PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 



Treatment: Use one pound of Epsom salts, one pound of sulphur 

 and one-half pound of pulverized copperas, mix carefully, and feed one 

 pound of this mixture in 10 quarts of mash. This should be sufficient 

 for 100 to ISO fowls. Repeat this for five days, once a day, and after 

 that once a week for three weeks. Keep the feeding place clean and 

 well disinfected to prevent the fur-ther spread of the infestation. 



Epilepsy. — Tape Worms. The symptoms of epilepsy are trembling, 

 jerky movements and convulsions. It is produced by a species of 

 tape worm, known as Taenia infundibulifortnis. This is about five 

 inches long and is found in the intestinal tract, usually near the ceca. 

 It burrows into the intestinal wall with its head and the segments 

 absorb nourishment from the food in the intestines. The terminal 

 segments are filled with eggs. When these break away they are de- 

 posited on the ground and picked up by the fowls and thus the infesta- 

 tion is spread. 



Treatment: The New Jersey Experiment Station recommends the 

 tobacco treatment for worms as follows: "For each 100 birds use one 

 pound of finely chopped tobacco stems. Steep in water for two hours 

 and use the tea for the moist mash. The regular dry mash will answer 

 for making the moist mash, feeding one-half the usual amount. Feed 

 lightly during preceding day and nothing at all on the morning of the 

 day for treatment. At two o'clock feed the tobacco mash spreading it 

 out so that each fowl can get a portion. At four o'clock feed a second 

 moist mash of the same quantity as first only add 12 ounces to one 

 pound of Epsom salts. Dissolve in water instead of the tobacco 

 solution. Repeat the treatment in a week." 



Another treatment for worms is to use one pint of gasoline in the 

 mash for 100 birds. 



Worms cause enormous losses. They are responsible for a long 

 list of diseases and must be fought persistently. 



Blackhead. Cause : It is produced by an animal parasite known as 

 Amoeba meleagridis. 



Symptoms: Circular yellow spots on liver, enlarged ceca plugged 

 with cheesy matter, and enlarged liver. Drowsiness, loss of appetite, 

 drooping wings and tail, head turning to a dark color, constant diarrhea. 



Treatment: Isolate all infected fowls. Mix sulphur, Epsom salts, 

 sulphate of iron and quinine, equal parts of each, in two-grain capsules. 

 Two capsules constitute a dose and should be given twice daily. Keep 

 sulphate of iron in drinking water and sprinkle sulphate of iron crystals 

 in any stagnant pools about yards. Disinfect roosting places, remove 

 droppings and sprinkle ground with lime. The success in checking this 

 disease will depend on the promptness with which diseased birds are 

 isolated and dead birds cremated. Similar treatment should be given 

 in case of an epidemic among chickens, one capsule to dose. 



Coccidiosis. Cause: It is produced by an animal parasite known as 

 Coccidium tenellum. It attacks turkeys, geese and chickens. 



Symptoms: Yellow diarrhea, ceca plugged with yellowish pasty 

 matter, loss of appetite, drowsiness, head becomes a scarlet red in early 

 stages. In geese the kidneys are affected, and the fowls become pros- 

 trate, turning upon the back. Emaciation and death result. 



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