482 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



keep the birds isolated, and give them olive oil for nourishment. 

 Clean up the premises, look for the cause of the trouble, and 

 disinfect all drinking vessels and other utensils. This disease is 

 quite serious, and can create havoc with the strongest, healthiest 

 flocks. It is one of the cholera-like diseases. 



Favus or White Comb. — ^This is a contagious disease caused by 

 growth of a fungus, the filaments or roots of which do not pene- 

 trate deeply into the skin, but remain very near the surface, 

 consequently the general health of the victim is not seriously 

 impaired in the early stages. The trouble usually breaks out on 

 the comb first, then the wattles and earlobes and, finally, the 

 neck and other parts of the body are afifected. 



When limited to the comb and wattles, the trouble responds 

 very nicely to treatment, and may even disappear of its own 

 account. If it has invaded the feathered portions of the body 

 it is extremely obstinate, and in very severe cases the "hatchet 

 and block" is the safest and most satisfactory remedy. 



First, wash the affected parts with warm water containing a 

 mild disinfectant, at the same time removing any scabs that can 

 be rubbed off without bleeding, and then apply sulphur ointment 

 or carbolated vaseline. Good results have been obtained by 

 painting the spots with tincture of iodine. Some breeders recom- 

 mend an ointment of red oxide of mercury i part and vaseline 

 8 parts. 



Feather-eating. — See chapter on Crop Bound. 



Gapes. — ^See chapter on Worms. 



Indigestion. — See chapter on Crop Bound. 



Leg Weakness. — See chapters on the Care of Chicks. 



Lice. — See chapter on Parasites. 



Limber Neck. — Partial loss of control of the muscles of the 

 neck, and is generally caused by eating putrid animal matter. 

 A fowl so afflicted cannot hold its head upright, but twists it 

 around from side to side and staggers about drunkenly. The 

 disease is not contagious, though very often it is stubborn to 

 cure. A pill of asafetida night and morning for a couple of days 

 is a good remedy, also, borax in water, a tablespoonful to a pint, 



