200 DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



degree described above. They lose flesh, however, 

 their plumage becomes rough and dull, diarrhea sets- 

 in and death occurs from exhaustion. 



Treatment. — As rheumatism is usually caused by 

 exposure to cold and dampness, the development of 

 the disease in one or more fowls of a flock should be 

 a warning to improve the ventilation and drainage of 

 the houses. The buildings where the fowls live and 

 roost should be thoroughly dry, free from draughts, yet 

 well ventilated, and not too cold. With proper atten- 

 tion to these sanitary arrangements the disease should 

 be prevented. Affected birds should have frequent 

 change of ration with plenty of green feed. Begin 

 treatment with a dose of Epsom salts 20 to 30 grains. 

 The following day add 30 to 40 grains of bicarbonate 

 of soda (baking soda) to the quart of drinking water, 

 and give 2 or 3 grains of salicylic acid twice a day. 

 Apply camphorated or carbolic ointment to the af- 

 fected joints. The birds which are seriously affected 

 would be better killed than treated, and the main re- 

 liance must be under any circumstances in prevention 

 by securing proper sanitary conditions. 



DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



The feet of poultry are very subject to diseases 

 which result from pricks, cuts, bruises, and other 

 injuries. Although the weight of birds is small com- 

 pared with that of most other domesticated animals, 

 the fact that their nights are usually spent upon 

 perches, that in flying from these perches they often 

 alight very heavily, and that they scratch very vigor- 

 ously in searching for their food, is a sufficient expla- 

 nation of their peculiar liability to this class of in- 

 juries. It is convenient for our purpose to divide the 

 diseases of the feet, which result from injuries, into 



