SCALY LEG 517 



a source of danger to the remaindci- of tlie flock, and second, 

 the very fact that one indivichial succiinihs to infection, 

 while others do not, indicate tliat it is weaker in some 

 respects than others, and not desirable for I>reeding purposes. 



While the author has made no critical study of roup and 

 kindred affections, a considerable exjterience with the disease 

 in its various forms leads him to the firm belief that tlie one 

 or several organisms causing roup are omnipresent, and 

 that any flock of birds is likely to harbor the organisms, and, 

 in fact, most of them do. The matter of an outbreak 

 usually depends upon predisposing causes, and, if at all 

 general, indicates that something in the brecduig oi- the 

 management is radically wrong. Occasionally, no doubt, 

 there may be ultravirulent strains of the organisms intro- 

 duced, which will be followed by epidemics e^'en under the 

 best breeding and management, but such conditions are I'are. 

 The fundamental treatment for this class of diseases is to 

 bred for constitutional vigor, and then be continually alert 

 for its conservation. It is frequently the case that fowls 

 in a single house are affected, when birds of the same breed- 

 ing in other houses, fed the same ration and cared for in the 

 same way in every particular, ai'c not alfcctcd. Under such 

 circumstances, one would be justified in presuming that 

 something was wrong with the house. The only waj- to 

 overcome such a situation is, of course, to find the pre- 

 disposing cause, such as dampness or inadequate ventilation, 

 and remedy it. 



In certain states where jioultry kecjiing has developed into 

 a specialized industry, notably ( 'alifornia, roup vaccines have 

 been developed which afl'ord cpilte ellicient iirotection against 

 epidemics but which do not impart a pernianent immunity. 



Scaly Leg. — This is a condition of the shanks and toes 

 caused by the burrowing under the scales of a tiny mite. 

 This burrowing causes an irritation which results in the secre- 

 tion of material, which, as it accunuilates, raises the scales. 

 In extreme cases the scales become covered or disappear, 

 and the secretion so abundant as to api)ear in large gran- 

 ular lumps on the shanks. The latter condition may be 

 accompanied by lameness. 



Unfortunately, individual treatment must be given. The 



