cocker's manual. 105 



takes but little food and suddenly loses flesh. Such disease is of little 

 consequence and shortly disappears. When it requires attention at all, 

 all symptoms will be removed by giving their diet in a warm state. 

 Sometimes, however, a fit of indigestion threatens severe consequen- 

 ces, especially if long continued. Every effort should be made to 

 ascertain the cause, and the remedy must be governed by the circum- 

 stances of the case. * * * * General affections of this kind, as 

 in the human species, proceed from over feeding or want of exercise. 

 The symptoms are heaviness, moping, keeping away from the nest and 

 want of appetite. 



Remedy. — Lessen the quantity of food, and oblige the fowl to exer- 

 cise in the open walk. Give some powdered Cayenne and gentian 

 mixed with the usual food. Iron rust mixed with soft food or diffused 

 in water is an excellent tonic, as indicated when there is atroph)- or 

 diminution of flesh. It may be combined with oats or other grain. 

 In England it is said that milk and warm ale have a good effect when 

 joined to the diet of diseased fowls." 



MOULTING. 



With young birds the process is easy and the time occupied is not 

 long ; but with fowls that have passed beyond the second season the 

 process of renewing the plumage is protracted and exhausting. Much 

 assistance can be rendered by the fancier in varying the diet, and 

 giving tonics, etc. Pieces of meat and fish should be thrown to them 

 frequently, and lime and pepper mixed with their food. An abund- 

 ance of grass and vegetables should be allowed them. Their drink 

 should be composed of a half teaspoonful of sulphate of iron to one 

 gallon of fresh water ; an extra amount of feed should be given them 

 also. After the third year fowls moult later each succeeding season, 

 and frequently it is as late as January before they are in full feather. 

 The fowl should be kept warm and occasionally given a dose of Cay- 

 enne pepper. 



CHICKEN POX. 



This is the worst disease to which game fowls are subject, and our 

 fenciers may well fear, as it will give them greater trouble than any 

 other disease known. It affects a number of fowls at the same time, 



8 



