May 5. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
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IS THE ROUP CONTAGIOUS? 
Contrary to the usually received opinion, I confidently 
reply—No. Roup is simply purulent inflammation of the 
mucous membrane which lines the eyelids, nose, and throat, 
ot fowls; and its cause is cold, especially when combined 
with dampness or wet. 
A nearly allied state of disease, where the windpipe or 
j air-passages are especially implicated, may he induced by 
irritating effluvia; as I have witnessed the production of 
such in three days, in Polands and Bantams, which were 
kept secluded, at breeding time, in a warm but ill-ventilated 
stable, where the ammoniacal odour, Ac., was strong. So, 
in like manner, may the foul and vitiated air of the poultry- 
house, arising from want of cleanliness, and of ventilation, 
exert a similar influence on fowls, inducing difficult respi¬ 
ration, and some degree of heat and swelling about the 
throat and head, but not usually accompanied with the 
purulent discharge; such symptoms being manifestly the 
local effect of irritating effluvia on the delicate membrane 
of the windpipe. Roup, as already said, is purulent catarrh ; 
its seat, the membrane lining the eyelids, nose, mouth, and 
throat; its cause, cold and wet. 
It is of the greatest importance to the lovers of poultry, 
that this fact, of the non-contagious nature of roup, should 
be fixed in their minds; it may preserve the life of many a 
fowl. I think that in all the modern books on poultry that 
1 have read, the contagious nature of this disease is im¬ 
plied, admitted, or enforced. Hence the most stringent 
advice is ever given, “ at once to remove the diseased fowl 
from the rest, or the infection will be communicated to all.” 
The real danger of such a dogma and proceeding lies in its 
very supposed safety ; as persons may remain satisfied after 
they had, as they conceived, by following such advice, pre¬ 
vented its further spread. Whereas, coldness, dampness, 
and the unclean state of the poultry-house, were the true 
causes of the disease in the bird first affected, and would, in 
all likelihood, induce it in the rest, unless guarded against 
and avoided. 1 repeat, then, that there is danger in the 
notion that roup is contagious, and that its spread is pre¬ 
vented by the removal of the sick fowl. 
It is difficult to root out old prejudices or opinions. 1 
have heard, and also have seen it affirmed in books, that the 
roup soon spreads from the infected fowl—that, one by one, 
the rest will become infected. The simple fact is, however, 
I hat. the same cause which produced it in the first bird, con¬ 
tinues to induce it in others —it is not by contagion; and 
hence it will ever be found, as I have myself oftentimes 
verified, that, when the diseased fowl is removed to a dry, 
healthy, and warmed apartment, where other fowls are 
being kept (from various causes of illness, difficult moulting, 
Ac.), in artificial warmth, the disease is, in no case, commu¬ 
nicated to such. Of course, if it were infectious, it would 
spread amongst poultry in one locality as in another. 
The treatment of roup, as usually given, is in the main 
correct enough. Sundry directions are prescribed for a dose 
of this, and an ablution of that—things that do no harm ; it 
just being suggested, as it were, at the end, to remove the 
fowl to a sheltered situation (more to avoid the infection of 
the rest, I believe, than for cure). In reality, the grand 
remedy is concentrated in this removal; a dry, comfortable, 
and not only warm, but an artificially-warmed apartment, 
is the essential and truly efficient treatment. Do this, and 
little else would oft be required; omit it, and all else is un¬ 
available, as treatment. 
I would still, however, make use of assistants, not only 
for the fowl’s comfort, but as being really serviceable : hence, 
keeping the eyes, nostrils, Ac., clean by the frequent use of 
simple warm water and a sponge, and besmearing a little 
hog’s lard, or spermaceti ointment, around the edges of the 
eyelids, to prevent their being sealed up by the hardening 
discharge; the lowering of the catarrhal fever by an occa¬ 
sional aperient, especially of powdered jalap—say as much 
as would lie upon a shilling, and mixed with a little butter 
into a bolus. Attend, then, to' these simple directions— 
removal of the affected fowl to a healthy, dry, and warm 
apartment; ablution with warm water, and the use of simple 
ointment to the eyelids ; an aperient of jalap now and then 
| (every second or third night); giving, also, soft nutritious 
89 j 
food; and in most, if not in every case, the fowl will shortly 
recover. 
