DISEASES OF POULTRY. 275 



In a case of highly inflammatory fever in a chicken, 

 noticed by Mr. Dickson, supposed to have been caused 

 by sudden hot weather, in May, so that it burned the 

 hand like hot water, a dose of nitre, in milk and water, 

 at night, produced so great a change, that the chicken 

 was cool and brisk in the morning. The dose was re- 

 peated, and brought on a cold fever fit, like ague, which, 

 however, changed to an intermittent, and the chicken 

 completely recovered. 



THIRST. 



Immoderate thirst is a symptom of fever, though it 

 may also occur when there is no fever, from a long con- 

 tinuance of dry food, and particularly when the crop 

 and gizzard have been distended by over-eating. When 

 fowls are much persecuted by their companions, which 

 is an every-day occurrence in the poultry yard, they 

 may accordingly be observed to drink almost insatiably, 

 for a day or more at a time, eating very sparingly, and 

 sometimes not at all. This appears to operate as a cure 

 for the fever into which they have been thrown. 



When immoderate thirst is observed to affect a num- 

 ber of fowls at the same time, they ought to have a good 

 supply of green or moist food, such as cabbage or let- 

 tuce leaves, soaked bread, or boiled potatoes, mashed 

 with skimmed milk ; taking particular care that this 

 milk be perfectly sweet. 



When the thirst arises from fever caused by fighting, 

 the fowl may be soused into a pail of water, in summer ; 

 but in winter, this must only be done if there be con- 

 venience to let it dry itself near a fire or a stove. 



PAIRING- AND HATCHING- FEVER. 



The most decidedly feverish symptoms, very frequently 

 ubserved in fowls, occur at the period of hatching, when 

 the animal heat becomes so much increased, as to be re- 

 markable to the touch when the heu is caught. 



Many methods are adopted to stop this fever, when 

 it is not desirable that the hen should incubate, but con- 

 tinue to lay. It is common, for instance, to turn the 

 hen rapidly round about, to render her giddy, which 

 will of course, for a short time, diminish the velocity of 



