34 POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



it iTiay recover but it will be a long time before it will repay 

 the owner for his trouble and feed. 



If swelled grain is the cause of the impaction the bird may 

 often be successfully treated without an operation. In this case 

 first give the bird a tablespoonful of castor oil. After allowing 

 this a little time to work into the crop begin to knead the hard 

 mass. After this mass has been softened hold the bird with 

 head downward and attempt to work the grain out through the 

 mouth. If unsuccessful in this or if the impaction is due to 

 clogging with straw or other material it will be necessary to 

 open the crop. 



The following method for this operation is given by Sanborn 

 (Farm PouUrj' Doctor) : "If someone can hold the bird for 

 you it will make the operation easier. Pluck out a few feathers 

 and then cut through the skin over the crop a line about i inch 

 long. This cut should be in the median line of the body. Then 

 make an incision ^ of an inch long through the crop. The 

 distention of the crop will cause the opening to gape, and the 

 mass will be in plain sight. With toothpicks, blunt pointed scis- 

 sors, tweezers, or similar tools, take out the contents of the crop. 

 This done run the finger into the crop and make sure that there 

 is nothing remaining to obstruct the outlet to the organ. When 

 sure all is right, take 3 or 4 stitches in the opening in the crop, 

 making each stitch by itself and tying a knot that will not slip. 

 Then do the same thing to the cut in the skin. For stitches use 

 white silk (or if nothing better can be obtained) common cotton 

 thread, number 60. Keep the bird by itself for a week, feeding 

 soft food." 



The above operation is not a difficult one and is usually suc- 

 cessful. Care should be exercised to have the hands and instru- 

 ments thoroughly clean. After the contents of the crop have 

 been removed the wound and the empty crop itself should be 

 thoroughly washed out with clean, warm (108° to 110° F.) 

 water. The edges of the skin wound should be well greased 

 with vaseline. It is well to feed the bird only milk for the first 

 day or two. 



Inflammation of the Crop. 

 Inflammation or catarrh of the crop usually accompanies more 

 or less general disturbances of the digestive system. As a result 

 of the irritated condition of the mucous membrane the functions 



