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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
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copyrighted by

Reliable Poultry Journal Publishing Co.,

April 1, 1901,

quincy, illinois.

RELIABLE

POULTRY REMEDIES

POULTRYMAN^S HAND-BOOK

TRIED-AND-PROVED REMEDIES FOR THE COMMON
DISEASES OF POULTRY.

FOURTH EDITIOlSr.

PRICE, TWENTY-FIVE CENTS.

PUBLISHED BY THE

RKUABIvE POUIvTRY JOURNAI. PUBLISHING CO.

QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

(f? ?, 1
INTRODUCTION.

1~^HIS little book was first published more especially for the benefit
of the friends and patrons of the Reliable Poultry Journal. It
was not put forth as a money-making scheme, except as a time-
saver. We were led to publish it on account of the hundreds of
letters received each year from readers of the Journal, asking for advice
and help in the care and treatment of their poultry, both in health and
sickness, and owing to our inability to give them in the short space of a
"reply by mail" the help they needed. It is hoped this book will be of
real service to them. With this edition the size of the pages have been
materially increased, still they are but half as large as the regular size of
the other books issued by this company, because of the greater conven-
ience in handling this sized book in the chicken yard.

A number of remedies given for the same disease need not confuse
anyone. A physician knows of several remedies, one of which may be
better than the others, but in its absence he uses another with more or
less success. So in doctoring sick chicks and fowls, use whichever rem-
edy is at hand. Time is often an important factor in a, cure.

We expect to continue to revise and re-issue RELIABLE POULTRY
REMEDIES from time to time, with a view to improving it, and we ask
the co-operation of interested persons. Reports, therefore, of your suc-
cess In applying the remedies given in this edition, also new remedies
that you have tried and found to be good, will be much appreciated.

Fraternally yours,
RELIABLE POULTRY JOURNAL PUB. CO.
Quincy, 111., April 1, 1901.

STANDARD POULTRY BOOKS.

In the back pages of this book will be found a description of
the other books published by this company and of the American
Standard of Perfection. We present this list of books with pleas-
ure and confidence — pleasure that we can serve our friends and
patrons, confidence that in these books we have given to the
public the best thoughts and experience of the leading authori-
ties on the different subjects. To the beginner the books treat-
ing of the subjects most interesting to him, will be almost inval-
uable, while even the veteran in the poultry business will find
much to interest him and we doubt not, some new knowledge.

PREVENTION AND CURE OF POULTRY DISEASES.

J^n Exhaustive Treatise on the Diseases Common to Fowls, both Old and Young, with
Causes, Sjmiptoms. Treatment and Remedies.

BY DR. W. W. SANBORN, WELLESLEY HILLS, MASS.

IN RECENT years we have been handling poultry ailments from the
wrong end. Too many times we have sought a remedy for a disease
when we should have learned the cause that produced the condi-
tion so as to avoid it in the future. For every inch of space given
in poultry journals to prevention, one hundred have been devoted
to remedies and cures. This is wrong. There is more satisfaction and
profit in keeping healthy poultry than in curing sick birds. With sick
birds we not only have the care and expense of the cure, but there is the
loss of production during" the time, as well as the still greater danger of
having on hand birds weak in vitality when the hatching season arrives.
The corner stone of successful poultry keeping is healthy stock. Healthy
birds will grow well, lay satisfactorily and reproduce themselves, while
sick birds are a source of trouble to the owner. "We can only think of
succeeding with poultry when we have learned the causes as well as
the cures of poultry diseases. The man who is constantly asking about
his sick birds is not getting financial returns from his plant, and prob-
ably counts himself among those who are having "bad luck." Too many
beginners with poultry fail because they start with birds that have not
the vigor of well-bred stock. Too long inbred, late-hatched, weak stock
never give good results. It does not pay to breed from a. bird that shows
a tendency to weakness, no matter how high it may score. Every breeder
should be sure that his stock is healthy and that it was bred from heal-
thy stock, and his chicks will have vigor.

Inbreeding and Its Limits.

Inbreeding may or may not be a factor in causing disease. The
mating of two perfectly healthy birds can be expected to give good
results. The danger is that both birds may have a tendency toward a
certain diseased condition and the mating will intensify the trouble in
the chicks. To a certain extent it is right for the poultryman to inbreed
hut the more he practices it the more sure he must be that he is using
only strong, well birds. The beginner in keeping hens should buy
fresh blood every year until he has learned to succeed with common
■matings. It is not necessary to "have all kinds mixed," as a woman

;lh 1 9^^

6 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

recently said to me. The day of the barnyard fowl is passed. The stan-
dard-bred bird of to-day is stronger and gives more eggs and pounds of
meat than did the bird of our childhood. Every fancier can help along
the bird of his choice by keeping it high in strength and vigor. Study
your birds. Learn their weak points and strive to overcome them.
Much has been done along this line, but there is yet much undone. The
fancier deserves more praise for what he has done in successful poultry
keeping than has generally been given him. Let not the utility breeder
despise the fancier, for they are nearer related than they think. See
what has been done with the horse and cow in past years, and let us
not be satisfied "with the hen until we have attained as good results.
Inbreeding is a subject that has attracted a deal of attention and there
has been much contention over the questions involved. Volumes have
been written and the ground gone over thoroughly, yet the last word to
be written seems far in the future.

Care Required in Feeding.

Wrong feeding is another prolific factor in producing disease. The
best stock, if fed incorrectly, will give only indifferent results and is
sure to develop some form of sickness There is no "best ration" to
suit all breeds, all ages, all seasons or conditions. Along the line of
careful study in poultry feeding very little has been done. Here and
there a breeder has done good work, but it has been lost because not
reduced to writing. Experiment stations seem to have forgotten that
the poultry industry produces more wealth than any other branch of
agriculture. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been expended on
the study of cows and their feeding (well spent, too), but time and
money should have been given to the investigation of poultry. Stations
in eNw York, Utah and especially in Rhode Island, are to be commended
for the good already accomplished and for the promise they give to
devote more time to this important economic subject. Rhode Island is
not only working out these problems and putting them in print, but is
also impressing them directly upon the minds of poultrymen through its
winter class in "poultry culture."

Right feeding will eliminate much sickness. Overfeeding induces
a plethoric condition of the bird which is liable to be followed by indi-
gestion. On the contrary, the giving of a ration insufficient in food
value produces an anaemic state of body which furnishes a good breed-
ing ground for disease. The use of a diet lacking in any of the elements
needed to sustain life and produce paying results, or the feeding of a
ration in which an over supply of one of the elements is given, disar-
ranges the animal economy and brings dangerous results from a health-
ful standpoint. Feeding a strictly grain diet, without any bulky food,
will in time tell upon the bodily condition of the bird. Fortunately a
bird with half a chance will manage to find waste of some kind, even
though it be old leaves or chaff. A hen needs "filling" just as much as
a cow, and it is as much common sense teaching to advocate the giving.
of clover hay to one as the other.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 7

Necessity of Grit.
Another pitfall to healthy poultry is a lack of grinding material. To
■give good grain to your birds and then have it wasted because they can
not find sharp grit to grind it with is poor economy. A short time ago
1 saw a flock of four-months-old chicks dying because they were unable
to reach grit. In some sections of the country there is little available
grit, and it is important to health as well as to profit that grinding mate-
rial be supplied. Some of the so-called cases of cholera are simply indi-
gestion and diarrhoea from lack of grit.

Impure Water a Disease Breeder.

Impure water is a cause of many sick birds. All birds drinking bad
water do not become sick. If they did, the letters to poultry editors ask-
ing what to do "for my sick birds" would be too many to answer. Towns
and cities known to be healthful are sure to have a pure water supply,
and poultry plants that are known as producers of sturdy birds are care-
ful to supply clean water. Not only must good water be given, but the
dishes must be kept free from filth. Water is so cheap, and so easily
given, that it seems a pity that so many seem to think it is something to
be supplied or not, as is convenient. Hens insufficiently supplied with
water are poor layers, and if the available water is bad they are in a
condition to contract disease because of their lowered vitality. Filthy
water is a good carrier of catarrh, roup and cholera germs. Cleaning
daily the water dishes and giving fresh water diminishes the danger of
these severe diseases getting a foot-hold. Many a promising lot of
brooder chicks have died solely owing to being obliged to drink warm,
filthy water, while the owner of the birds comforted himself by thinking
that the diarrhea must have been owing to a "cold."

