192 



Poultry Notes. 



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



DISEASES OF POULTRY.— (Continued.) 



Apoplexy.— This disease sometimes occurs amongst very fat, overfed 

 poultry, especially where exercise is limited. 



Symptoms. — The principal symptoms are sudden giddiness— the bird turning 

 round and round- or, it may be such a severe attack that the bird falls over 

 and loses consciousness at once, and may die before any treatment can be 

 adopted. Hens may be found dead on the nest, the attack probably being excited 

 by the exertion of laying. It may also come on after being chased by a dog, 

 or after a fight. The disease may be suspected when a bird in very good 

 condition suddenly dies without apparent reason. 



Treatment. — If there is a chance of treatment cold water or ice should be applied 

 to the head and some blood abstracted by cutting the large vein under the wing, or, 

 cutting a bit of the comb off. If consciousness returns a dose of physic should 

 be given (Epsom salts) and the bird placed in a dark box and fasted for a day, giving 

 only water to drink. The diet should then be light and laxative for some days. 

 Attention should be given to the other poultry, the diet reduced and Epsom salts 

 placed in the drinking water for a day or two and exercise and green food 

 given. 



Baldness.— This condition may be due to bad hygienic conditions or to 

 parasites or feather-eating by one or more of the bird's companions. If due 

 to unhealthy surroundings— light, air, good food and exercise are indicated. 

 If insects, a mixture of kerosine oil and sweet oil or vaseline may be applied. 

 In the case of feather-eating the culprit must be watched for and removed from 

 the pen or killed. 



Bronchitis, and Catarrh 01* Cold.— Causes. -Cold, change of weather or 



climate. The disease is common amongst newly-imported birds. 



Symptoms.— Sneezing or cough, discharge of matter from the nostrils, 

 more or less difficult breathing with a gurgling sound in the throat, caused by 

 excess of mucus. 



Treatment.- The affected birds must be placed in a warm box or in a 

 room of even temperature and protected from draughts. Warm soft food should 

 be given, such as the ordinary mash with boiled cabbage, bread damped with milk 

 or soup. Grit should be provided and a little coarse oatmeal may be thrown 

 down for the patients to pick up if they desire. A few drops of turpentine or 

 eucalyptus oil, or both, may be placed on a piece of flannel in a cup, and boiling 

 water poured on and the birds made to inhale the steam twice a day or a steam 

 kettle used. The following medicines may be given:— 



1. Tincture of Belladonna ... ... ••• 1 drop 



Eucalyptus Oil... ... ••• ■•• j » . 



Camphor ... ... ••• - } S l " A ™ 



Salad Oil ... ... ••• ••• i teaspoonful 



Mixed— given once or twice a day, or 



2. Paregoric 5 or 10 drops twice or three times a day may give relief. 

 All discharges should be removed from the nostrils and mouth by spong- 

 ing daily with warm water containing a little alum or boracic acid and a 

 little iodoform dusted on the nostrils externally. 



If recovery follows, care must be taken in letting out again in the fresh au- 

 to avoid a chill and relapse which would most likely end fatally. 



Good nutritious food is necessary after recovery, and a little tonic medicine 

 such as Parrish's Syrup or Sulphate of Iron maybe given with great advantage. 



