102 THE THAI' XBST TEXT BOOK 



Hooks have been written and much space used hi (he poultry press to 

 show us how to cure the many diseases ot poultry. Those who desire 

 to fix up a sick bird to sell to some novice -'to improve his flock" can 

 get all the pointers he requires by asking for them. I do not believe 

 that a bird that has once been seriously sick will ever again be of honest 

 value to anyone. Xol only our own interests, but the interests of the 

 public demand that sick birds be destroyed. 



Their individual value is too small to justify the expenditure of much 

 time ornioney in doctoring them with any honorable end in view. Trap- 

 nest evidence that would prove that a female that had been cured (?) 

 of disease afterward gave a good egg record would be something new 

 under the sun. 



Probably no one would knowingly buy a breeding male that had a 

 history of sickness behind him. 



The fact that poultry diseases have been studied and treatments ex- 

 ploited, indicates conditions in an industry that provides the public with 

 a large share of its food that should be, in some greater degree than at 

 present, under control of law. The study of poultry diseases is essential 

 in order to learn the cause and best means for prevention, but we are 

 fold that a bird that has once had the -'roup"" should never be used in 

 the breeding pen and then we are given "a sure cure for the roup.'" 

 Perhaps thai is one of the things that we should not know. 



"The great American hatchet"' is the best and the cheapest cure for 

 "roup" and all the other diseases to which fowls are heir. 



PRACTICE vs. THEORY. 



IN PRACTICE. 

 "Those love truth best who to themselves are true, 

 And what they dare to dream of, dare to do." 



Practice against theory is a favorite caption with those who, through 

 ignorance, prejudice or self-interest desire to assail attempts at progress. 



Mau) r very worthy people are not content with presenting the results 

 of their practical efforts for our instruction, but als<?*insist that their 

 notions of the fundamental causes that produced the results are correct ; 

 although (he practical necessities of their work must necessarily and 

 effectually prevent them from closely studying specific details, even if 

 qualified to do so by nature. As the same results occur with people 

 possessing different degrees of imagination and guessing ability a some- 

 what mixed symposium results. 



The theoretical writer who endeavors to show to the thoughtful 

 reader what lie believes to be the correct underlying principles upon 

 which reliable knowledge must be reared is likely to be assailed from 

 the farm, the practical poultry plant, the little venture of the novice, 

 the editorial chair and the kitchen table. Admitting thai he is human. 



