, dullness, disorder of plumage, vacancy in the eye, and in- 

 disposition to stir. In this, death can hardly be prevented. Human 

 patients can explain their feelings — cattle, to a certain degree, indicate 

 them, and speak in dumb eloquence ; but birds give little indication, by 

 voice or manner, leading to what the medical man calls diagnosis. The 

 persevering use of cod-liver oil will give relief, and even effect a tem- 

 porary, or at any rate an apparent cure ; but who would like to breed 

 from the bird. 



Peritoneal Inflammation, or Peritonitis. — This disease runs so rapid a 



course, that death not unfrequently occurs before any marked symptoms 

 have appeared indicative of active disease. The bird perhaps appears 

 a little drooping — it refuses to eat ; but as it is highly fed, this circum- 

 stance occasions no surprise ; it retires to its roost, and is found dead in 

 the morning. Examination at once reveals the cause of death — the peri- 

 toneal membrane exhibits all the indications of active inflammation. 

 We have noticed the occurrence of the same disease among carnivorous 

 mammalia. An animal appears to be as well as usual — at least it at- 

 tracts no observation — but it dies suddenly. On opening the body, the 

 cause is manifest — Peritonitis has done its work. 



Inflammation of the Mncous Membrane of the Intestinal Canal is usually 

 evinced by dysentery. The bird pines ; it is purged ; in a little time the 

 evacuations become more or less tinged with blood, and death ensues. 

 Damp and improper food are the causes of this affection. It can 

 be treated with success only in the early stage. First give a small 

 quantity of castor-oil. This will clear the laowels of irritating secretion. 

 Afterward let the bird have doses of the Hydrargyrum cum cretd, (of 

 the London Pharmacopoeia), rhubarb, and laudanum : — of the hydrargy- 

 rum cum cret^, three grains ; rhubarb, two or three grains ; laudanum, 

 two, three, or four drops. Mix in a teaspoonful of gruel or gum-water. 

 To be given every alternate day for a fortnight. 



Simple Diarrhtea may be generally cured by a change of diet, and a 

 little chalk given in gruel. 



Constipation of the Bowels will yield to castor-oil, and a diet upon 

 oatmeal porridge and green vegetables. 



Asthma. — Both fowls and pigeons are affected with this complaint, 

 which is evidenced by diflSculty of breathing and a wheezing, rattling 

 noise on inspiration. It is the result of a thickening of the bronchial 

 tubes from previous inflammation, often accompanied by an alteration 

 in the structure of the cellular tissue of a portion of the lungs. There 

 appears to be no rational plan of treatment likely to effect a cure. 



Inflammation and Intumescence of the Rump Gland is generally symp- 

 tomatic of a febrile condition of the system. To this affection the term 

 roup (an indefinite term for all the diseases of poultry) is often applied. 



