312 HEAXTH, DISEASE AND ENEMIES 



If not given ideal environment, late hatched or low vitality 

 pullets are apt to be more or less affected. 



Liver Affections. — Liver affections, as the name implies, 

 covers a number of abnormal conditions of the liver. Cases 

 often appear where the liver is much enlarged. Others 

 where it becomes hard, and still others where it is spotted, 

 and apparently attacked by some disease germ. Most of 

 these abnormalities of the liver are due to faulty feeding. 

 Excessive amounts of fat or of carbohydrates in the feed 

 with limited exercise will produce enlargement of the liver. 

 It affects the birds in various ways, but the most common 

 symptom is listlessness, or stupor, the comb loses its bright 

 red color, and takes on a yellow tinge, the head and eyes 

 lose their brightness, and become dull and yellowish. If 

 the conditions are not remedied, many of the birds may die. 

 When birds show sjonptoms similar to these outlined, it is 

 well to scrutinize the feeding methods. If the liver dis- 

 orders are caused by improper feeding, many of the flock 

 will show the same symptoms. Com and other starchy 

 feeds should be cut down, and the bird affected compelled 

 to take more exercise. They should be given plenty of green 

 succulent material, and considerable meat. 



Indigestion and Diarrhoea. — Indigestion is found quite 

 frequently in flocks which are forced, especially if they are 

 fed large wet mashes. Advanced cases have profuse diarrhoea 

 and whenever this is observed, the ration should be studied 

 and the fault corrected. Plentiful exercise will do more to 

 cure the condition than anything else. Small amounts of 

 Epsom salts in the drinking water will cleanse the gut 

 and hasten recovery. 



Prolapsus. — Prolapsus is very common in poultry in the 

 spring of the year. It is caused by heavy egg production. 

 In this condition some part of the reproductive organs is 

 extruded from the body. The best treatment is to reduce 

 the meat scrap in the ration, and get the birds out on ex- 



