SECTION XII 



Diseases of the Legs and 

 Feet 



Leg^-Weakness 



This is a condition in wMch the birds cannot 

 bear their own weight, or have difficulty in doing 

 so. It occurs in young as well as in old birds. 

 Knowledge as to the causes of leg weakness, 

 so common at times in certain localities, is im- 

 perfect. The conditions are being investigated, 

 however, in several laboratories. 



Causes. — Improperly heated brooders, too much 

 bottom heat, damp and badly ventilated houses, 

 heavy cockerels, kept constantly on wooden floors, 

 are among the conditions which bring about leg 

 weakness. In some cases it is probably a rheu- 

 matic condition, and there are some forms which 

 no doubt are due to a lack of lime salts in the 

 bones and other tissues. 



Symptoms. — At times this disease appears sud- 

 denly, at other times it develops slowly. It may 

 affect only one, or at most, a few birds, or it may 

 affect many. There is unsteadiness in walking, 

 and in badly affected cases the bird sits around 

 much of the time. Finally it is unable to rise, and 

 may even lie on its side. 



Treatment. — Give one sixtli-grain doses of strych- 

 nine wulphato, dissolved in water, three times a 

 day; also two-grain doses of salicylate of soda in 

 ihe same manner. Give one tablespoonful of cas- 

 tor oil in severe cases in adult chickens. 



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