326 
THE POULTRY BOOK. 
it is exceedingly contagious. It is, I am inclined to think, frequently communicated 
by fowls drinking out of the same vessel, as the discharge from the nostrils of 
the sick bird contaminates the water as it drinks. 
Treatment , — Warm dry lodging, and stimulating nutritious food, are the first 
essentials to recovery; in addition, the frequent removal of the dried discharge 
from around the eyes and nose, by warm bathing, must not be omitted. In the 
way of internal medicine, I find that nearly equal numbers recover under various 
modes of treatment. I have tried the following remedies — namely, iodine in 
tincture, mercurial ointment, and nitrate of silver, all applied externally to the 
sides of the face, without any advantage. Internally I have given calomel, 
sulphur, citrate of iron, calomel and opium, cayenne pepper, and sulphate of 
copper, without any very well-marked or decided improvement. The direct 
application of some remedial agent to the diseased membrane, promises the best 
result ; but here we are met by the difficulty as to the application, for the nostrils 
are closed up, and it is nearly impracticable to pass anything through them. A 
very small bent tube can, however, be readily passed into the cavity of the nose 
through the slit in the roof of the mouth ; and I have tried the effect of injecting 
a few drops of a dilute solution (10 grains to the ounce of water) of sulphate of 
copper, with very favourable results. The injecting tube is readily passed into 
each nostril, if inserted into the anterior part of the slit seen in the roof of the 
mouth, and directed outwards at right angles to the slit. 
In very severe chronic cases, when there has been much swelling of the face, I 
have opened the side of the face, and removed the diseased secretion in a solid 
form. 
In general I should say, kill a roupy fowl at once, unless it is valuable, as the 
risk of its contaminating the whole yard is great. At all events, let it be instantly 
removed from the run. 
GAPES. 
Symptoms and Causes . — The name is sufficiently expressive as to the symptoms 
of this disease, which is occasioned by the occurrence of a parasite {Sclerostoma 
syngamus) in the trachea or windpipe. 
This disease is so important, as causing the destruction of a large number of 
chickens, pheasants, and other gallinaceous birds, that I have much pleasure in 
inserting the following abstract of a valuable communication made by Dr. Spencer 
Cobbold, to the Linnsean Society, on its history and treatment. Dr. Cobbold 
writes : — 
“ This parasite has been found and recorded as occurring in the trachea of the 
following birds, namely, the turkey, domestic cock, pheasant, partridge, common 
duck, lapwing, black stork, magpie, hooded crow, green woodpecker, starling, and 
swift. I do not doubt that this list might be very much extended if ornithologists 
would favour us with their experience in the matter. In view of adding something 
to our knowledge of its structure, and, more particularly, in the hope of directing 
