DISEASES OF POULTRY. 69 



and obstructions oi the digestive tract occur from such 

 causes, and while these are more or less preventable, 

 €ven the most careful manager may occasionally find 

 some of his birds affected. It is, therefore, advisable 

 to study the form and functions of each organ so that 

 the slightest variation from the normal working may 

 be appreciated, and, also, that the proper change in 

 management may suggest itself for the correction of 

 such derangement. 



OBSTRUCTION OF THE BEAK. 



It is seldom that the upper part of the digestive 

 tract of birds becomes obstructed. Megnin has, how- 

 ever, recorded the case of a bird in which a sunflower 

 seed had become tightly wedged within the space 

 formed by the branches of the lower mandible. This 

 seed compressed and completely paralyzed the tongue, 

 and as the bird was unable to dislodge it, the result 

 was death from inanition. If the cause of the trouble 

 liad been recognized before the death of the bird, the 

 offending body could have been easily removed with a 

 toothpick or any pointed object and an immediate cure 

 would have been thus affected. When a bird is seen 

 to jerk its head suddenly as if to rid itself of some- 

 thing which adheres to the beak or head, particularly 

 if there is difficulty of picking up and swallowing 

 food, a careful examination should be made for some 

 obstructing body such as a seed or a piece of bone. 

 By raising the tongue, the angle of the lower mandible 

 may be readily explored. No special directions are 

 needed for the removal of such obstructions further 

 than to use due care and to avoid as far as possible 

 any injury to the sensitive tissues. 



