The most characteristic changes seen after death are red 

 spots on the surface of the heart, which gives it the appear- 

 ance of having been sprinkled with blood, congestion and 

 enlargement of the liver, and swelling of the spleen. 



If a chicken has apoplexy, a disease of the brain caused by 

 the rupture of one of the blood vessels, the bird is attacked 

 suddenly and falls down, apparently dead or nearly so. The 

 usual cause is too high feeding, but it may also be due to 

 some other provocation, such as sudden fright, violent exer- 

 tion, or straining in laying eggs. Fowls are sometimes found 

 dead on the nest or under the perches. There is usually no 

 previous warning, and so in most cases treatment is impossi- 

 ble, as the bird usually dies almost immediately. When, how- 

 ever, the sufferer is still alive, pierce a vein on the underside 

 of the wing and let it bleed freely. This will reduce the pres- 

 sure on the brain and often result in a cure. The bird should 

 then be kept on a limited diet for some time in order to re- 

 duce the surplus fat. As preventative measures, regulate the 

 diet and give plenty of exercise. 



If a chicken has vertigo, which is a disease of the brain 

 and may be regarded as a minor kind of apoplexy, the bird 

 shows giddiness, throwing its head upward, backward, or to 

 one side. The gait is uncertain and staggering, the sufferer 

 often running around in a circle. Sometimes the bird falls to 

 the ground, fluttering and making convulsive movements 

 with the legs . The bird can often be revived by holding its 

 head under a stream of cold water. After this keep the bird 

 in a cool and shady place for some time and regulate the diet. 

 If a chicken has bronchitis, a cold accompanied by a rattle 

 in the throat or by a cough, and may be caused by exposure 

 to dampness or cold temperature or by drafts of air, the re- 

 moval of the cause and good care will result in a cure. In- 

 halation of steam or vapor from boiling water has been 

 found beneficial. Giving a teaspoonf ul of equal parts of cider 

 vinegar and water has proven succssf ul in some cases. 



If a chicken has contagious catarrh or roup, the first 

 symptoms of this disease are similar to those of simple 

 catarrh, but as the disease advances there is often swelling 

 of the sides of the head and the nostrils become closed with 

 thick mucus, causing the bird to breathe through the mouth. 

 If the swellings contain pus, they should be opened with a 

 sharp instrument, the contents removed, and the wound 

 treated with a mild antiseptic, such as 2% solution of car- 

 bolic acid. The application of kerosene mixed with an equal 



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