106 



SUCCESS WITH POULTRY 



Symptoms, — The head, face or body is t covered with 

 small ulcers, containing an infectious matter. 



Treatment. — First wash with castile soap, and then with 

 a strong solution of chlorate of potash; also mix a little pul- 

 verized charcoal and sulpliur in the soft food, about a tea- 

 spoonful of each to a pint of m'eal. Anoint the head with 

 "Carbolate of Cosmoline" until cured. 



Carbolate of Cosmoline consists merely of vaseline with 

 about three drops of carbolic acid to the ounce of vaseline. 

 Mix well. 



GAPES. 



Causes. — Foul water, exposure to wet, damp places, parr 

 ticularly at night, want of nourishing food, etc. 



Symptoms. — The general symptoms, as the name im- 

 plies, consist in constant gaping, coughing and sneezing, to- 

 gether with inactivity and loss of appetite. 



Treatment. — ^Give the bird daily, until it recovers, a 

 small piece of eamplior about as large as a grain of wheat, 

 and add a few drops of camphor or turpentine to the drink- 

 ing water, or mix with Ihe food, about ten drops to the pint. 



DOUGLAS MIXTUIIE. 



"Douglas Mixture" is made thus: Take of sulphate of 

 iron (common copperas), 8 ounces; sulphuric acid, Vz fluid 

 ounce. Put into a bottle or jug one gallon of water, into this 

 put the sulph.ate of iron. As soon as tlie iron is dissolved 

 add the acid,- and when it is clear, the "mixture" is ready 

 for use. 



In hot weather, or when the flock is sm^ll, less may be 

 prepared at once, but the above proportion should be ob- 

 served. This "mixture" or tonic should be given in the 

 drinking water every other day — a gill for every twenty-five 

 head is not too much — and where there is infection it must 

 be used ■every day, but where there is no disease, not so 

 often, or in smaller quantities if it be used every day. 



Tbis preparation, simple as it is, is one of the best ton- 

 ics for poultry known. It is alterative as well as tonic, and 

 possesses, besides, antiseptic properties which make it a 

 remedy as well as a tonic. 



DIAI&BHOEA AND DYSENTERY. 



Cause. — This is in maiiy cases not a disease, but a symp- 

 tom. Indigestion causes diarrhoea and the first object of the 

 paudtryman who has fowls so troubled should be to think 

 over his method of feeding. The requisites for poultry, aside 

 from the grain and animal food that is invariably fed, is 

 grit and green food. These two necessaries are invaluable 

 in keeping the digestive organs in good condition. 



One of the effects of lice is diarrhoea, in fact diarrhoea 

 is a complaint that may in many cases be remedied by clear- 

 ing away the droppings and dust that infest many poultry 

 houses and harbor lice. 



In some cases boiled rice will improve the condition of 

 the fowls after the precautions named have been taken. A 

 small quantity of cooked mash given at frequent intervals 

 will be beneficial. Never feed a full meal of this. 



If not treated upon the first symptoms appearing, diar- 

 rhoea may develop into dysentery. 



Symptoms.— The symptoms of dysentery are the same 

 as those in diarrhoea in a more aggravated form. The watery 

 discharges become streaked with more or less blood, and' 

 general weakness is very pronounced. 



Treatment.— Prevent all exposure to cold and dampness, 

 keep everything _ about those affected scrupulously clean. 

 Give milk and lime water as prepared for diarrhoea, with a 

 half teaspoonful of whisky added. Af the outset of the at- 

 tack give a half teaspoonfiil of castor oil. 



An eastern authority, writing on the subject of dysen- 



tery, says: "Dysentery is due to overfeeding, by whicj the 

 liver is gorged with bile and its function is arrested. The 

 bowels are then disturbed by the presence of the bile and un- 

 digested matter, and the action of them is greatly increased, 

 with cramps and spasms, due to the increased eflort to expel 

 the crude, offensive matter. The best thing to be done is to 

 help nature in this, and to give a purgative, such as a small 

 rhubarb pill, at night, inclosed in a small ball of butter or 

 lard. As much powdered rhubarb as will make' a pill, when 

 mixed with molasses, as" large as a sweet pea, is sufficient, 

 arid one should be given every evening. The food should be 

 soft and nutritibus, as oatmeal or linseed, boiled thick and 

 given in balls, if not eaten readily. This medicine is recom- 

 mended mostly for the fowl when first taken, and if a few 

 only are affected the whole flock should be treated as a pre- 

 caution. As a rule, there is but very little risk of infection 

 oven from a closely neighboring flock, if the fowls are fed 

 and cared for as they should be, the house kept scrupulously 

 clean, the food good and varied, as above suggested, and not 

 in excess; if pure water is given in abundance, and the tem- 

 perature regulated so that no extremes of cold, or, indeed, of 

 heat, are permitted, but when coddling is the rule, one may 

 look out for sick fowls." 



CONGESTION OF THE LIVER. 



By congestion of the liver is meant' an increase in the 

 amount of blood in the organ. Owing to the arrangement of 

 its vessels, ithe circulation in the liver is influenced by the 

 condition of the heart and lungs, , and by the state of diges- 

 tion. It is therefore very liable to suffer from change in 

 blood supply. 



Causes. — Excesses in eating; insufficient supply o£ sharp 

 grit. The admission of irritating substances to the blood, as 

 cayenne pepper, condition powders, etc., increase the ten- 

 dency to congestion. When the keart is affected and the 

 proper amount of blood is no.t forced through, an abnormal 

 fullness of the venous system results and the liver is the first 

 organ after the lungs to suffer congestion thus caused. 



Symptoms. — A general langour is apparent; the face as- 

 sumes a yellowish color; loss of appetite; diarrhoea is fre- 

 quently present and great tenderness is evident upon pres- 

 sure over the region of the liver. 



Treatment.— Avoid all stimulants. The food should be 

 some easily digested substance, as boiled oatmeal. Give one 

 teaspoonful of Epsom Salts dissolved in water once daily for 

 three days. 



Congestion of the liver will frequently cure itself if the 

 bird is given access to plenty of grit and the diet is restricted 

 to plain foods in moderate quantities. • 



ACUTE RHEUMATISM. 



Definition. — Acute rheumatism is a constitutional dis- 

 ease, characterized by fever and inflammation of the joints, 

 occurring in succession. 



Causes. — Whether dampness, cold or sudden chilling are 

 direct causes, or are predisposing influences, is a question, 

 but certain it is that attacks of this disease are more numer- 

 ous when these conditions exist. 



Symptoms. — Thirst and constipation occur. The legs- 

 become painful and refuse to support the body. Upon exam- 

 ination one or more of the joints are found to be Jiot an3 

 swollen. Very soon, probably the next day, other joints b«- 

 come affected, and those first attacked become less painful, 

 and the swelling subsides. This tendency to migrate or shift 

 from one joint to another is the most characteristic symp- 

 tom of actite rheumatism. When there are no complications, 

 the fowls begin to move about the fifteenth day and are 

 ^restored tp health in about three weeks. 



