Diseases of Poultry. 
blessin fa . If peimanent weakness or delicacy remains, or if the illness be due to such — as from 
a cold wet season developing latent weakness into unmistakable symptoms of liver disease— 
lecoveiy may be the means of perpetuating a predisposition. It is undoubtedly better that 
many sick fowls should die 01 be killed; but concerning such matters each must judge for 
himself. 
For convenience of reference, we shall refer to the various diseases in alphabetical order 
Abortion. If violently driven about, hens sometimes suffer severely in this way ; dropping 
suddenly either a perfect or a soft egg, and afterwards moping about with every appearance of 
being seiiously ill. In such cases, which must not be confounded with the mere ordinary laying of 
soft eggs, the bird should be put by herself in rather a dark pen, with a nest in one corner. A 
little caibonate of soda may be put with advantage in the drinking water, and the diet should 
consist of soft food only, given sparingly. This is to be continued for a few days, unless sooner 
recovered. It is wisdom in all such cases to watch the yard closely ; it is quite possible, especially 
with Malays and Game, that there is a bully amongst the flock, which is a terror to the whole of the 
others. With this terror, if the yards are confined in area, abortion is very probable, and the 
termagant had better be removed, and if not very valuable, killed. 
We have known abortion also take place in circumstances which left no other conclusion 
possible than that the grass in the run was affected with ergot. Should this appear probable, 
besides treating the birds, the whole run must be mown as close as possible with a machine, and the 
cuttings carefully swept and removed. Fortunately this occurrence is very rare. 
Apoplexy — Paralysis. — These two affections are more or less connected. A true apoplectic 
fit would more probably arise from high feeding than any other cause, and maize or Indian corn is 
very injurious to some breeds on this very account. Apoplexy may give some warning symptoms. 
We should fear its attack if a bird walked unsteadily and as if it were giddy. To such cases, 
fasting and a brisk aperient — as fifteen grains of jalap and one grain of calomel — will be very 
useful. When a vessel has given way on the brain, or in its substance, there will be then a 
sudden attack of loss of power and consciousness, possibly only on one side. If a large quantity 
of blood has escaped the case will end fatally in a short time, and it may be instantaneous. If life 
does not appear extinct, the wing should be lifted, and the point of a lancet, or more probably 
penknife (for not a moment must be lost), plunged longitudinally into the large vein which will 
be seen under, and the bird allowed to bleed freely. If consciousness return, the flow of blood 
may be stopped by some strong styptic, such as burnt alum, diluted carbolic acid, solution of 
sulphate of zinc, powdered matico, or gallic acid ; or pressure may be kept up by the finger 
for some little time on the incision. In any case of operating on fowls, they must be carefully 
watched, as they will try to peck open the place, and life may be lost from hciemorrhage. The 
fowl must be kept on low diet for several days. 
Generally the immediate cause is some sudden excitement or bodily effort. We have known 
in our earlier days a highly-fed young cock drop down dead after being put back after show in his 
old run with three others, before receiving a peck, but in the very moment of placing himself in 
hostile position ; also when a young Cochin cock was taken up whilst fighting, he struggled so 
violently that he died “in arms .” Cochin hens, similarly, are sometimes seized while laying. 
We need hardly say that after a case of this sort, the condition of the other birds should be 
examined, and the diet reduced at once if necessary. 
True paralysis is the result of some pressure on the brain, it may be from effusion of blood, or 
