Dec. 1906.] 



49:> 



LIVE STOCK. 



Poultry Notes. 



By G. W. Sturgess, m.r.cv.s. 



DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



Dropsy.— Occasionally eases of abdominal dropsy are seen, especially in hens— 

 probably the result of unsuitable feeding and liver derangement. The hinder part 

 of the abdomen will be noticed to be very much swollen and the presence of fluid 

 contents can be easily detected. 



Treatment— The diet should be completely changed, A little Fowler's 

 solution of arsenic and Iodide of Potassium may be given daily in the food The 

 swelling may be tapped by a trocar and eanula and the fluid drawn off. 



Egg Bound.— This term is applied when the hen from some cause is unable to 

 pass the egg. It may occur in the case of a pullet laying the first egg, or if hens are 

 over fat, or if the egg is a large double yoked one, or abnormal in any way. 



The symptoms are uneasiness, frequent visits to the nest, straining, drooping 

 of the wings. On examination the vent is seen to be swollen and inflamed, and the 

 egg is easily felt with the fingers. 



Treatment.— All that may be necessary is the passing of the finger or a 

 feather dipped in salad oil or melted Benzoated lard, and the hen put on the nest and 

 left a short time. If not successful, the vent may be held over steam from hot water 

 or fomented by a sponge and warm water, and a dessert or table spoonful of salad 

 oil or melted lard mixed with a very little extract of Belladonna gently injected into 

 the vent by a syringe. Great care must be taken not to break the egg inside, as such 

 an accident would cause death from inflammation. 



If all these simple measures fail the egg may be gently forced towards the 

 vent until it can be seen and punctured, the contents removed and the shell gently 

 squeezed and collapsed or taken out piece by piece, and care being taken to see all 

 particles of shell are removed. If there is eversion at the vent the parts should be 

 gently washed with warm water in which a little Boric acid is dissolved, and dressed 

 with sweet oil or lard in which is mixed a little laudanum and replaced. 



A dose of physic should be given— Epsom salts, Calomel, or Jalap, and the diet 

 be low for a few days after a bad case. 



Soft Shelled Eggs.— Hens may lay soft shelled eggs from fright, or a de- 

 ficieny of lime salts in the food, or over feeding and stimulation, 



Treatuient.— The feeding should be changed and a few doses of Epsom salts 

 given to cool the system. Powdered oyster shells should be given to provide material 

 for the shells. 



Blood or Dark Spots in Eggs.— Sometimes in the yolk or white blood spots 

 may be noticed due to small haemorrhages in the ovary or oviduct indicating, that a 

 course of cooling medicines and diet is necessary. If the spots are pronounced and 

 dark there is some disease of the ovary or oviduct, and such birds should be kept in 

 isolation and ohserved. Any eggs showing such dark spots should be sent (the hen 

 also if possible) to a bacteriologist for examination. 



