310 HEALTH, DISEASE AND ENEMIES 



DESCRIPTION OF SOME COMMON DISEASES OF POULTRY 



Following this are a few of the ordinary poultry diseases. 

 The amateur poultryman should understand their nature 

 and be familiar with their appearance. He should also know 

 how to prevent and cure them. 



Roup, Chicken Pox, and Canker. — These three terms are 

 used to describe a common disease of the skin, which attacks 

 the mucous membrane of the mouth and nose, and the skin 

 of the face and comb. In whichever form it appears, it is 

 probably due to the same organism. Chicken pox first 

 manifests itself by the formation of little vesicles, or pocks 

 on the skin around the face, and also on the comb and wattles. 

 Sometimes they form on the eyelids, which become so swollen 

 that the eye is entirely closed. The effect of the disease is 

 to lower the bird's vitality, and decrease its productiveness. 

 If the infection is severe, it may permanently injure the 

 bird, affecting particularly the eyelid. The organism which 

 causes the trouble is a small parasite which, when it begins 

 to develop, multiplies very rapidly. Chicken pox is especi- 

 ally prevalent during wet, damp weather in early spring, 

 and the best preventative is to keep the birds dry, their 

 houses well ventilated, and to look after their health in every 

 other respect. If only a few sores appear, they can be treated 

 individually by washing them with a two or three per cent 

 solution of carbolic acid. The scab or crust, which forms on 

 the surface of the sore, should be removed, so that the dis- 

 infectant may penetrate mto the roots of the pock. If the 

 whole flock is affected, a common mode of treatment is to 

 disinfect the air above the perches when they go to roost at 

 night by spraying with a two per cent solution of carbolic 

 acid or any other good disinfectant. This purifying of the 

 atmosphere will prevent the multiplication of germs in the 

 affected parts, and at least tend to check the spread of the 

 disease: If taken in time, and properly handled, chicken 

 pox is easily cured. 