Filthy or Wet Quarters.

Filthy brooders, houses or yards are a constant source of danger to
any fiock. To be obliged to breathe the air of a long uncleaned brooder,
or to pick up grain or mash from a dirty floor, is to run a risk too great
to be safe. Houses that are strong smelling from uncleaned dropping
boards and damp, filthy fioors are hotbeds of disease. Yards that are
sticky with filth after every rain are not to be desired from a healthful
standpoint. Filth in any form is a constant source of danger that should
at all times be guarded against. Many of the acute diseases that take
off whole flocks find the best conditions present in filthy surroundings.

Excessive wet or dampness presents a favorable breeding ground
for some diseases. The location of a poultry plant upon or even near
wet soil is to be avoided. A hen keeps in best working condition when
yarded and housed upon light, sandy soil. If already settled in a damp
place something can be done by draining and filling, but there must be
constant care to overcome the unfavorable corcumstances. It ought not
be necessary to speak of dampness from leaky roofs, but I find too many
poultrymen that are careless in this respect.

Houses need to be carefully watched at all seasons of the year, espe-

8 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

cially in winter, to see tliat no opening comes to let in water. The snow
often dams up near tlie gutter and if ttie roof is not well covered the
water will work in and wet both scratching material and earth floor,
which is likely to be followed by catarrh or roup.

When building upon hillsides see that the natural flow of surface
water is not against the building. I have seen a house, one hundred feet
in length, thoughtlessly placed so that in winter the water would dam
up behind it thirty feet wide, flnally working under the foundations and
flooding nearly all the pens. It upset all cherished plans for winter
profit, and led, I think, to the plant being offered for sale through a real
estate broker. Heat , moisture and filth are to blame for many failures
in poultry keeping. Even the frost, which collects in winter under the
roof boards and on the walls, may be the cause of trouble. There is only
one way to avoid this serious condition of affairs. Ventilate thoroughly
during the day, getting the house dry, and there will be little accumula-
tion of dampness during the night. I have seen long houses built with
single windows to each pen so damp as to cause severe colds. The burn-
ing of oil stoves in these houses had little effect, and the moisture was
finally overcome by cutting large doors in the front of each pen, giving
free ventilation all day. The scratching shed houses are seldom troubled
by this cause of dampness.

Cold and Heat.

Cold and heat are important factors in the production of disease.
Of the two, heat is more to be feared than cold, and at first thought it
is a strange fact that heat in winter is the cause of disease. An ordi-
nary hen house, with only one window to each ten feet of length, unless
carefully aired during the day, will get so hot at noon on bright days
as to be almost unbearable. To the hen in her winter coat this heat is
very debilitating, and exposure to draft or cold is often followed by
catarrh or bronchitis. It is safer to have a cold dry house than one that
is alternately hot and cold. Better an open front and no windows than
plenty of glass and close, hot air. If the hens are kept busy during the
day scratching for grain, the exercise will give them heat, and their
warm coat of feathers will keep from harm all birds of rose comb vari-
eties. Some of the most healthy birds I ever saw were wintered in open
front houses, in which the doors between the scratching and
roosting rooms were never tightly closed. These birds during
the blizzard of last season continued to lay as if they were uncon-
scious of weather changes. A warm house is not to be desired, if it is
to be had by the use of too much glass or close air. The close-air, warm
house is the one that is cold at night. The shut-in damp air is a good
conductor of heat and the warmth is rapidly radiated during the night.
Birds exposed to the great changes of temperature between day and
night ai-e fit subjects to all the catarrhal diseases. T would not be under-
stood as advising the use of open-front houses, but between the tight
front and the open-front house there is a medium ^orth seeking. The
more glass in front, the more need of carefiil ventilation.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 9

Overheating From. Crowding.

Crowding on the roost, because of too large numbers, produces an
overheated condition favorable to colds, and this is as true in summer
as in winter. Extremely low, temperature will produce frosted combs
and throw the birds off their laying. Tall-combed birds need warmer
houses than those with low combs, but warmth must never be had from
crowded ciuarters or close air. Unless you can keep your birds comfort-
able in a house without artificial heat, dispose of them and get a variety
with comb and feathers that are safe in your climate.
Drafts and Imperfect Ventilation.

Drafts are a source of danger to healthy stock. A broken pane of
glass, or a crack in the wall, will let a current of air in on a bird that will
do more mischief than seems possible. There is less danger from the
breeze that may blow through an open shed than a draft through a small
crack. The warmer the house and more crowded the birds, the greater
the danger of disease. Ventilators are the cause of many colds, because
they are commonly arranged so that snow or rain find their way in on
the birds. A house that is well aired during the daytime and is kept
clean and is not crowded with birds, seldom needs any ventilation at
night. A house that is stifling to go into in the morning generally needs
better care of floors and dropping boards, rather than the introduction

of more air.

Too Many Chicks in a Brood.

The crowding of chicks with the mother hen or in the brooder pro-
duces sorry results. It is seldom wise from a healthful point of view to
put over fifty chicks in a single brooder or to give more than twenty to
d hen. A larger number are sure to be crowded, if indeed they do not
crowd themselves, the chicks inside the mob becoming hot and damp and
taking cold when exposed to the outside air. This summer I saw one
hundred and fifty chicks given to three hens, and after two weeks' exper-
ience the owner was glad to take my advice and remove the hens. The
chicks crowded less without than with the hens. Of course if it had been
earlier in the season the chicks could not have got along without some

outside heat.

Foul Air and Filthy Quarters.

A factor in the causation of disease is foul air. This may come from
having too many chicks or hens for the size of the house, the air being
breathed over and over again, and becoming more filthy the longer the
birds are confined. Foul air may arise from uncleaned floors or drop-
ping boards, heat increasing the danger of it. The danger from many
of the brooders now sold is not irregular heat, but too small a provision
for pure air. The little chicks sleep in a small chamber, in which their
droppings accumulate, and unless abundant currents of warm air are
introduced the air is soon unfit for use. There are many good incuba-
tors, but few good brooders. With chicks out in coops or boxes in the
field, arrange so that there will be air without drafts. In no better way
can this be done than by having the fronts of all coops covered with inch

10 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

wire netting oi' laths. Foul air seems to play too important a part ia
cases of roup to be allowed to exist on the premises of any thoughtful
poultryman.

Protection from Exposure.

Storms are a prolific cause of disease. We cannot help the rain and
snow, but we must keep our birds from severe exposure. When to
keep our birds indoors, away from falling snow or driving rain, is not
hard to decide, but the sudden changes that come at all times of the year
must be promptly met. It is only by constant watchfulness that our
flock escapes illness from nature's ways. Little chicks, whether with
hens or brooder, need oversight to avoid the effects of a sudden storm.
It is money saved to provide room enough to keep all birds indoors on
stormy days. The loss of a brooderful of chicks or a pen of birds would
go far toward providing ample accommodation for the stock.
Lack of Shade from. Summer's Sun.

The intense heat of summer, unless there is escape from it in some
way, ofttimes produces trouble. On the farm the overheated bird can
escape to the cool barn cellar or to some orchard, but on our modern
poultry plant the bird has little choice of her own. If the division boards
of the yards are high enough they will cast some shade for part of the
day, but at high noon these boards are worth little for this purpose. The
houses on the hot days are too warm to be depended upon for retreat.
The arranging of brush or boards in the yards will be helpful, but after
all there is no shade like that of a tree in full leaf. The wise poultryman
will early plan to set out trees in all his yards. For this purpose the
apple tree seems to feel at home in the conditions that are present in
rich soil and grass covered yards. The apple tree in the hen yard is a
rapid grower and comes early into bearing. Little chicks and fowls out
in the field, if allowed shelter from the hot sun, well repay in health and
growth for the trouble taken to provide their retreat.
Right Amount of Exercise.

