39 
PHEASANT RAISING IN 
THE UNITED STATES. 
with isolation of the patient and the thorough application to the coops and fixtures of 
boiling soapy water, then kerosene, and finally a coat of 5 per cent carbolic acid, to 
which has been added enough lime to make a whitewash. The affected bird should 
have its legs soaked in warm soapsuds, this part of the treatment being completed by 
a good scrubbing with a small hand scrub. This alone has cured the disease. How¬ 
ever, it is best to follow this with a good rubbing of sulphur ointment (1 part flowers 
of sulphur to 9 parts of lard, sweet oil, or petrolatum). 
Scab.—Body mange or scab is caused by a sarcoptic mite, to which some authors 
have given the name Sarcoptes Isevis. Loss of feathers at various points of the body 
calls for examination, which shows the skin apparently normal, but the feathers broken 
off at the surface. If the rest of the feather be pulled out, the roots will be seen to be 
covered with a dry, powdery mass made up of dead cells and parasites. Treatment 
calls for isolation of diseased stock, disinfection of coops and fixtures, and application 
to the skin of flowers of sulphur in the form of either a dusting powder or an ointment. 
The application of sweet oil containing a small quantity of kerosene or carbolic acid, 
carbolated petrolatum, or even lard with carbolic acid, will be found to give good 
results. 
Air-sac mite.—Serious disease is frequently caused in a flock by the presence of 
the air-sac mite. This mite, Cytodites nudus, inhabits the air sacs of birds, chiefly 
those of chickens and pheasants. Often its presence in large numbers causes con¬ 
gestion and inflammation of the lining membrane of the air sacs. Sometimes the 
bronchi become plugged with them, sometimes a pneumonia is set up, sometimes the 
irritation opens the way for the entrance of bacteria which cause secondary disease 
and death. Treatment is very difficult and unsatisfactory. Sulphur mixed in the 
food has been recommended. The inhalations and garlic treatment suggested under 
gape disease might be beneficial. 
White comb.—White comb or favus is a fungous or mold disease of the comb, head, 
and neck. It is caused by the Achorion schonleinii. In general appearance favus 
resembles mange. There is the development of white, powdery scales upon the comb, 
and the feathers of the head and neck become brittle and break off at the surface of 
the skin. The affected parts should be anointed with some oily substance like lard 
or petrolatum. After a few hours, or the next morning, scrub the parts with soap and 
water, rinse, dry, and apply ichthyol ointment (1 part ichthyol to 9 parts of petrola¬ 
tum). In very stubborn cases tincture of iodine may be applied. 
Intestinal worms.—Pheasants frequently harbor considerable numbers of intes¬ 
tinal parasites. It has generally been considered that no harm results to the bird 
from the presence of worms in the intestinal tract. Nevertheless, it must be recog¬ 
nized that the plugging of a part of the intestine by a ball of these worms or a long 
knotted rope composed of them must seriously derange the intestinal functions. 
Serious inflammation of the intestines is often caused by some of these worms. Where 
it is evident that a flock is thus infested, Epsom salts should be administered at least 
once a month. Birds that appear markedly affected may be given one teaspoonful 
of castor oil containing 15 drops of turpentine. Since the disease is spread by birds 
taking up with their food the eggs that were in the droppings of diseased birds, the 
ground thus contaminated should be thoroughly disinfected. 
Tuberculosis.—Tuberculosis is not a subject for treatment but for eradication and 
prevention. It is fairly common among domesticated pheasants and is often spoken 
of as ‘going light.’ However, not all cases of ‘going light’are cases of tuberculosis. 
When a bird dies of tuberculosis a post-mortem examination will reveal the liver, 
spleen, and intestines more or less filled with yellowish, cheesy lumps ranging in size 
from that of a pinhead to that of a walnut. Under microscopic examination these 
nodules or tubercles must always show the bacillus of tuberculosis or the disease should 
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