RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES 



RHEUMATISM 



While this is a disease affecting all parts of the body, the prominent 

 symptoms are those located in the legs. Rheumatism presents some rise 

 in temperature, swollen joints, contraction of some of the muscles and pain 

 in motion. Rheumatism may result from long exposure to cold and mois- 

 ture. It may be produced by the over-feeding of meat, induced through the 

 the under-feeding of vegetable foods, and is helped along by previous rheu- 

 matic tendencies of ancestors. Rheumatism is most likely to appear dur- 

 ing damp winter weather in adult birds, and during the brooder stage of 

 chicks. 



Symptoms 



The early symptom of rheumatism is contraction of some of the mus- 

 cles of the legs. This generally draws up the toes and flexes the shank on 

 the knee. Trying to straighten the limb hurts the bird. There are in- 

 flammation and pain enough in the muscle or joint to cause the bird to try 

 to get ease by sitting most of the time. An acute case of rheumatism, 

 attended by high temperature, is sometimes complicated by an effusion 

 of liquid into the sack covering the heart, disturbing greatly the heart's 

 action. These cases often die suddenly and without apparent cause. The 

 heart complication is unsuspected until made evident as the result of an 

 examination after death. Rheumatic cases also present congested livers, 

 especially in chicks. Fowls are subject to rheumatism, but the fatal cases 

 are few. Brooder chicks exposed to the evils of a damp soil or dark, cool 

 hovers furnish many cases of rheumatic trouble, the losses from the dis- 

 ease being large. 



Treatment 



The suggestions for treatment also indicate the line to be pursued in 

 the prevention of rheumatism. The fowls should be housed in dry and 

 sunny quarters. Give as large a variety of green vegetables as possible, 

 not forgetting clover in the mash. Provide easy access to grass if in the 

 growing season. The water dishes should be protected to keep the birds 

 and floor as dry as possible. Rheumatic brooder chicks need an even tem- 

 perature of the hover, some facilities for scratching, enough sand or chaff 

 on the floor to lessen bottom heat, and water dishes arranged to keep the 

 chicks dry. The chicks must have daily feeds of lettuce, cabbage, or some 

 green vegetable. In the winter season, turnip or carrot tops, the little 

 shoots that start on the roots when in the cellar, will be founil to be useful. 

 Finely cut clover, and the clover tea to mix the mash, are also helpful at 

 any time of the year. 



Swollen joints or muscles can be rubbed with tincture of opium or 

 extract of witch hazel, or bathed with weak alcohol. For internal treat- 

 ment there is no better remedy than iodide of potassium. This is given 

 in the drinking water, for chicks and adult birds alike, fifteen grains of 

 iodide of potassium to every quart of water. Give in small dishes, so that 