Exercise, too much or too little, has a bearing on health, and, what
appeals to poultrymen, a relation to profits. If the bird has to work for
its grain in scratching material so deep that it cannot get food enough
for its needs, or if obliged to range too far for its food, it will never do
its best, either in growth or egg yield. On the other hand, the bird that
has no work to perform in getting its living is sluggish and is a poor
layer. Leg weakness can be avoided and strength gained by proper exer-
cise on the part of the little chicks. It is a mistake to let a hen that has
been shut in on the nest for three weeks drag her chicks around all day.
Much better results may be obtained by yarding and feeding them two-
thirds of each day. The busy, bustling hen is the bird that is well and
pays a profit.

Care in Eeeding.

The feeding of hens bears a certain relation to healthy stock. Not
only the quantities of the articles fed, but also the way it is given, pro-
duce good or bad results. All grain fed, except just at night, should be

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 11

given in scratching material. This can be any waste hay or straw that
is dry. If it is wet or even damp the food will take some of the filth
that will always accumulate in a hen house, and filth is never to be
desired in connection with paying poultry. Mash ought to be given in
clean troughs or on boards. The arrangement should be such that there
is no crowding or fighting among the birds to get the food. If the hens
are obliged to seize a mouthful and run to some wet spot to eat it, in
the process it will get mixed with some of the droppings and become
undesirable for healthy poultry.

Brooder chicks need special care in furnishing them clean food.
Too many die from dirty food to allow us to relax our efforts to keep
their mash and dry grain in proper condition. Hens will stand food that
will kill growing birds. When possible, feed all little chicks far enough
from the house or brooder to escape most of the droppings. Never feed
wet food on the ground or where it can be mixed with foul earth.

High Roosts Cause Bumble Foot.

High roosts are one cause of bumble foot. While it is "nature" for
a hen to roost high, it is only when the grass covered ground is at hand
that the bird is safe from danger of injury to the feet. In most cases,
six inches above the droppings board is right. If thei-e is a raised edge
to the droppings board the bird can step from one to the other and then
easily to the floor. The droppings beared itself should only be high
enough to allow room for an egg box underneath. If there is no other
place for the birds to roost they will accept the low roost, thereby avoid-
ing the dangers of one that is higher.

Droppings Boards and Their Accumulations.
Droppings boards should be kept clean. To allow the filth to accu-
mulate is to furnish an atmosphere to the sleeping birds that Is irritating
to the mucous surfaces of the thi'oat and bronchial tubes. Some of the
cases of chronic bronchitis are due to this cause. After cleaning the
boards, sprinkle groundplaster on the surface to sweeten and keep
sweet the boards. Ground plaster is worth its cost for the good it will
do when applied to the garden. If unable to procure the plaster the use
of dry earth or finely sifted coal ashes will give good results. Do not
use lime to dust the boards, as it sets free the ammonia contained in
the droppings, and this is an irritant to the organs of respiration. Dur-
ing cold snaps in winter the droppings often freeze to the boards for
several days. Watch for the sudden thaw some warm noon, and remove
the waste before the ammonia begins to arise. Store all droppings out-
side of any room in which birds are kept.

Stock Weakened by Lice.
Ii";sects play an important part in the health of poultry. Of these
the ordinary hen louse and red spider are most common. Chickens
infested with lice, whether from the mother hen or from a brooder, are
always undersized, rough in plumage and easily fall a prey to disease.
vHens troubled with licte are uneasy, restless, grow thin and do not prove

12 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

good layers. The sitting hen, afflicted with lice, often becomes weak, and'
her food produces looseness of the bowels. The red spider, or red mite,
as it is often called from its size, lives in cracks of the house, under the
roost and droppings board, or multiplies rapidly in dry droppings, and
comes out at night to suck the blood of birds. When birds are thus
troubled by mites the loss of blood produces an anaemic state conducive
to disease as well as to poor financial results.

Poultry plants infested with lice or mites never succeed and are a
hotbed of disease. It is possible to have sickness where there are no
lice, but it is impossible to keep birds well on which there are lice in any
numbers. It is the first duty of a poultryman to be sure that insects have
no foothold on his place. Destroy all insects and see that none are intro-
duced on new birds. Never be too sure that you are free from lice. When
you least expect it. some friend will show you one of your birds loaded
with insect life. Keep at it, from one end of the year to the other, fight-
ing lice, and it will be time well spent. If you relax your vigilance for
awhile the pests may get in such work as to upset all your plans for a

year.

Sunshine.

Sunshine is as essential to the health of poultry as it is to the health
of the human being, and to keep birds in a location so poor that the sun
has no chance to send its needful rays streaming toward the flock is to^
invite disease and failure. Sunshine is needed to dry all moisture,
whether arising from a damp soil or from the lungs of the birds. Plenty
of sunshine and fresh air are cheaper and better for the health's sake
than carbolic acid or sulphur. The less sunlight the more disease. There
is always trouble ahead for the man or bird who is obliged to live in
shady quarters. To keep hens in a house with light only from the
north, or in cellars with low, dusty windows, is taking risks of disease
as well as probabilities of egg failure. Birds housed under such condi-
tions are sure to become weak, pale in comb and wattles, and are likely
to contract catarrh, bronchitis or roup. Sunshine may also be a source
of harm if sufficient ventilation is not furnished. ^ A house facing south,
well supplied with glass, if not allowed plenty of escape for the hot air,
will show in winter a temperature of 80 to 100 degrees. The birds suf-
fer during the heat of noon only to feel more keenly the other extreme
of low temperature at night. The scratching shed house is not perfec-
tion, but it does furnish an escape from a hot pen at noon, to the fresh
air out-of-doors. The days of the all-glass front house are happily of
the past, but even now I am occasionally asked by some one if it is not
best to have lots of windows in the new house. The old idea of our
childhood clings to us, but we know from experience that about one win-
dow to each ten feet of front gives the best results from both the health
and profit point of view.

Condiments in Excess Are Harmful.

Condiments are an interesting subject from a health basis. Many
of the egg foods sold in past years have helped send many a fiock to the

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 13

market because of non-paying results. Our birds need a little spice if
shut in house and yard — just enough to take the place of the wild berry
or racy leaf, that are within reach of the birds at liberty. Some of the
powders offered for sale will throw the birds Out of condition if fed
according to directions. There is danger of irritating the crop and giz-
zard as well as enlarging the liver. Salt the mash as you would your
own food, and in cold weather add a little black pepper. You can buy
nothing better and will get good results if other things are right.
Exposure in Shipping.
Train or express exposure is a factor in disease. The sending of
birds to the winter shows or the transportation of breeding stock is not
without its dangers. I have seen coops standing for hours in a brisk
northwest wind, with the temperature below freezing, and then put into
a baggage car near the hot steam pipes. The reverse often occurs and
the sudden change from hot to cold is followed by some catarrhal
trouble. Even the change from the warm show room to the cold of the
outer air is not without its dangers. There is something wrong about
this sending of birds in the way we do, else why is it that some of our
larger exhibitors never have anything in the line of diphtheria except in
birds at shows, or returning therefrom? To avoid disease resulting from
transportation of birds the coops should be roomy, with wind-proof
sides, and in cold weather a coarse burlap top cover should be provided.

Safeguards Against Poison.

Irritant poisons have caused much sickness and not a few deaths. The
common forms of poisons as found on farms or the village lot are paint
in some form, paris green or potato bug poisons, and "rough on rats" or
vermin killers. There is great carelessness shown in the way in which
these are left around. Tins containing remains of former paint con-
tents are often thrown into fence corners or rubbish dumps, only to be-
come receptacles for falling rain, and these cans seem to possess an
attraction for the wandering hen. Paris green is an every-day article
of use by the farmer or villager and seems to have lost its first impres-
sion upon the mind of the user that it is a source of danger to all animal
life. Paris green, and all similar substances ought to be kept out of
reach of our birds. Little chicks allowed to run in a potato field soon
after it has been sprayed are very likely to get harm from the bright
drops of liquid that hang from leaf or tip. Pails used in applying the
paris green need to be carefully guarded at all times, and above all, not
allowed to be where they can receive any rainfall. Rat Poison is usually
given on bread, a food that always appeals to a hen's appetite. This
should be surrounded by all the safeguards possible and even then there
is danger that by some mischance the phosphorous ingredients of the
rat poison may be taken into the bird's digestive system.