Lastly, forget not the critical situation in which the other 
poultry are placed. Their house must be made warm, dry, 
clean, and, in the day-time, well ventilated ; nor should they 
be allowed to go abroad in wet, cold weather, without suffi¬ 
cient shelter to which they can resort.—H., Hull. 
I 
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WHITE COMB IN SHANGHAES. 
Mr. Tegetmeier’s advice for the cure of the disease 
referred to at page 272 has been taken, by giving Blummer’s 
pills, with evident advantage. Previous to the pills being 
given the bird was reduced to a skeleton, and could not have 
lived much longer; the feathers had become saturated with 
the peculiar greasy appearance spoken of, and the smell 
from it offensive. Although it is not yet recovered, it has 
very much improved, and put on a considerable amount 
of flesh. I am not quite sure whether it should not have 
a change of medicine. Will Mr. Tegetmeier accept my 
thanks for his advice. I should not write now, but have 
waited till the result had been more decided, but for ob- , 
serving the remarks in The Cottage Gardener, page 452. 
Respecting the brimstone and saltpetre, that seems a j 
dangerous and doubtful remedy; it was tried on two full- 
grown birds last year twice, and it turned their combs and 
gills nearly black for a day or two, and effected a partial 
cure. The disease in question, I recollect, so affected the 
gills of a cock that they seemed dried and shrivelled up as 
if they were leather. 
[It is exceedingly gratifying to hear that a suggestion 
which I threw out on general principles merely, should have 
proved so successful. I think, as regards change of rnedi 
cine in this case of White Comb, I should be inclined to 
try the effect of some preparation of potash, say three 
grains ol chlorate of potash every day, made into a pill 
with moist barley meal, watching the effect carefully, and, if 
it appear desirable, conjoining it with an occasional Plum¬ 
mer’s pill. 
Richardson’s Work on Poultry is remarkably deficient in 
the chapter on diseases. Sulphur and nitre, the same as 
brimstone and saltpetre, are recommended in “ the propor¬ 
tions of one quarter each, mixed with fresh butter.” It is 
not stated whether a quarter of a grain, ounce, or pound, is 
meant, and as nitre is a violent poison in any but very small 
doses, I am not surprised at the evil result described by 
our correspondent.—W. B. Tegetmeier, Tottenham .] 
“TURNER’S FLORIST,” and “THE SCOTTISH 
FLORIST.” 
These are two excellent monthly Magazines, and the 
only objection that we have to cither is, that the epithet 
“ Scottish ” conveys an erroneous impression that its con 
tents are only fitted for the climate of Scotland. So far 
from this being the case, its gardening essays are equally 
.applicable to each division of the British Islairds. As a 
proof, it not yet being quite too late for Asparagus planting, 
we will extract the following from its pages, communicated 
by Mr. Guthill, of Camberwell:— 
“ The first Asparagus that made its appearance this 
winter in Covent Garden was consigned to Mr. Lewis 
Solomon early in November, and came from the south of 
France. The stalks were about from twelve to fourteen 
inches long, a middle size in girth, but nearly all white, with 
only about three inches of eatable matter at the tip. 
“ The market-gardeners round London are now producing 
Asparagus much better than they used to do, since the 
absurdity of only having three inches of eatable matter at 
the tops has been so much exposed. They are also reducing 
the enormous covering of earth, of from twelve to fifteen 
inches, to six or eight inches; also by allowing the Aspa 
ragus to rise about four inches above the earth, this will 
give something like six inches of eatable matter. This 
is just the plan of the private grower, and I believe that 
Asparagus grown by the gentleman’s gardener is as fine 1 
again in flavour, as well as containing much more eatable 
