150 EGGS AND POULTRY 
scaly leg readily spreads from fowl to fowl 
never put a hen having this trouble: in with 
the others. 
If the house and the roosts are regularly 
sprayed and disinfected scaly leg will not ap- 
pear. Such hens as already have it may be 
cured by swabbing on kerosene, making ap- 
plications until the scales are removed. 
Bumble foot, a swelling which forms on 
the under sides of the hen’s foot, is caused 
by the fowls jumping down upon a hard floor, 
which has insufficient litter on it. The leg 
bone of the hen seems to end at just the point 
where the foot meets the floor without any 
provision being made to absorb a jar. This 
bone strikes the hard floor. If the bird con- 
tinues jumping down from a high roost, a 
boil or swelling begins to form between the 
toes, often growing to a large size. The pre- 
vention is easy—simply deep litter on the 
floor so there will be no jar. If the hen has 
not contracted a severe case the swelling will 
gradually disappear. 
Diarrhea is caused by improper feeding or 
unsanitary conditions. Birds on range with 
natural conditions seldom have diarrhea, but 
yarded fowls which have to depend upon the 
attendant for all their food are often afflicted. 