Balancing Grain and Vegetables.
Green vegetable food fed in too large quantities or withheld alto-
gether influences the condition of the bird's health. An over-use of

14 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

cabbage, rye, weeds or roots is likely to produce diarrhea and weaken
the fowl's general system. If largely fed in place of proper food the bird
loses weight and becomes sluggish. To refrain from the use of green
food is like feeding a cow on grain only and expecting good results. Hens
must have some green food in order to do their best and pay good divi-
dends. Birds so confined as to be out of reach of any green food become
pale, weak and anaemic. We see this condition in hens kept in city
barns or cellars or housed and yarded in a manner to cut off access to
.grass. There is no better all-round green food than cut clover, either
.:green or dry and steamed. If not allowed a grass run something of the
igreen food ought to be fed for both health and profits. Brooder chicks
will be less likely to get "off their legs" if given a little lettuce or young
oat sprouts. Even the waste from the hay mow is useful, not only for
the exercise, but for the leaves and seeds that help make up the bulk.

Exclusive Grain Diet.

Grain in connection with diseases of poultry is worth some atten-
tion. Many cases of bowel trouble are traceable to feeding musty, sour
or charred grain. Any damaged grain is recommended as "good enough
for poultry" by the ordinary seller, and too often the dealer's statement
is accepted as good advice. A short time ago I found a poultryman feed-
ing damaged wheat at a cost of one dollar per hundred pounds, when the
best white wheat was worth one dollar and sixty cents. More than half
the damaged wheat was without food value while at the same time the
birds were exposed to dangers of spoiled food. One-half the quantity
of good wheat was giving better results than the damaged grain and the
birds were not obliged to eat and dispose of a lot of rubbish in order to
live. To avoid disease, feed the best grain you can get. The best is
none too good.

The feeding of an exclusively grain diet is dangerous from a health-
ful point of view. None of the grains contain elements rightly balanced
to give perfect results. Wheat comes the nearest to perfection, but even
this grain when fed to the exclusion of all other food is followed by
■dumpish, poor laying birds. Any or all of the grains need to be balanced
with something of the animal nature. A bird depending entirely upon
grain for food will eat too much in quantity in its endeavers to obtain a
sufficient amount of nitrogenous, or protein, food. Birds having a farm
run, with free access to the barn mows, will get animal food enough for
warm weather work, but will need a supply of meat meal or green bone
in winter. Birds fed on a meal mash in the morning and corn at night
will naturally be sluggish, over-fat, and inclined to fall a prey to dis-
ease. The desire for healthy and profitable poultry ought to be strong
enough in the mind of the owner to lead him to know something about
balancing rations. There is much food for thought in the report of
some of our state experiment stations. Poultry keepers ought to have
and study them. Rhode Island, Massachusetts, West Virginia and Utah
have done good work in the poultry line and their reports are to be had
for the asking.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 15

Too Little and Too Much Food.

Cramming, or over-feeding, when persistently followed results in
indigestion or breakdown. By cramming I mean the giving of too much
food, either to adult birds or to chicks. In these days of yarded stock
there is more danger of over-feeding, than in the times of farm flocks
at liberty. A bird left free to wander where it wishes will stand a better
chance of keeping well than the one that is dependent on the owner for
every particle of food. The only time it is best to cram a bird with
food is when it is soon to be used for the table, and this process ought
not to take over three weeks. A longer stuffing process is likely to be
followed by the bird's getting off its feet and losing all it has gained.
Many a lot of brooder chicks have "passed away" because the owner
thought it best to give them lots of food often. Chicks, as well as grown
birds, must not be fed so as to remain ,lazy, but should be cared for and
fed in such a way as always to be ready to work for the next meal. There
must be time for most of one meal to digest before giving the next. With
the exception of the last feed of the day no meal should be enough ia
quantity to cause the bird to retii'e to some corner and "mope." The
active chick is the one with a good appetite and a rapid growth. The
sluggish, over-fed chick is always a source of worry and easily passes
into a sick condition. Over-feeding with meat, cooked or raw, is not
without its dangei's. Excess of meat is liable to induce diarrhea or tax
the kidneys to get rid of the extra waste. The safe plan to follow in
feeding green cut bone and meat is to find how much the birds can eat
in one full meal. Then give at various times during the seven days of
the week a total amount equal to twice that of the single meal. If fed
in this way, very little ground meat will be needed in the morning mash.

Too little food is a cause of anaemic conditions and a source of
trouble occasionally met with. The common poultry keeper does not
often err in this direction, but rather leans toward heavy feeding. Giv-
ing too little food or starving the birds is not pleasant to think of, but
we may well be watchful that in our system of feeding we do not starve
the birds along the line of some needed element. Combine or balance
your ration in jiuch a way that the bird gets just what is needed for profit
as well as to sustain life.

Diphtheria.

Diphtheria is a disease of the cold months rather than of warm
months. While not so contagious as cholera, it is easily passed from
bird to bird, either directly or by means of the drinking water or feed
troughs. Diphtheria is fatal enough to be dreaded by any poultry
keeper, and even though the birds pull through they are never equal to
birds that have not had the disease, even for layers, to say nothing of
their doubtful value as breeding stock. Diphtheria leaves its mark on
the constitution of any bird that has the disease. Diphtheria may be
taken from sick birds at the shows, or it may be introduced through new
birds. It always pays to have some system of quarantine even though
you keep but a few birds. This is some trouble, to be sure, but it is a
safeguard worth its cost to any earnest poultryman.

16 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

Many of the severe epidemics have been in connection with filthy or
damp houses or yards. As we talie up the various diseases, readers will
be surprised to learn the part that filth takes as a factor in disease. A
clean kept poultry plant seldom has diseased birds, unless introduced
from without. Diphtheria manifests itself early by a sleepy appearance
of the bird, a slight discharge from the nostrils, and a stiff neck. The
plumage is rough, not sleek. After twenty-four to forty-eight hours
the catarrhal condition of the nostrils becomes more prominent, and the
sides of the mouth are sticky with a fluid that comes from within.
Opening the mouth you will see that the sides and back are also sticky
with the same fluid that you observed on the outside. Even as early as
the second day you are likely to find the throat a bright red in color,
except where covered with the characteristic leaden membrane. In true
diphtheria this membrane is always firmly attached to the mucous sur-
face, so closely in fact that its removal is always followed by bleeding.
If at any time you find on the throat or mouth a membranes that can be
detached without being followed by bleeding you may doubt the pres-
ence of diphtheria. The tendency of the membrane in diphtheria is to
spread over the entire surface of the throat that is in view, if indeed it
does not run up into the nostrils and down into the windpipe.

This disease is likely to prove fatal in severe attacks within four

"days of the time attention is attracted to the sick bird, and in the mild
form to run a course of from ten to fifteen days. In cured cases, even
after the birds are out of danger, there may be some weakness of legs
or wings that lasts for weeks or months. The ordinary hen house is
not the ideal place to doctor diphtheria. The bird needs a moderately
warm room where a stove can have water boiling on it most of the time.
During the warm months of the year any dry, sunny box of a house will
do, but diphtheria is a rare disease except in the cold season. For both
local and internal treatment there is nothing better than calcium sul-
phide. This must be fresh and very strong-smelling to give good
results. One grain mixed with a little hot mash and fed so you know
the bird gets it, three times a day, will do for internal treatment. A
little of the dry powdered calcium sulphide dropped into a piece of paper

':: folded into a V shape and blown into the open mouth will modify the

"bourse of the local manifestation of the disease.

Something depends upon the feeding in this trouble, just how much
it is hard to say. In severe cases the bird is unable to digest food
even through it be got into the crop and gizzard. In a case where the
general symptoms are much lighter than you would expect from the
appearance of the throat, it is well to give highly nutritious foods, such
as raw or dropped eggs, beef juice and milk. For a tonic to "pick up"
the convalescing birds, arsenate of iron in 1-50 grain doses, given in
mash three times a day, will do good work.

