POULTRY AND LARGE BIRDS. 407 
efforts to expel it, or comes off and walks about in a distressed mood, with 
the wings hanging. Cochins are especially subject to this difficulty. 
Relief may be afforded by giving a light dose of castor oil, but it is better 
to wash out the vent with water and inject into the uterus (not the gut) 
an ounce of sweet oil. If an oiled feather be passed up the canal, the 
same effect as that of an injection will be secured. The use of an in- 
strument to puncture or break the egg is dangerous, and should not be 
resorted to except as a last expedient. If this disorder is neglected, eggs 
may accumulate in the duct and form a large tumor. 
Eccs BRokEN IN THE Bopy.—Eggs may be broken in the body by 
mechanical injuries or by straining in laying them. This is usually fatal. 
Uneasiness and bagging-down behind are the distinctive symptoms. The 
treatment is an injection of a teaspoonful of castor or sweet oil. 
Sort Eccs.—Eggs without hard shells, or with such as are imper- 
fectly formed, may be laid occasionally or repeatedly. The causes are 
inflammation of the oviduct (see below), over-feeding, eating ergot, lack of 
shell-making food, and worry, as by driving fowls about. As treat- 
give lime-water (see page $75), and put within 
reach of the fowl old mortar or powdered oyster shells. 
INFLAMMATION OF THE OvipucT.—This results from taking cold, 
unwholesome or too stimulating food, and excessive attentions of the male. 
The symptions are general fever; feathers on the back and rump puffed 
out; continued straining, as if to lay an egg; eggs imperfectly formed, per- 
haps soft-shelled, or even simple yelks. In the way of treatment, keep 
the fowl away from the cock a long time. Give a grain of calomel and 
one-tenth of a grain of tartar emetic in meal, repeating the dose the next 
day if relief is not afforded. Give mild, easily digested food. 
PROTRUSION OF THE OvipucT.—HERNIA.—Straining to lay eggs or 
general debility of the system may cause the end of the oviduct to protrude 
from the vent. It may result in “ breaking-down behind.” Bathe the pro- 
truding part in blood-warm water, oil it, and gently push it back to its 
place with the finger, repeating the operation as often as necessary: Give 
such unstimulating articles of diet as boiled rice and potatoes, avoiding those 
which are known to tend to the production of eggs. Give aconite and 
mercurius internally; or give once a day tartar emetic and calomel as rec- 
ommended above for inflammation of the oviduct. 
Breax-Down BeHtinp.—Beside protrusion of the oviduct and broken 
eggs in the body, this disorder may be caused by an undue accumulation of 
fat in the hind parts. A cure may eventually be effected by a low diet 
when the last 1s the cause, but the fowl is unfit for breeding purposes. 
Cannabis may be of service. 
ment, remove the causes, 
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