BALDNEW AND WHITE-COMB— LIVE. 61 



last ulcerates, producing so much mischief that the bird becomes lame and 

 useless. 



Cause. — The cause seems to be some slight injury from pressure on sharp stones ; 

 this sets up a low inflammatory action on the thick skin of the foot, which is 

 followed by the formation of the swelling. The disease does not originate in 

 the tendons, nor even in the dense fascial covering, but in the cutis or true 

 skin. 



TrmtmerU. — ^Prom the low state of vitality in-the feet of birds, and the inabil- 

 ity to rest them when diseased, there is little hope of successful treatment in 

 advanced cases. In early cases we have removed the corn-like tumors, and 

 cauterized the part with nitrate of silver with success, but the adoption of low 

 perches, which prevent the bird coming with violence to the ground on its de- 

 scent, is the best remedy, inasmuch as prevention is in aU cases better than 

 cure. 



DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 



BAIiDNBSS AND WHITE-COMB. 



Symptoms. — White-comb is a hard and scurfy condition of that organ, to which 

 the fowls kept in the confined stable-yards of large towns, and other unhealthy 

 localities, or fed on bad food, are liable ; in advanced cases the feathers fall off 

 leaving the head perfectly bare. 



Causes. — Unnatural food, the want of fresh vegetables, and overcrowding in 

 dark habitations, are the causes of these complaints. 



TrecUment. — A return to natural diet is indispensable to success ; and if to this 

 important requisite be added the administration of nye or six grains of jalap 

 every other night for a week, and the application of sulphur ointment to the 

 comb, immediate benefit will result. At the same time it must be borne in mind 

 that the plumage wiU often not reappear until next moulting time. 



SCAIiT LBOS. 



Sj/mptoms. — A congregation of infinitesimal parasites, which gather impercep- 

 tibly at first in the crevices between the edges of the leg-scales, and which in- 

 crease rapidly in numbers — piling up on themselves, until they form into appar- 

 ent grayish-white warts or rough bunches. 



Games. — The cause of this disorder is evidently contagious, but its progress 

 may be much forwarded by want of cleanliness in the fowl-houses, and it can- 

 not be eradicated except in connection with a thorough cleansing of the houses 

 and roosts, as the insects will propagate in the filth. < 



Treatment. — ^Take a small paU, fiU partly with water, and pour in some 

 kerosene, which will remain on top of the water. Then take your fowl and dip 

 its legs into the pail. After two or three jninutes wash thoroughly with soap- 

 suds, as this prevents any ill effects to the fowl from the kerosene. 



This trouble has ^een considered under the head of "Diseases and Enemies of 

 the Young Chick," 