Canker.

Whether this is a disease of itself or a mild form of diphtheria is
not definitely known, but it is always well to consider it of danger

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 17

enough to give it prompt and care attention. While all birds are at
times attacked by canker, the Games are quite subject to it. Canker
is as often seen in the show room as in the home pen. What there is
about the exposure of the express travel and show room to cause this
trouble is not known, but it is a risk that must be taken if we are to
exhibit our birds. Your attention is called to this disease by observing
that the bird has some trouble in swallowing food or water. Its neck
seems to be stiff. Even when standing and doing nothing else it has
the appearance of swallowing, as though it were trying to get down some
substance in its throat.

The usual treatment of canker for years has been to blow powdered
chlorate of potash into the throat upon the inflamed surfaces. The latest
and it seems to me the best remedy, is the use of calcium sulphide, as
in diphtheria. AH cases of canker or diphtheria should be sent to the
hospital, whether that be a dry goods box or an isolated room. You can
handle the sick birds better in this way and at the same time lessen the
danger of the flock at large. The previous condition of the bird has no
bearing on the contracting of diphtheria or canker. If these diseases
have any preference it is for vigorous birds rather than weak stock.

Catarrh. . /

In considering catarrh it is well at the very beginning to make
prominent the fact that catarrh is not roup. Catarrh is a simple inflam-
mation of the mucous surfaces, and the special term is only applied to
the air passages above the windpipe. Unless filth enters into the cause
of the sickness catarrh never passes into roup. A bird sick with catarrh
is likely to contract roup if the proper exposure be given-. Catarrh and
roup cannot be distinguished apart in the first stages, but should receive
prompt treatment even before the disease can be named.

In catarrh the bird is not sick to any extent. The inflammation of
the nostrils does not upset the digestion, and unless added to by im-
proper treatment or lack of good care, the bird does not lose weight.
Catarrh is caused by long exposure to cold winds, roosting in a coop so
that a steady draft of air blows through a chink onto the .bird, and from
contagion from other cases.

Catarrh in quite young chicks is very common from the effects of
a chill, either from low temperature or as the result of crowding and
sweating in a coid brooder. Many brooders do not have warm floors so
as to make comfortable the chick at rest. A chick in motion requires
no warm surface under him, but when he settles down on the floor of
the hovei' to sleep he does not want a cool layer of sand or wood to steal
heat from him during the night. Chicks sometimes contract catarrh
by being deserted by the mother hen before feathering is far along.

Late in the fall of the year nearly matured birds are attacked by
this trouble while in the roosting coops or houses. This may be due
to the opening of cracks in the boards or the blowing off of a shingle or
part of the paper covering of the roof. Coops that have been all right
^ntil this time give out as the result of the wet winds of November.

18 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

The first symptoms of catarrh you will notice v/ill be a "bubbling'^
at the nose, on one side surely, probably on both. There may also be
watery eye, perhaps diarrhea. Dust, chaff or pieces of leaves stick to
the discharge from the nostrils, calling attention to the sickness. The
discharge passes through the various stages of a common cold — ^at first
thin and scanty, then abundant, finally thick and inclined to dry on
outer surface.

A case of catarrh, well cared for, will get well without medical treat-
ment. If catarrh could be told from roup in the early stages, I should
advise no drugs for this sickness, but so long as we do not know surely
what we have to contend- with, some local treatment should be given.
Add thirty grains of sulphate of quinine to one ounce of hot water. This
is to be applied twice a day by an atomizer to all inflamed surfaces, first
cleansing the parts with warm water. The sick birds should be kept in
a dry, sunny, roomy place, away from all well birds.

Diarrhea.

Simple diarrhea, like simple catarrh, is caused by sudden chills or
even lack of heat, especially in young chicks. Sometimes when you are
having an epidemic of "colds" (catarrh) you will find some of the birds
showing signs of looseness of the bowels. Why it is that similar causes
produce diarrhea in warm weather and catarrh in cold months is too
long a story to tell, but it is a fact we well know. A prolonged chill
will be followed in summer by diarrhea and a few cases of catarrh, and
in winter by many cases of catarrh and a few cases of diarrhea.

Diarrhea in chicks is a fatal disease too often met. It is the bane
of the usual way of raising a few chicks with hens. The hen, tired of
her inactive life in incubating eggs, wants to roam more than is good for
the chicks; and from lack of mothering, the chicks become chilled over
and over again. This induces a looseness of the bowels that soon
removes the chick from the flock. Brooder chicks also suffer from
diarrhea, and this is also caused by too little heat. Too many brooders
do not plan for any bottom heat and there are those that cannot be relied
on to keep up the heat during the latter part of the night. If the brooders
were as good as the incubators, we would hear of fewer persons going
out of the poultry business, and would see less empty hen houses. There
are more good incubators than good brooders. To avoid diarrhea in
brooder chicks have heat enough to keep the chicks scattered out on the
floor of the "mother" near the fringe of the hover. No matter what the
thermometer says, keep the chicks contented. Depend on what the
chicks seem to think of it rather than on any set degree of heat.

Diarrhea in chicks or adult birds may also be caused by too coarse
or rough food. The absence of grinding material (grit) will produce
diarrhea. The over-feeding of green bone or meat may be followed by
looseness of the bowels. Irregular feeding — much to-day, little to-mor-
row— has a tendency to upset the bowels. Birds running wild on the
farm seldom have bowel trouble. It is the yarded fowl, depending on
man for every particle of food, that has diarrhea from improper feeding.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 19

Filthy drinking water is the starting point of many so-called "cholera"
outbreaks. This is diarrhea, too common to be ignored, and is well
worth remembering in looking for causes of bowel trouble. Filth in any
form, especially in the water a hen. must drink, is a cause of disease
against which one should constantly guard. Filth in some form or other
is behind nine-tenths of all sickness in the poultry plant.

Diarrhea from too coarse food needs to be treated by giving less
bran and more of the flour ingredients of wheat. Leave out scratchy
things and thoroughly cook the mash, and feed lightly of green foods,
such as turnips and cabbage. If the birds can be given a free run of
the place and a little food, they will be likely to do well in looking out
for themselves. All these cases do well if given an astringent drink,
such as one teaspoonful of tincture iron to one quart of water. A severe
case of diarrhea from over-feeding often improves at once after receiv-
ing a dose of castor oil. Castor oil may be poured from a spoon into the
mouth of the fowl, the beak closed and the bird's head held upright till
it swallows. The dose does not matter so long as you give enough. An
overdose will pass through with the discharge and that will be the end
of it.

There is a form of diarrhea known as "enteritis" that we shall take
up later. This has the same relation to diarrhea that roup does to
catarrh. Catarrh and diarrhea are mild in their course, while enteritis
and roup are violent, hence more fatal. ■

Roup.

Roup is an infectious disease (purulent catarrhal in form) of the
air passages. It is met at any time of the year, especially in wet sea-
sons, most commonly in the late fall weeks. Cold breezy quarters,
drafts of cold air from broken windows or chinks in walls, a house that
is hot at noon and very cold at night, bad food, dirty drinking water,
any or all of these when combined with filth tend toward the production
of roup. Roup is often introduced into a flock through birds brought
from outside, through lack of thought in quarantining them when arriv-
ing. Birds out of condition from any cause easily contract roup when
exposed to the disease. Sluggish birds from improper or over-feeding
seem to be fit subjects for catarrhal diseases. Persistent inbreeding
weakens Adtality and increases the susceptibility to disease, especially
to roup.

Let me impress upon you now, and I shall have occasion to do it
more than once, the great factor in the causation of disease is filth. You
may labor under many difficulties with birds or food or houses, yet if
you avoid filth you will have few visits from serious sicknesses. It is
the long uncleaned, damp house that is the scene of disease. The loaded
droppings boards are good breeding ground in winter for roup and
cholera as well as fine summer homes for red mites. Without filth, or
an introduced ease, roup does not appear. Once introduced into a house
it is rather hard to stamp out. The infectious matter from the discharge
of the mucous surfaces seems to retain its life for months, even when

20 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

it is dry and dusty. Water dishes, unless baked or boiled retain the
disease spreading material for a long time. The earth floor holds for
some time the germs from the diseased birds.

