116 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
prevented from following it for a time, will begin again on the least opportunity. Birds that have 
contracted the habit should have a piece of wire passed through the mouth, and fixed either through 
the cartilage of the nostrils, or through the base of the comb, so that it cannot be removed. This 
will generally effect a cure. The birds should be fed on a lighter ration than ordinary, and compelled 
to scratch for all grain, which should be buried, at the same time thoroughly dusting the birds with insect 
powder to remove all lice, again repeating occasionally to destroy all lice hatched from the eggs on the roots 
of the feathers, which could not be removed by the first or second application. If after this one or two 
should still remain inveterate feather-eaters, they should be killed, as the example set by them would again 
encourage the other birds. 
Fraciiires. — Except in instances where the shank or toes are broken very little can be done, the bones 
setting in a more or less awkward and noticeable position. If a valuable bird, this does not matter greatly 
for breeding, though spoilt for showing. AA'here a simple fracture occurs, bandaging the part with splints, and 
brown paper saturated with the white of an egg, is the best plan, though Poultry, being so active and 
energetic in their habits, offer little encouragement to the would-be surgeon's efforts. Birds of the common 
sorts are scarcely worth taking the trouble with. 
Gapes. — This disease is caused by the irritation of the lining of the windpipe, and is aggravated by the 
blood lost in supporting the life of the parasite. This parasite is a worm, known as Syngamus Trachealis, 
and is introduced from a previous case. This worm has been known and written about for over one hundred 
years. It annually causes the death of millions of wild birds and chickens, and when present in a flock very 
little hope of recovery can be anticipated unless treated. The disease is more virulent in warm and damp 
weather, and encouraged by damp and filthy houses and wet clayey soil. It is almost certain that the worm, 
or eggs, must be brought from infected soil, or by an infected bird before it will manifest itself, and it is quite 
possible that this worm is a natural parasite of the common earth-worm ; in any case, it is found in earth- 
worms at all seasons of the year in infected parts. The growth of these worms is marvellous. Newly-hatched 
embryos introduced into a chick will be found full-grown Gape worms in eight days. The full-grown Gape 
worm is about one-half inch in length, and what appears to be a double-headed worm is actually two worms 
permanently united for breeding. The worm takes a reddish colour, owing to the bird's blood, upon which 
it thrives. The first symptom of Gapes is a slight cough. This is soon followed by the symptom that gives 
the name to the trouble — viz., gaping, or gasping for breath. As the worm continues to live on 
the mucous membrane of the windpipe, it irritates the lining, causing a catarrhal discharge from the mouth ; 
the lining thickens, the mucous becomes stringy, the windpipe is nearly filled with mucous, and the bird has 
extreme difficulty in breathing. If not suffocated at this stage, inflammation extends to the lungs, causing 
death quickly. A post mortem examination will show the presence of worms in the windpipe, clearly 
exhibiting the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia, which are often supposed to be gapes. This is a 
difficult and very serious disease to handle. The same worm if located in the bowels or skin would cause 
less trouble in dealing with it ; but the windpipe being so small, makes it difficult to treat, as any operation 
on the lining of the windpipe increases the hazard of treatment. Garlic, turpentine, carbolic acid, onion 
tops, asafoetida, placed in the drinking water, have been used with some success. Air-slaked lime, carbolic 
acid fumes, or the steam from boiling vinegar are all advocated by different writers. To remove the worms 
from the throat, the best plan is to use a piece of wire, with horsehair, bent into loops, fastened at the end. 
This is carefully introduced into the windpipe, turned once or twice, then withdrawn. The worms become 
entangled in the loops, and are thus extricated. This is a slow process, and only worth following where 
three or four valuable chickens are affected. Another plan is to have a box, with a door at the side, and 
covered over the top with coarse cloth. Place the chickens in the box, and dust the top of the cloth with 
air-slaked lime. By the chickens breathing the lime dust thus caused the worms relax their hold upon the 
membrane, and are ejected by the coughing of the birds. The same class of box can be used in treating 
with carbolic acid. This box should have a platform, made of laths, fixed at the height of a foot from the 
bottom, to accommodate the birds, placing a red-hot brick on the bottom of the box, underneath the lath<:, 
