Sod Disease or Chickens 
9 
7 
iiore especially small chickens, whereas roup appearing in the winter 
ime is more likely to be a disease of adults. The swelling associated 
vith roup is more frequently due to accumulation within the maxil- 
ary sinus, whereas the inflammatory disturbance in this disease 
5eems to be confined to the skin. The sod disease does not show the 
iresence of false membranes in the mouth as does roup. Contagious 
fpithelioma can be differentiated because of the warty projections 
issociated with it, whereas in the sod disease the comb and wattles 
nay become scabby but not warty. Bumble foot might be confused 
out is usually an inflammatory condition of the deeper structures 
md is seldom associated with the presence of scabs on the upper 
iurface of the toes. Scaly leg can be differentiated by finding the 
nites and also by the fact that it is largely a disease of the leg rather 
loan of the toe. 
' Treatment — The most common treatment which has been used 
jonsists in dipping the affected members in kerosene oil. Further- 
nore, this treatment seems to have been more effective than others 
jvhich are more complicated. The daily dipping of the feet and bills 
n kerosene oil has in many instances been followed by rather rapid 
,ind fairly permanent improvement. This is especially valuable for 
|)lder chickens where the disease is more chronic. No treatment 
leems to be of much avail in very young birds. Others recommend 
lipping in one of the coal tar preparations which are commonly 
ised for dipping sheep and cattle, following this by the use of 
mseline, lard or zinc ointment. While these treatments will be 
dund helpful, they should in no case be depended upon for perma- 
lent results. 
Prevention — As the prairies are coming under cultivation, the 
iisease appears to be growing less prevalent and will doubtless in 
ime completely disappear. In the meantime its exit can be hastened 
)y plowing up the sod in the immediate vicinity of the chicken 
louse and planting to some crop. If chickens could be confined on 
ilowed ground, it seems reasonable to believe that the disease would 
lot develop. Irrigation seems also to successfuly eradicate the 
nalady. 
Acknowledgment — Our thanks are due to Drs. H. S. Eakins and 
W. Alkire, members of the station staff during a portion of the 
ime the work was in progress and to Mr. and Mrs. Gus Setterburg, 
dr. and Mrs. Elmore Chipps and Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Wm. Day who 
urnished material and gave much assistance in the investigation. 
