DISEASES OF POULTRY. 277 



time. It will tend much to prevent this, if care be tak- 

 en never to give them the boiled barley or potatoes in a 

 cold state, the difference of effect of warm, instead of 

 cold food being quite wonderful ; fowls enjoy a hot 

 dinner, and dislike a cold one, (dry grain or meat ex- 

 cepted,) as much as an alderman would enjoy hot, and 

 dislike cold turtle. 



But, although change of diet may often produce such 

 temporary fits of indigestion, these are seldom of serious 

 consequence, and usually disappear in a day or two. It 

 is very different, when an individual fowl is affected 

 with indigestion or want of appetite, of some continu- 

 ance. In that case, the causes ought to be investigated, 

 and remedies given accordingly. A hen of the Spanish 

 breed, about five years old, noticed by Mr. Dickson, was 

 the particular favorite of a cock, which had been con- 

 fined in consequence of his savage behavior to another 

 hen. From this time, the favorite pined, kept constantly 

 beside the coop of the prisoner, and at length, left off 

 feeding almost entirely. When the cock was liberated, 

 it was supposed the favorite would recover her spirits 

 and appetite ; but though the cock was as gallant to her 

 as before, she continued to mope, keep away from the 

 rest, and never took to feeding with any appetite, but 

 only gathered up a few grains of corn, now and then, in 

 a listless manner, as if she cared little about it, and 

 finally in a week or two • died. It is not improbable, 

 however, that if she had had active medicine given her, 

 such as pepper or iron rust, mixed with mashed potatoes, 

 or had been well purged with mashed carrots or boiled 

 cabbage, she might have recovered. 



Moubray mentions a hen which sat about in corners, 

 and did not eat, drink, nor evacuate, and yet looked fulj, 

 and not diseased. Her crop being totally obstructed, 

 on an incision being made from the bottom upwards, a 

 quantity of beans was found, which had vegetated there. 

 On the wound being stitched up, it immediately healed, 

 and little inconvenience remained. 



Iron rust, (peroxide of iron,) either given in substance 

 mixed with soft food, or diffused in water, is one of the 

 best tonics for fowls, and ought never to be neglected, 



