DISEASES OF POULTRY. 129 



drops of etner or four or five drops of tincture of cam- 

 phor may be injected under the skin as a stimulant. 

 In case the disease is due to rupture of the oviduct 

 or perforation of the intestine, treatment is useless ; if 

 it has followed inflammation of the intestine, the 

 treatment for enteritis should be combined with that 

 for peritonitis. Peritonitis from caponizing should be 

 guarded against by sterilizing the instruments and 

 applying a germicide (corrosive sublimate 1 grain, 

 water 4 ounces), to the skin before beginning the 

 operation. 



CHRONIC PERITONITIS, ASCITES, ABDOMINAL DROPSY. 



Liquid in the abdominal cavity may result from a 

 mild or chronic case of peritonitis, and it is said by 

 some writers to be due to anaemia in young birds, and 

 to the obstruction of the venous circulation in older 

 ones. The condition is shown by the enlargement of 

 the abdomen which is distended until it nearly or 

 quite reaches the ground when the bird is standing. 

 If examined by slight pressure of the hand the swell- 

 ing is found to be soft and fluctuating; it will yield in 

 one place and cause a greater distension at another. 

 That is, it gives the sensation of a sac filled with 

 liquid. 



Fowls affected in this way are dull, disinclined to 

 move, generally feeble, with pale comb and diminish- 

 ed appetite. 



The treatment of this condition is not profitable, 

 but, in special cases, stimulating diet with consider- 

 able animal food, tonics and diuretics, may be tried. 

 Iodide of potassium or iodide of iron in doses of 1 

 grain is particularly indicated. 



DISEASES OF THE LIVER. 



The liver is one of the largest and most important 



