14 DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



worthy of the most careful study and attention . About 

 820 million dozens of eggs were returned in the census 

 of 1890, with no account of dressed poultry, feathers, 

 &c. Nothing relating to such an industry is beneath 

 the talents or dignity of the riiost learned and able per- 

 sons in the land. It is only the thoughless and igno- 

 rant who speak slightingly of the " chicken business," 

 or who consider it inferior to any other occupation. 



HEAI.TH AND DISEASE. 



The success of poultry raising depends upon the 

 ability of those engaged in this industry to keep their 

 birds thriving, vigorous, and free from disease. From 

 an economical point of view birds are machines which 

 consume certain kinds of raw material and produce eggs 

 and meat. They should be kept in such a condition 

 that they can most profitably work this transformation. 

 One of the most serious obstacles to profitable poultry 

 keeping is the effect of diseases in arresting the pro - 

 ductive activity of the flock and in decimating its 

 numbers. More failures in the poultry business are 

 traceable to disease than to any other cause. A knowl - 

 edge of the nature, prevention, and curative treatment 

 of the more common diseases of fowls is, therefore, 

 essential to success in this industry ; and a treatise on 

 this subject for ready reference must necessarily be one 

 of the most useful articles in the poultryman's outfit. 

 These diseases are treated with considerable detail in 

 this volume, but before entering upon the study of the 

 individual diseases, it will be of great assistance to get 

 a clear idea of what constitutes disease, how it is caused 

 and upon what principles it may be prevented and 

 cured. 



We say a bird is in good health when it appears 



