POULTRY FOR PROFIT 73 
Dampness is ^probably about the most com¬ 
mon cause for diseases. Disease germs always 
multiply more rapidly in damp, dark quarters. 
Therefore the advice given in an early chapter 
about keeping the poultry house light and well 
ventilated, will bear repetition. If one is ac- 
customed to watching his birds as to their 
physical condition, |ie will be able to notice 
the symptoms of any on-coming disease in time 
to isolate the bird thus affected, before the 
disease has a chance to spread, if it is a con¬ 
tagious disease. By watching a bird thus 
isolated, and also looking very carefully for any 
further symptoms in the flock, one can do con¬ 
siderable in checking the disease. The old 
adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a 
pound of cure,” certainly is true in this case. 
Indigestion is a very common ailment with 
poultry, especially with those birds that are fed 
heavy for egg production. Usually a little 
laxative material placed in the drinking water, 
and making more of their ration a scratching 
ration, in order to induce exercise, is probably 
as simple and effective a treatment as can be 
given. 
Roup, chicken pox, and canker are also very 
