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The I illustrated Book of Poultry 
Egg-BOUND. — T he inability to lay, on account of unusual size of the egg, is of by no means 
rare occurrence. The most usual symptom is that the hen, after going as usual to the nest and 
remaining some time, comes off without having laid, and walks slowly about, often — especially in 
Polish — with the wings hanging down on the ground, and evidently in distress ; but sometimes they 
remain on the nest. Merely going to the nest, however regularly and repeatedly, without laying, 
is no proof whatever that a fowl is egg-bound. Generally a table-spoonful of warm treacle, mixed 
with chopped groundsel, given a few times at intervals of an hour, will give relief, especially if a 
small flexible syringe is also passed up the oviduct till it meets the egg (taking care not to fracture 
it), and an ounce of olive-oil injected. This is safer and more effectual than passing up an oiled 
feather, but the latter plan may be adopted if a syringe is not at hand. Fomentation of the vent 
with hot water before applying the oil is also beneficial, by relaxing the tissues. Care must be 
taken to handle the bird gently, as breakage of the egg is generally fatal, though by no means 
always so, as is sometimes stated. 
We have known the passage enclosing the egg to appear externally, have seen a rupture in it 
take place, and the egg pass through it ; this happened in a Minorca fowl. In case of such an 
accident — not necessarily fatal — egg production must be totally arrested. Give three to four pills 
containing one grain of calomel, one-twelfth of a grain of tartar emetic, and one-quarter of a grain 
of opium, one every four hours; the first pill having the calomel and opium doubled with advan- 
tage. Put the bird on soft unstimulating diet. 
ELEPHANTIASIS. — This name has been lately given to the disease known as “ scaly legs/’ or 
the development of a rough unsightly scurf on the shanks. It rarely occurs except in the case 
of Asiatic breeds, or those formed, as the Plymouth Rock, by crossing from them ; and the most 
subject of all to the affection are Silkies and White Cochins. In Buffs also it is not unfrequent ; 
in Partridge and Langshans more rare, and in Brahmas very rare indeed. Only fowls with large 
and coarse scales are attacked, specimens of the same breed with smaller close scales generally 
escaping, at least for a time. 
Without affirming that it is the only cause, we can safely say that diligent inquiry has demon- 
strated beyond a doubt a close connection between this disease and sudden exposure to cold wet, and 
most especially walking in snow. The disease itself has, however, been proved to be due to a parasitic 
insect, and is consequently very contagious, especially being communicated from a hen to her chickens. 
The disease is always capable of cure, if taken at a reasonably early stage. A dry and mode- 
rately warm domicile must be provided, after which the first thing will be a vigorous scrubbing 
with soap and tepid water, by means of a hard nail-brush. This will remove a great deal of the 
scurf, after which all the affected parts must be anointed with ordinary sulphur ointment, scrubbing 
with a brush and freshly anointing every day. A weak solution of sugar of lead may be used 
as a lotion in the morning with advantage, applying the ointment in the evening. Idalf a tea- 
spoonful of powdered sulphur may also be given internally, and cure is usually effected in from 
one to two weeks. In very slight cases, it is often sufficient to apply glycerine, especially when 
first observed in young chickens. Carbolatcd oil is also an excellent application, as is Foster’s 
ointment made for this disease specially. 
FRUITIONS. — Cochins especially, if not copiously supplied with green food, are liable to an 
eruption called “ white-comb,” consisting of a whitish scurf or efflorescence, which if not checked 
extends down the neck and causes the loss of feathers so far as it extends. Fowls kept in small or 
dirty yards may also acquire a s'urfy skin, partaking of the same character. The treatment of all 
