250 



[Sept. 100(5. 



LIVE STOCK. 



Poultry Notes. 



By G. W. Sturgess, m.r.c.v.s. 



DISEASES OP POULTRY. 



Debility or Weakness.— Weakness and anaemia are usually due to close con- 

 finement, want of proper food,, air, and exercise. 



Proper attention to these points usually puts matters right. Such tonics 

 as Parrish's food, Sulphate of Irou and a small allowance of raw lean meat or 

 blood mixed with meal will cause the birds to improve. 



Diarrhoea.— Diarrhoea may be due to sudden changes of food, or too much 

 of a particular kind of food, or to impure drinking water, or exposure to cold and wet. 



Symptoms. — Frequent passing of liquid faeces which may be mixed with 

 mucus and smell badly. The feathers around the vent are wet and dirty. When 

 in this state flies frequently deposit eggs, and maggots form, causing nasty sores- 



Treatment. — The cause should be looked for and removed. The food must 

 be given fairly dry and in moderate quantity. It is important to provide a proper 

 ■upply of green food. Fresh pure water is absolutely necessary in limited quantity. 

 At first a dose of salad oil or Butter or Epsom salts may be given followed by pills 

 composed of small doses of Camphor, Opium, Chalk and Dover's Powder. Five or 

 ten drops of Chlorodyne in a little water may be given two or three times a day. 

 If the diarrhoea persists two or three grains of Bismuth Subnitrate maybe added 

 to the pills. The native remedy is powdered chalk and saffron. 



After the purging ceases the food must be carefully regulated for some 

 days, and should be soft and easily digested with a fair allowance of green food. 



Dysentery.— Cases of ordinary diarrhoea may develop into dysentery, and 

 blood and mucus is passed in the faeces. 



Treatment.- A dose of Epsom salts should he given followed by the treat- 

 ment mentioned for diarrhoea. Great care must be taken with the food for some 

 days. It may consist of a little boiled rice and bread damped with milk or arrow- 

 root or soup and green food. A few spoonfuls of arrowroot jelly to which is added a 

 few drops of Chlorodyne may be given daily. 



Diptheria.— (Avian.; There is probably two forms of diphtheritic inflamma- 

 tion in fowls, one caused by bacteria, a much dreaded and contagious form ; the 

 second caused by parasites (Gregarines) which is probably the most common in 

 Ceylon. The disease in poultry is not thought to have any connection with human 

 diphtheria. Advanced cases of " Roup " are most likely of a diphtheritic nature. 

 " Canker" is also commonly used in connection with diphtheritic diseases in poultry. 



Symptoms.— At first the general health is not much disturbed. If the mouth 

 is opened and the throat examined there may be well developed patches of disease 

 recognised by a yellowish white membranous growth on the mucus membrane of 

 the throat before the bird seems very ill. 



As the disease advances the bird is off its feed-feathers raffed, wings drooped 

 and is feverish. If the beak is opened the yellowish white patches are easily seen 

 on the palate and palatial cleft. 



