88 POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



Etiology. The cause of catarrh is exposure to cold, _ to 

 draughts of air, to damp atmosphere due to improper housing 

 conditions, or to wet weather. Weak stock or improperly nour- 

 ished birds are more likely to be affected by these conditions 

 than strong, vigorous and well fed individuals. 



Treatment. With strong, healthy stock it is usually only nec- 

 essary to remove the cause. It is a good practice, however, to 

 give red pepper (capsicum) with the food. Salmon gives the 

 formula and dose of a tonic recommended by Megnin. 



"Gentian root 4 drams 



Ginger 4 drams 



Sulphate of iron 2 drams 



Hyposulphite of sodium i dram 



Salicylate of sodium i dram 



These substances are to be pulverized and then thoroughly 

 mixed. The dose is 3 to 4 grains a day for a medium-sized fowl. 

 Its effects are stimulating and tonic." 



In severe cases, the eyes, mouth, and nostrils may be washed 

 once or twice a day with one of the following solutions which 

 are given in order of preference : 



1. Boracic acid 3 per cent solution. 



2. Creolin i per cent solution. 



3. Hydrogen dioxide mixed with equal parts of water. 



4. Carbolic acid, 2 per cent solution. 



Prognosis. A great majority of the birds recover in a few 

 days if the cause is immediately removed. If the cause con- 

 tinues to act they may become worse and die, or the disease 

 may become chronic and persist for a long time. 



Bronchitis, Croup. 



This disease may follow catarrh as a direct extension of the 

 inflammatory processes in the membrane of the nasal cavities 

 and throat to the mucous membrane of bronchial tubes. 



Diagnosis. The symptoms of bronchitis are the symptoms of 

 a hard cold (severe catarrh) with rapid breathing and cough. 

 It may be distinguished from a cold by the peculiar sounds made 

 in breathing. In the early stages of the disease this is a whist- 

 ling sound made by the passage of the air over the dry, thickened 

 membrane. As the disease advances mucus collects in the tubes 

 and the breathing is accompanied by a rattling or bubbling sound. 

 Under favorable conditions the symptoms do not usually pass 



