POULTRY. 
275 
by fowls, without attention to cleanliness, to renovation of the soil, and 
a proper allowance of gravel, ashes, fresh vegetables, etc. ; these are the 
causes which produce this and many other diseases. The gapes is an 
epidemic disease, which often thins the preserves of pheasants and the 
coveys of partridges. 
Inflammation of the Lungs, including the bronchial tubes, is not un- 
common. Its symptoms are quick breathing, often with a rattle or rale 
very audible, dullness, disorder of plumage, vacancy in the eye, and in- 
disposition to stir. In this, death can hardly be prevented. Human 
patients can explain their feelings — cattle, to a certain degree, indicate 
them, and speak in dumb eloquence ; but birds give little indication, by 
voice or manner, leading to what the medical man calls diagnosis. The 
persevering use of cod-liver oil will give relief, and even effect a tem- 
porary, or at any rate an apparent cure ; but who would like to breed 
from the bird. 
Peritoneal Inflammation, or Peritonitis. — This disease runs so rapid a 
course, that death not unfrequently occurs before any marked symptoms 
have appeared indicative of active disease. The bird perhaps appears 
a little drooping — it refuses to eat; but as it is highly fed, this circum- 
stance occasions no surprise ; it retires to its roost, and is found dead in 
the morning. Examination at once reveals the cause of death — the peri- 
toneal membrane exhibits all the indications of active inflammation. 
We have noticed the occurrence of the same disease among c irnivorous 
mammalia. An animal appears to be as well as usual — at least it at- 
tracts no observation — but it dies suddenly. On opening the body, the 
cause is manifest — Peritonitis has done its work. 
Inflammation of the Mucous Membrane of the Intestinal Canal is usually 
evinced by drysentery. The bird pines ; it is purged ; in a little time the 
evacuations become more or less tinged with blood, and death ensues. 
Damp and improper food are the causes of this affection. It can 
be treated with success only in the early stage. First give a small 
quantity of castor-oil. This will clear the bowels of irritating secretion. 
Afterward let the bird have doses of the Hydrargyrum, cum cretd (of 
the London Pharmacopoeia), rhubarb, and laudanum : — of the hydrargy- 
rum cum crcta, three grains ; rhubarb, two or three grains ; laudanum, 
two, three, or four drops. Mix in a teaspoonful of gruel or gum-water. 
To be given every alternate day for a fortnight. 
Simple Diarrhoea may be generally cured by a change of diet, and a 
little chalk given in gruel. 
Constipation of the Bowels will yield to castor-oil, and a diet upon 
oatmeal porridge and green vegetables. 
Asthma. — Both fowls and pigeons are affected with this complaint, 
which is evidenced by difficulty of breathing and a wheezing, rattling 
noise on inspiration. It is the result of a thickening of the bronchial 
tubes from previous inflammation, often accompanied by an alteration 
in the structure of the cellular tissue of a portion of the lungs. There 
appears to be no rational plan of treatment likely to effect a cure. 
Inflammation ami Intumescence of the Rump Gland is generally symp- 
tomatic of a febrile condition of the system. To this affection the term 
roup (an indefinite term for all the diseases of poultry) is often applied. 
