ROUP— PIP. 67 



tioned. These two circumstances combined tend to close up the small external 

 apertures of the nostrils;' as fowls habitually breathe through the nose, the 

 mouth being kept closed, it follows that there Is, even in the early stages, some 

 difficulty of breathing, and a distension of the loose skin below the under jaw 

 may often be noticed. The frothy matter appearing at the cornet of the eye 

 results from the same cause ; the air, stopped in its passage through the nose, 

 passes 'up the tear-duct, leading from the eye to the nose, and produces the ap- 

 pearance of bubbles in the corner of the eye. In very severe cases the cavity 

 of the nose becomes filled with the diseased secretion, which cannot escape, 

 owing to the small size and closure of the nostril, and then the face swells 

 considerably. 



This disease is, undoubtedly, very contagious, and is frequently communicated 

 by fowls drinking out of the same vessel, the discharge from the nostrils of the 

 sick bird contaminating the water as it drinks. 



Treatment. — Warm, dry lodging, and stimulating, nutritious food, are the first 

 essentials to recovery; in addition, the frequent removal of the dried discharge 

 from around the eyes and nose, by bathing in warm water, must not be omitted. 

 In the way of internal medicine, nearly equal numbers recover under various 

 modes of treatment. Iodine in tincture, mercurial ointment and nitrate of sil- 

 ver have been applied to the face without any advantage — many drugs have been 

 given internally with no better results. The directapplication of some remedial 

 agent to the diseased membrane promises the best results ; but here we are met 

 by the difficulty of application, as the nostrils of the fowl are so closed that it is al- 

 most impracticable to pass anything through them. A very small benttube can, 

 however, be readily passed into the cavity of the nose through the slit in the roof of 

 the mouth, and in this way adilute solution of sulphate of copper (blue vitriol, at 

 the rate of ten grains to the ounce of water,) has been used with very favorable 

 results. The injecting tube is readily passed into each nostril, if inserted into 

 the interior part of the slit seen in the roof of the mouth, and directed outwai'ds 

 at right angles to the slit. In most cases, however, Tegetmeier advises the use of 

 the axe, as cure is difficult, and the risk of contaminating the yajrd is great. 



Symptoms. — The occurrence of a dry, horny scale upon the tongue is generally 

 regarded as characteristic of this disease, which, however, is by some confounded 

 with gapesf The dry, scaly tongue is, however, only a sympton^ caused by some 

 other disease, which forces the fowl (that habitually breathes" through the 

 nostrils) to respire through the mouth ; in this case the constant current of air 

 dries'the tongue, which becomes hard at the point, and assumes a very horny 

 character. Thus, in any inflammatory affection of the windpipe, in gapes, catarrh, 

 or roup, when the nostrils are closed by the discharge, the pip, as it is termed, 

 makes its appearance. It should be regarded, however, as a symptom only, and 

 not as the disease itself. 



Treatment. — The treatment varieswith the cause; if the scale of hardened mem- 

 brane is loose, it should be removed. The absurd plan of nipping off the end of 

 the tongue in chickens i^ practiced in some parts of the country ; it is needless 

 to say that it is alike useless and barbarous. 