Outbreaks of roup vary in severity. Sometimes you hear of a flock
sick with undoubted roup where every bird recovers without any treat-
ment. Then you may next hear of a yard where every one died in spite
of the most active treatment. The disease when once introduced seems
to run a more rapid and vigorous course in sturdy stock. Every new
bird, and all birds returning from the shows, should be kept from the
home birds for at least seven days, to give disease time to manifest
itself. It is always well to look under the wings of all new birds to see
if there is any dried mucus on the feathers, left there from the bird's
putting its head under its wing at night. Birds that have been quite
sick with roup, no matter how well they may seem to have become,
should not be bred from if you wish to keep strong stock. Roup seems
to leave its mark on every victim, though many times it is not seen till
the next generation. Whatever you may do for yourself, never sell eggs
or birds that may give weak stock to your neighbor. It may upset many
cherished plans and spoil the work of years. One of the experiment
stations reports: "A lot of cockerels, bought of — , of New York state,
had the foulest kind of roup when received. Part were killed, and the
others cured after a long course of treatment, but they were continually
getting out of condition, and the mortality among their chickens was
large."

The symptoms in the beginning of roup are those of simple catarrh
and for a few days these diseases cannot be told one from the other.
For a day or two there is a slight discharge from the nostrils, with eyes
wet from mucus and often some bubbling at the inner corners; then the
discharge thickens, gets darker in color, and even entirely obstructs
breathing through the nose. An average case of roup shows marked
debility within flve days from the outset. Most cases of roup develop
rapidly from the start and if confined to close quarters the odor arising
from the inflamed parts becomes marked and disagi'eeable. There is no
odor in catarrh; nearly always in roup. Some outbreaks of roup are
peculiar because of the marked tendency toward swelled heads and
ulcerated mouths. These "big heads" mark a severe type of the dis-
ease; a form likely to prove fatal. A roupy bird is inclined to sleep
with its head under its wing, which allows the mucus to stick to and
dry on the feathers.

Remember that when buying birds, and you may avoid introducing
half -cured 'birds to healthy stock. You will find the dried mucus dark-
ened with dust on the under side of one or both of the wings. Your bird
sick with a common cold, let alone, will continue along the same course
for several weeks. With roup you may expect a daily increase in the
severity of the symptoms. A catarrh tends toward recovery if given any
reasonable opportunity, while roup needs the best of care to have the
bird become as well as before the beginning of the sickness. Many cases
are marked for a fatal end from the commencement of the sickness, es-

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 2L

pecially those where we see very large heads and a strong smelling dis-
charge combined. These cases rarely live over six days and furnish
good "seed" for future outbreaks.

Treatment of Soup.

The treatment of roup varies according to the severity of the attack
and the stage of the disease. That it is a fatal and dreaded disease we
know from the many "sure cures" offered to us through advertising col-
umns of the poultry press. It is an indication of severe trouble when
you find as many remedies offered as you meet poultrymen. The earlier
roup is recognized the greater satisfaction there is in treating it
Like a fire, roup responds to medicine if taken in the beginning, but if
neglected — "buckets" of drugs have no effect. At the commencement
of this disease local medication is likely to give better results than
internal administration of remedies. Both are needed, however, to give
best results. In the treatment of roup, as in the handling of all diseases
of the air passages, the most satisfactory way to get the medicines where
they will do the most good is through the use of an atomizer. It will
be good practice to buy one costing from fifty cents to one dollar. The
cheap ones are constantly getting out of order and when you need to
use one it ought to be ready for service.

When you find a bird sneezing, or notice a slight discharge from the
nostrils, spray all mucous surfaces you can reach with the following
solution: Extract witch hazel four tablespoonfuls, liquid carbolic acid
three drops, water two tablespoonfuls. Do this twice a day, squeezing
the bulb five times for each nostril and twice for the mouth. If there is
any watery eye give one squeeze for each. The sick birds should be kept
fom the others to avoid spreading the disease. After removing the sick
birds, give the drinking and feed dishes a careful washing in as hot
water as can be used, cleaning the pens as thoroughly as possible. If
the dishes are of iron or tin a baking in the stove oven will destroy all
germs. If the disease has progressed to the stage of swelled-head and
thick discharge, and the bird has a sluggish walk, add one part "Piatt's
Chlorides" to five or rain water, and bathe head thoroughly with the
solution, seeing that some of it gets into the nostrils and throat. Some of
the cases of five years ago used to get well under what was called the
"coal oil treatment." This consisted in pouring on the surface of a pail
of water about a gill of kerosene oil, which fioated on the surface; the
swelled head birds were taken one by one and slowly dipped, so the
heads were under the surface, and held while "one — ^^two — ^three" was
slowly repeated, and then raised, the necks and heads being wiped. I
remember seeing twenty cockerels, so sick that the discharge was thick
and exceedingly bad smelling, receive this treatment twice a day for two
days, being obliged to take all drink from dishes that had a film of the
oil always fioating on the top, and come up out of the severe stage,
improving from day to day, finally being sold to the butcher in nice con-
dition.

A friend of mine who has been a breeder of poultry for twenty years

22 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

insists that the oil treatment is the surest of any yet tried by him, and
he has bought and used many of those advertised in the years before he
began to use kerosene. He says he never was satisfied till he depended
on the oil. This friend has never used what I am now sure is the com-
ing remedy, and that is peroxide of hydrogen. This is "death to germs."
It is a liquid coming in strong bottles, tightly corked, and needs to be
diluted Avith from three to six parts of water. There is a good prepara-
tion of this known as "Hydrozone," that is often to be found at drug
stores, that should be diluted with from five to eight parts of water.
This solution applied to the diseased surfaces at once begins to foam,
and should be repeated until there is no more bubbling. A little of the
solution forced into the nostrils by the use of a dropping tube from the
force of the foaming is driven higher up into the nostrils, reaching parts
otherwise out of touch. The worse the case the stronger should be the
solution, and the longer it must be used. The diet in roup should be
simple. Green food, if possible, should be within reach, and all mashes
should have at least one-third clover. The place of detention should be
dry and sunny. Drinking water should be changed twice a day.

Mr. A. F. Hunter, in his articles on poultry, advises the following:
"A tablespoonful of clear lard, half a tablespoonful each of vinegar, cay-
enne pepper and mustard; mix well together, add flour till the whole
has the consistency of dough, roll into slugs about the size of the top
joint of the little finger, and put one down the patient's throat. The
dose can be repeated in twelve or twenty-four hours, as the case seems
to need it, but one slug frequently cures if taken in time. For swelled
head we bathe with a glycerine-turpentine lotion made of one part spir-
its of turpentine to six parts of glycerine; and for sneezing, cold and
swelled head combined, use both remedies; if the patient does not snow
signs of improvement within three days after beginning treatment, take
off its head and burn or bury it." When a case of roup is referred to
me to-day for the best treatment I write or say according to the needs of
the occasion, "Use 'Hydrozone' one part, water two parts, in an atomizer,
spraying thoroughly all diseased surfaces, twice a day." Roup has been
rare in the east the past winter, many of the so-called cases being sim-
ple catarrh. If you will practice some form of quarantine, and keep
everything free from filth, roup is not likely to appear in your yards.
Once it gets a start in your flock, your peace of mind is likely to be ruf-
fled for months. Be watchful, careful, in fact, be a true poultryman.

Pip.

This is presented here under this heading, not because it is a disease,
as it is not, but because so many books give it a place of its own. Pip,
so-called, is simply a dry condition of the tongue appearing in several
diseases of the air passages, such as roup, catarrh, bronchitis and pneu-
monia. It is a symptom of disease, not a disease of itself. Pip, or the
dry state of the tongue, is produced by the rapid passing over the tongue
of feverish breath combined with increased temperature of the body.
The natural moisture is removed and secretion diminished. The tip of

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 23

the tongue being thin, shows the change plainly, becoming hard and dry.

