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is, fortunately, very easily discernible. Instead of the 

 crop having a firm, close appearance, in fact, not being- 

 noticeable, it is seen to hang down like a bag, and on 

 being felt there is found to be inside a lump or ball of 

 food. If the trouble is discovered early, cure is very 

 easy. The first step is to pour some salad oil or melted 

 lard down the throat, and then to work gently with the 

 hand the mass in the crop. This, if properly and 

 effectively done, will soon cause the food and the fluid 

 to mix, and when the mass has been well broken up, it 

 will in the course of a few hours pass away. Warm 

 water may be used instead of the oil or lard, but it is 

 not so rapid or so effective in its action. When the 

 mass has been got rid of, great care is required in order 

 to prevent a recurrence of the same thing. Feed spar- 

 ingly for a few days on sopped bread. When the 

 kneading process is ineffectual, then an operation 

 becomes requisite, but no one need fear the performing 

 of this operation, as it is a very simple one and needs 

 no great skill. Nor is there any danger involved in it. 

 Make an incision lengthwise in the upper part of the 

 crop, about an inch or an inch and a half in length. 

 This should be very cleanly made with a sharp lancet 

 or penknife. Through this incision the contents of the 

 crop may be removed, using for that purpose a small 

 eggspoon. Sometimes the mass is so hard that it can- 

 not pass through the aperture, and in that case it must 

 be broken up, which can be done with care and 

 patience. This mass is usually very offensive indeed, 

 and to remove any contaminating matter from the crop 

 this organ should be washed out with Condy's fluid, 

 or a similar non-poisonous disinfectant. It is also 

 desirable to pass the finger, well pared and oiled, into 

 the orifice so far as to be certain that there is no 

 obstruction there, for if so the whole process may have 

 to be gone over again. This done, the incision must 



