‘PARASITES AND DISEASES OF POULTRY 
fatness, this disorder may be remedied by putting 
the hen on a light diet, composed mainly of green 
stuff. If the disorder is due to some derangement 
of the oviduct, it is generally incurable. 
Liver Diseases usually commence on account of 
overfeeding or insufficient exercise. Congestion 
of the liver is the first stage, and this may usually 
be cured by using some good liver pill. Inflamma- 
tion of the liver is the next and final stage, as it 
seldom yields to treatment. The symptoms are 
loss of appetite, yellow diarrhea, extreme thirsti- 
ness, slow and labored breathing, and general 
listlessness. 
Leg Weakness is a common ailment among 
the young chicks of novices. It comes from over- 
feeding, too much forcing, insufficient exercise, too 
close confinement, or lack of bone-forming material 
in the food. The bird’s gait is unsteady, the hocks 
appear weak and wobbly, and the bird desires to 
sit a great part of the time. Feed less heating or 
forcing food, discontinue wet mashes and instead 
feed dry grains scattered in litter, making the 
chicks scratch for all they get. 
Soft-shelled Eggs are nearly always caused by 
overfatness among the hens, or by a ration deficient 
in lime and shell-forming materials. Correct con- 
ditions, supplying crushed oyster shells and feed- 
ing freely of bran and clover, both of which are 
rich in lime. Occasionally a hen will lay a soft- 
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