Let alone the dry covering or hard membrane; to try to remove it is to

inflame the tongue and accomplish no good result. Study the whole

bird, finding out the trouble underlying this one symptom, treating the

real disease. If you must do something for the tongue, paint it twice a

day with glycerine.

Scaly-Legs.

Scaly-leg and fish-skin diseases resemble each other, but are totally
different in causation. The first is the result of the irritation of a para-
site, the second a constitutional defect. Scaly-leg is decidedly contag-
ious, while fish-skin disease is perfectly non-communicable. Scaly-leg
does not appear without the irritation due to a parasitic insect. This
parasite comes from another bird ,or possibly from an infested house
or brooder, and works its way in between the scales of shanks or toes.
As a result of its life work on the bird the scales are irritated, pushed
apart, and dirt begins to accumulate in the cracks of the parts. The
irritation of the filth, added to that of the parasite, produces a disgust-
ing appearance of the legs. Scaly-leg introduced into a flock well cared
for does not do as much mischief as when it appears in a lot of birds
kept in dirty houses. Scaly-leg passes from diseased to well birds on
the roost, or is contracted by chicks when with the "mother hen." A
single case of scaly-legs on the plant is a source of danger to every otner
bird.

It is so easy to cure this trouble that it is foolish to set a single hen
with scaly-legs. To allow a case to continue to exist when once it has
attracted your attention is to let it be known you are a careless poultry-
man. I am willing to acknowledge that the disease has little effect on
egg production, but must say that such breeding stock does not attract
the eye of the buyer of birds or eggs for fancy or practical purposes.
Now and then we may buy a bird afflicted with scaly legs but it is only
because it is an extra gooid bird in ether respects and we know we can
get rid of the parasites before it is put with our other birds. I went to
quite a little trouble last fall to get a pullet for fresh blood from a noted
strain. I had hard work to find a bird in the lot of fifty pullets that was
free from scaly-legs, and finally took one that was infected, knowing
that two applications of Lambert's Ointment would cure the case. The
owner of the pullets knew he ought to have cured the cases long before,
but had never got around to it. The pullets had contracted the trouble
from the mother hens and I found several birds among the year-old
breeders that were anything but a pleasure to see.

If a little of the scurvy looking material is scraped off and examined
under a magnifying glass, a few trials will surely show the little para-
site. Knowing what you have to handle, do not put off treatment, but
clean up the disease at once. Scaly-leg is so easy to cure that n^o intel-
ligent poultryman is excusable for its presence on his place for over a
week. Every bird bought ought to be examined for scaly-legs and any
doubtful one receive immediate treatment. If you at any time find sev-
eral cases on hand I would advise the applying of the proper treatment

24 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

to every bird on the place. Tbis is not much trouble and prevents the
cropping out of new cases in a short time.

A good ointment to kill the parasite is made of one ounce of sulphur
and ten tablespoonfuls of lard or vaseline. Rub this into the rough
parts of the shanks and toes every other night for a week, and give one
more application about three weeks from the first treatment.

Another good method of proceeding is to fill a common wooden pail
nearly full with water, adding one gill of kerosene oil carefully so it will
float on the surface. Then take each bird and dip both the legs down
through the oil into the water, holding for half a minute and then
slowly withdraw. Do not get the oil on the feathered parts and wipe
off the surface oil on the scaly parts. Repeat the treatment in four or
five days. If the birds have feathered shanks be very particular in dry-
ing the feathers, as they will hold the oil and cause the bird much dis-
comfort by irritating the legs. If the shanks are allowed to soak in
pure kerosene you are likely to have swelling and inflammation of the
parts. Avoid the danger of scaly-legs by keeping the birds from sources
of contagion and especially be diligent in having all houses clear of filth.

Fish- Skin Disease.

This resembles "scaly-legs" in as much as it presents a dry, rough
appearance of the covering of shanks and toes, with more or less dirt
worked into the spaces between the scales. There is no insect life at
work in this trouble, but it is due to some disturbance of functional
action of the bird. It is not passed from bird to bird, but it does seem
to be inclined to appear in certain strains of birds, as if heredity played
a part in its coming. The skin of shanks or toes seems to be lacking in
oil and presents a dry, scaly picture to the eye. There is some irritation
of the surface, leading to the birds picking or scratching the parts,
thereby increasing the difficulty. Daily rubbing with an ointment (ole-
ate of zinc, one teaspoonful, to vaseline, five teaspoonfuls) will soften the
dry scales, remove the itching and improve the appearance of the legs.
Changes in diet have not seeme'd to make any improvement in these
cases and the local treatment is all we can pursue.

Dropsy of Feet.

This may be due to a gouty or to a sluggish condition of the circu-
lation. Anything that holds back the return circulation 'of blood,
whether a congested liver or pressure of a tumor, tends to increase the
size of shanks and toes. Freezing of the feet is followed by a dropsical
state of the parts involved. Crowding with food, or furnishing no incen-
tive to exercise, tends toward appearance of this trouble. Unless there
is serious organic disease that causes enlai'ged legs, plain (unstimulat-
ing) food, green vegetables in abundance and a dose or two of castor oil
will improve and probably cure the disease. As the legs reduce in size,
provide more and more exercise to stimulate the functions of the entire
body. Brooder chicks, developing this condition, need to be fed their
grain in barn chaff or finely cut straw. Overfeeding and no exercise are
the usual causes of dropsy of the legs of growing chicks.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 25

Bumble-Foot.

Bumble-foot is a tender, inflamed condition of the bo'tom of the foot,
involving the tissues lying beneath the skin and usually is accompanied
by the formation of matter. In the very beginning of bumble-foot there
is a slight thickening of the sole of the foot, with some tenderness of
the irritated layers. Pressure is increased, the blood supply is shut off,
pus forms and has a tendency to "work out into other parts of the foot
or leg. In most cases bumble-foot seems to be the result of a bruise, as
the general belief of poultrymen is that it is caused by jumping from a
high roost onto a hard floor. I have known several cases where the
birds had never been allowed to roost at all. I have always thought that
every case of bumble-foot was caused by an irritation of some foreign
body, such as splinters, bits of glass, or briars, or from germs introduced
through the skin by some puncture by one of the substances named. I
have looked for foreign bodies, but never found any except glass. A
bird with bumble-foot limps slightly, as though it hurt to press the sore
part on the ground. If resting it is inclined to stand on the well foot.
If walking, it hurries to get from the bad to the good leg. As pus
forms the limp is decidedly pronounced and diagnosis ought to be easy
without examination of the sore foot.

A case caused by a simple bruise is often aborted by washing the
foot in strong vinegar, or painting the thickened skin with tincture of
iodine. Most of the cases that have come to our attention had developed
pus. These should have the pus cavity opened with a clean thin knife,
the matter washed out with carbolized water, and the entire surface of
the cavity itself painted with a solution of nitrate of silver — ten grains
to one ounce of distilled or rain water. Bumble-foot cases are often
neglected until the bottom of the foot gets into a condition of chronic
inflammation that is hard to relieve. Birds that have had the pus cavity
opened should be kept on clean, dry straw for a week. Many cases have
had bad results from treatment because obliged to walk about in the filth
of the yard or house. The cut opens the tissues to the dangers from
germ life, and it is little wonder that many cases have to have the pus
discharged over and over again.

Leg Weakness.
Leg weakness is seldom to be seen except in half-grown stock. It
appears in growing birds, between sixteen and twenty-four weeks old,
cockerels rather than pulMs, in heavy rather than in light weight
breeds. Behind leg weakness we usually find a history of over-feeding
of fat-producing foods, or the giving of too little of bone and muscle
foods, or both. Some cases have been seen in flocks fe'd a large quantity
of condiments or "egg food." Increasing the weight of the body beyond
fhe ability of the legs to support it, or any process that intends to gain
size at the expense of time, is liable to end in leg weakness. The first
symptom is a slight weakness of the legs in walking, hardly noticeable
to a stranger, but suggesting trouble to one who is observant of his own
birds. The g'ait is unsteady, and the muscles are working at some dis-

26 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

advantage. In a few days the birds may be found sitting when eating,
and are inclined to walk very little. Looking the bird over at this time
you w'ill find little wrong about him except the leg trouble. His comb
is bright, eye clear, appetite good and feathers brig'ht and clean. As
days go by, howevei', he presents a different appearance. He is slow to
get to the feed dish, gets less than his share of grain, is picked at by the
other birds and driven from place to place, at length becomes thin and
lousy, and an object of worry to his owner.

