SUCCESS WITH POULTRY 



105 



water, afterwards it becomes thin and frothy. Prostration 

 comes on, the crop fills with mucus and wind, and at last 

 the food is not digested, breathing is heavy and fast, the 

 eyes close, and in few ht)urs the fowl dies. 



When fowls die it is very easy to say that they died of 

 cholera, and so let it go; but if the symptoms were not sub- 

 stantially as given above, an autopsy would show that it 

 was not that disease. 



On dissecting a fowl that has died of cholera, the gizzard 

 will be found to be filled with dried-up or sometimes with a 

 greenish matter, and the crop will be inflated with sour 

 mucus and food. The liver will 'he much enlarged and flabby, 

 and so tender that it will easily mash in the hand, and gen- 

 erally split open, and in every case is much congested. The 

 crop and intestines are niufih inflamed, and the latter are 

 filled with a greenish matter. The heart is also sometimes 

 enlarged. 



Treatment. — At once remove all affected birds,to a com- 

 fortably warm room, well lighted, the floor covered to a 

 depth of- three or four inches with clean straw or like sub- 

 stance. Let the drink be scanty, using freely "Douglas 

 Mixture;" allow no other water. 



Dr. S. J. Parker, of New York State, gives the following 

 excellent prescription to be given in the earlier or indiges- 

 tive stage of the disease, and, we advise giving it a trial as 

 soon as the fowls show symptoms of being affected. He 

 says: "I find it best to force down the fowl's throat Euca- 

 lyptus globulus, ten drops of the strong tincture, common 

 salt four to six grains, and half a teaspoonful of ground 

 cayenne (red) pepper. One dose in a teaspoonful of water 

 to be given at once. If the dose takes effect digestion is re- 

 sumed, and in twenty-four hours the fowl is relieved or de- 

 cidedly better." 



The droppings must be drenched with the sulphuric acid 

 water to destroy the germs and prevent the disease from 

 spreading. When the birds are fed they should have only 

 cooked food. Our experience and observation leads us to 

 ' believe that if they can be cured at all, this treatment will 

 give them the best chance for life. 



To Prevent Cholera: 



1. Remove all the affected birds. 



2. Give tonics, liver stimulants and aids to digestion. 



3. Givp the fowls more space. This may be accom- 

 plished by diminishing the number of fowls or by increasing 

 the area of their range and of their houses. 



4. The poultry house should be thoroughly ventilated 

 and be kept clean and dry. 



5. The buildings, yards and places of resort should be 

 thoroughly disinfected. 



6. Give the fowls a "preventive" that will destroy or 

 render inert the poison ..they have taken into their system. 

 There is nothing known that will accomplish this as quickly 

 and effectually as coal oil. The coal oil shotild be given 

 three or four times a week, as follows: Take a feeding oft 

 corn or wheat and let it soak in the oil a few hours, then 

 feed it to the fowls or mix in soft feed one tablespoonful to 

 two quarts of cornmeal. 



CROP BOUND. 



Cause. — An over-amount of food given when the fowls 

 are in good condition and when they have a ravishing appe- 

 tite, ifere we wish to calL your attention to the danger of 

 neglecting to feed for one or two days, then allowing the 

 fowls access to all they can eat. Whole flocks have been ex- 

 terminated from just this manner of feeding, and tjie owner 

 would realize his misfortune by declaring it was cholera and 

 advising his neighbors to have nothing to do with poultry. 



The complaint is liable to affect fowls and chicks in con- 



finement where no range is allowed, and in nearly every case 

 the real cause is overfeeding them indigestible food. In 

 most instances death is sure to follow, unless properly treat- 

 ed. It only requires about twenty-four hours for the symp- 

 toms to manifest themselves. The disease may be quickly 

 relieved, as follows: Open the crop on the side, lengthwise, 

 cutting a slit sufficiently long to remove all the contents, 

 using a sharp knife. After this is done, thoroughly cleanse 

 with warm water; then close with several stitches, care be- 

 ing taken not to sew the skin of the bird to the sack of the 

 crop. Close the crop first, using coarse white linen thread; 

 also have knot come on inside of crop; theii take a few 

 stitches in the skin. Place the fowl in dry, warm quarters; 

 give no water the first twenty-four hours, and feed on soft 

 food for two days. It will soon recover. 



CANKER. 



Cause. — Badly housed, uncleanliness, musty or unwhole- 

 some food. 



Symptoms. — The breaking out of cancerous running 

 sores on the head, in mouth or throat, accompanied with a 

 watery discharge from the eyes and mucous secretion of the 

 mouth and throat. 



Treatment. — ^Wash the head and eyes and swab out the 

 mouth and throat with a diluted solution of chlorate of pot- 

 ash and alum, equal parts, containing one-half water, and 

 remove the ulcers with a quill, and apply nitrate of silver or 

 powdered borax to the places left bare, to be repeated twice 

 a day; also mix a teaspoonful of powdered sulphur in the 

 food. 



BUMBLE FOOT. 



Causes.^This is caused by the birds roosting on a small, 

 uneven perch, or in flying down from a high one upon a 

 hard surface, thereby bruising their feet. It occurs mostly 

 with the heavier varieties of fowls. 



Symptoms.— It commences with a small swelling or corn 

 in the ball of the foot, which enlarges, becomes soft and 

 finally ulcerates. 



Treatment. — Eiemove the bird to a place without perches. 

 If the foot becomes ulcerated, first wash out the sore with 

 castile soap and warm water, then dip the foot in a solution 

 of one-fourth ounce of sulphate of copper to a quart of 

 water; this may be repeated two or three times a day. If 

 taken in time a cure may be affected by painting the part 

 with iodine. When the tumor is soft or in the form of an 

 abscess, puncture it with a knife and press out the matter, 

 after which cauterize the part with nitrate of silver. 



A linseed poultice bound securely on the affected foot 

 will work a cure in many cases. 



LEO WEAKNESS. 



Cause. — This complaint should not be confounded with 

 the previous one. It often arises from the inbreeding of 

 the same strain of fowls for too long a period; but is usually 

 caused by too "high feeding, which increases the weight of 

 the body out of proportion to the muscular strength of the 

 legs; it more generally occurs in the large breeds, such as 

 Cochins and Brahmas, particularly in the cockerels. 



Symptoms. — Squatting around on their hooks, after 

 standing a short time, as if tired; in bad eases they are 

 unable to stand on their feet at all. \ 



Treatment. — In an early stage give the following pill 

 twice or three times a day: One grain of sulphate of iron, 

 five grains of phosphate of lime and half a grain of quinine. 



OHIOKEN POX. 



Causes. — This disease ,is frequently caused by unfavor- 

 able conditions of the atmosphere, and -generally occurs in 

 oold, wet weather. It is of an infectious character.. 



