36 
PHEASANT RAISING IN THE UNITED STATES. 
such agencies of disease as the eggs of the gape worm, or even the 
gape worm itself. After the ground has been flamed, and the surface 
thus perfectly disinfected, rain may bring the worms to the surface 
and with them the parasites they are carrying. Hence the necessity 
from time to time of another very good disinfecting procedure, 
namely, top-dressing with lime and plowing under. Where fire can 
not be used, this method is invaluable. Since some diseases appear 
to arise from contamination of the soil from prolonged occupancy, 
top-dressing with lime, plowing, and sowing some quick-growing 
green manure, such as cowpeas and oats, should be regarded as neces¬ 
sary routine. A third method of disinfection of the soil consists in 
sprinkling or deluging the ground with a solution of sulphuric acid 
(1 part acid to 9 parts water) or a 5 percent solution of carbolic acid 
(1 part acid to 19 of water). 
Disinfection of buildings or parts of buildings involves the same 
principles. It may sometimes be best to burn old houses, or tear 
out old fixtures and burn them. Next in value is a thorough washing 
and scrubbing with hot water and soap and the application by spray 
or brush of a 5 per cent carbolic-acid mixture containing enough 
lime to show where it has been applied. A coal-tar disinfectant, if 
known to be good, may be used in place of the carbolic acid. 
* 
DISEASES AFFECTING YOUNG PHEASANTS. 
Pasting.—Pasting occurs usually during the first week of life. The chick loses its 
vivacity, sits with eyes closed and its downy coat fluffed until it appears like a ball. 
Examination reveals the vent plugged or covered by a whitish, chalky, or pasty sub¬ 
stance. This stoppage of the vent frequently leads to death in a day or two as the 
result of the absorption of putrefactive poisons due to retention of the feces. Treat¬ 
ment consists in the immediate gentle removal of this chalky plug and the applica¬ 
tion of a few drops of sweet oil or a bit of petrolatum. 
Diarrhea .—Whitish diarrhea may be caused in very young chicks by cold, by 
overheating, by overfeeding, or by too little or too much water. The observant fancier 
will come to recognize these conditions almost instinctively and will relieve them by 
at once altering the regime. This should be all that is necessary. If more is required, 
it is evident that either the case has been permitted to run so long that the chick is too 
weak to recuperate or infection is operating. 
White diarrhea of chicks, so dreaded by the poultryman, is an affection of pheasant 
chicks as well. The diarrhea is merely a symptom of a severe infection of the intes¬ 
tines, especially of the blind pouches or ceca, by a low form of animal life known as 
Coccidium tenellum, and we therefore speak of the disease as an intestinal coccidiosis. 
The white coloration of the fecal discharge, as in the two previous diseases, is due to 
excretions from the kidneys. In certain virulent forms of the disease the minute 
blood vessels on the inner portion of the intestinal wall burst, and the bleeding gives 
rise to a dark brown or even blackish coloration, which obscures the white effect of 
the uric acid. 
Treatment should begin with the administration of Epsom salts, mixing them in a 
mash and estimating from 8 to 15 chicks to one teaspoonful of the salts, according to 
age, size, and previous thriftiness. The drinking water should contain sulphate of 
iron (copperas) in the proportion of 10 grains of the copperas to 1 gallon of water, or 
300 
