POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 35 



of the crop are disturbed or arrested. It is said to be caused 

 by eating indigestible, decayed, or poisonous food. "The foods 

 and substances specially mentioned as causing inflammation of 

 the crop are : Decomposed meats and putrid foods of any kind, 

 unslaked lime, paint skins, rat poison, excessive use of condi- 

 ments and spices, milled by-products containing too large pro- 

 portions of hulls or other indigestible fibrous particles. Salmon 

 notes that it may result from the presence of worms in the crop, 

 and that it occurs as a complication with thrush, diphtheria, and 

 cholera. It also occurs frequently with gastritis." (Robm- 

 son.) 



Diagnosis. — "The most prominent symptom is distention of 

 the crop, and on examination the swelling is found to be soft 

 and due to accumulated liquid or gas, mixed with more or less 

 food. The birds are dull, indisposed to move, and there is 

 belching of gas, loss of appetite and weakness. Sometimes there 

 is nausea and the affected bird attempts to vomit. Pressure 

 upon the crop causes the expulsion through the mouth of liquid 

 and gas having an offensive odor due to fermentation." (Sal- 

 mon.) 



Treatment. — The first step in the treatment of this disease is 

 to empty the crop as completely as possible. This can be done 

 by holding the bird head downward and carefully pressing and 

 kneading the crop. After most of the contents have been ex- 

 pelled in this way give the bird several spoonsful of lukewarm 

 water and then empty the crop as before. Give a slight purga- 

 tive such as a small teaspoonful of castor oil. The bird should 

 be kept without food for 12 to 20 hours and then fed sparingly 

 on soft, easily digested material. Salmon recommends giving 

 2 grains of subnitrate of bismuth and ^ grain of bicarbonate of 

 soda in a teaspoonful of water to relieve irritation and to correct 

 acidity. Salicylic acid, i grain to an ounce of water, is also recom- 

 mended. The dose is 2 to 3 teaspoonfuls. Hill recommends 

 the feeding of mucilaginous fluids such as barley-water, thin 

 solution of gum, etc. If the inflammation is due to eating poi- 

 sons antidotes as given farther on (Chapter VI) should be used. 



If inflammation of the crop is at all general throughout the 

 flock an effort should be made to remove the cause. Itus well 

 to change the feed and give the birds more exercise. The addi- 

 tion of fine charcoal (small chick size) to the mash will of en be 

 of service, as the birds eat more of it in this way than when the 

 charcoal is in a box by itself. 