At the first appearance of leg-weakness reduce the quantity of fat-
producing foods *o a small amount. Take away corn and cornmeal, and
feed little condiments. If the birds are at all crowded in house or roosts
increase the space or dispose of some of the birds. Stop feeding every
time you go near them, giving food three times a day, but never to
crowding the crop. If possible, but the weak birds in a place by them-
selves,thus avoiding their being imposed upon by stronger members of
the flock. Feed steamed cut clover to all the birds as a noon meal,
whether it be summer or winter. As is the case with all birds, clean,
water and houses are needed to go with improved care. Rub the legs
with tincture of arnica and add one-half teaspoonful of tincture of nux
vomica to each quart of the drinking water. A good brand of meat meal,
containing at least one-fifth bone, should be made part of the morning
mash, in the proportion of one part meal to six of grain and clover. If
you have peas or beans that you can boil and add to the mash, it will
be helpful in building up the strength of the birds.

Cram.p.

Cramp is an affliction of young chicks, somewhat as leg-weakness
is to half-grown birds. Cramp is caused by overheated brooders, too
many chicks for the size of the brooder and too little exercise. The pre-
vention as well as the cure of this discouraging condition is summed up
in few words — have larger brooders or fewer chicks in each brooder;
heat the brooders so that the chicks will spread out on the floor of the
"mother," avoiding crowding to keep warm; lastly, furnish chaff enough
to make every chick work to get its grain. Sand or earth will do if you
cannot get chaff, but a small clover cutter will soon cut you enough flne
hay or straw to fill half a dozen brooder pens. Exercise of itself will do
very much to prevent the appearance of cramp in young chicks. Cramp
seems to be a weakness of the muscular system from over-weight of the
other parts of the body, too little use of the muscles themselves and too
rapid growth of the bones.

Broken Shanks.

Hardly a season goes by in which we do not see a case or two of
broken bones in our yards. A chick or fowl is caught in a wire fence or
between pickets, and in its endeavors to escape it snaps the bone of the
shank. Or a chick is run over by a team, or stepped on in the yard, and
a break results. Breaks of this kind unite quickly if the parts are put
together and kept there. For little chicks you will find common tooth-
picks handy for splints, while for older birds you can easily make splints

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 27

of pine. Even stiff pasteboard, sligiitly wet when applied, will do good
service. Take a bandage of cotton cloth, wide enough to cover the
length of the shank, wind it around twice, then put the splints outside
and finish by winding the cloth round three times more. With needle
and thread sew the edges of the bandage that it m.ay remain in place.
The younger the bird the sooner the splints can be removed. Of course
if the bird is large enough, and you wish to, you can serve it in chicken-
pie or treat your family to a broiler. Other broken bones, such as those
of wings or thighs, are hard to handle and such cases are best suited for
the cook.

Rheumatism.

While 'this is a disease affecting all parts of the body, the prominent
symptoms are those located in the legs. Rheumatism present^ some rise
in temperature, swollen joints, contraction of some of the muscles and
pain in motion. Rheumatism may result from long exposure to cold and
moisture, ,it may be produced by the over-feeding of meat, induced
through the under-feeding of vegetable foods, and is helped along by
previous rheumatic tendencies of ancestors. Rheumatism is most likely
to appear during damp winter weather in adult birds, and during the
brooder stage of chicks.

The early symptom of rheumatism is contraction of some of the
muscles of the legs. This generally draws up the toes and flexes the
shank on the leg. Trying to straighten the limbs hurts the bird. There
is inflammation and pain enough in the muscle or joint to cause the bird
to try to get ease by sitting most of the time. An acute case of rheu-
matism, attended by high temperature, is sometimes complicated by an
effusion of liquid into the sack covering the heart, disturbing greatly the
heart's action. These cases often die suddenly and without apparent
cause. The heart complicaition is unsuspected until made evident as the
result of an examination after death. Rheumatic cases also present con-
gested livers, especially in chicks. Adult birds are subject to rheuma-
tism, but the fatal cases are few. Brooder chicks exposed to the evils
of a damp soil or dark, cool "mothers'" furnish many cases of rheumatic
trouble, the losses from the disease being large.

The suggestions for treatment also indicate the line to be pursued
in the prevention of rheumatism. Birds should be housed in dry and
sunny quarters. Give as large a variety of green vegetables as possible,
not forgetting clover in the mash. Provide easy access to grass if in
the growing season. The water dishes should be protected to keep the
birds and floor as dry as possible. Rheumatic brooder chicks need an
even temperature of the "mother," some facilities for scratching, enough
sand or chaff on the floor to lessen bottom heat, and water dishes
arranged to keep the chicks dry. The chicks must have daily feeds of
lettuce, cabbage or some green vegetable. In the winter season, turnip
or carrot tops, xhe little shoots that start on the roots when in the cel-
lar, will be found to be useful. Finely cut clover, and the clover tea to
mix the mash, are also helpful at any time of the year.

.28 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

Swollen joints or muscles can be rubbed with, tincture of opium or
extract of witch hazel, or bathed with weak alcohol. For intei'nal treat-
ment there is no better remedy than iodide of potassium. This is given
in the drinking water, for chicks and adult birds alike, fifteen grains of
iodide of potassium to every quart of water. Give in small dishes, so
that it all may be used while fairly fresh, and thus avoid waste that
comes from having to throw away any because it is mixed with dirt or
leaves. Common cooking soda, one level teaspoonful to each quart of
drinking water, or salicylic acid one grain twice a day, has given good
results with 'old birds, but the iodide is the best and most satisfactory.

Crop-Bound.

Impaction of the crop is a condition known to many keepers of poul-
try. This is caused by the retention and swelling of grain, by the accu-
mulation of long pieces of grass or hay, or by some obstruction at the
outlet of the crop. In rare instances it results from the damming of food
from impaction of the gizzard. Bird's kept closely housed all w'inter are
eager in the spring time to eat the dead grass that has laid under the
snow for months. This is quite tough and is likely to give way near the
ground, giving lengths from two to five or more inches. By swallowing
these in large numbers there is danger of the pieces rolling and matting
together and forming a round ball in the crop. There is also a source
of danger in the scratching material furnished, unless vegetable food is
provided to satisfy the craving of the bird. The bird will gdt "filling"
in some way even though it eats its bedding of leaves and straw.

Cases of impaction caused by cracked corn have come to my aitten-
tion. Nearly grown cockerels fed at night a very full feed of cracked
■corn have gorged themselves with it, and then drank water, causing the
corn to swell so as to stretch the crop to its utmost. Such cases usually
correct themselves, or with a little manipulation soon get cleared of the
packed contents. Now and then you w^ill run across a case of impaction
caused by some foreign substance filling the outlet of the crop. This
may be wood or bone, with a sharp point siticking into the sides of the
crop, or possibly lying across the outlet. So far as the size of any sub-
stance is concerned you may accept it as a fact that anything a hen swal-
lows will pass through the digestive system safely. I have found an
exception or two to this statement as will be illustrated when we take up
the gizzard.

A case of impaction due to over-feed of swollen grain should be
handled by manipulation. Try to get a little castor oil down the food
passage, then gently begin at the part of the crop nearest the mouth
and push a little grain toward the head. Hold the bird head down,
thereby letting gravity help do the w^ork. Have patience, work care-
fully, and if you do not succeed along this line then you can open and
clear out the crop through an opening in the skin.

Nearly all cases of crop-bound are due to a collection of long pieces
of grass or hay. These are nearly all to be helped by operation. Have
some one hold ihe bird so you can have both hands free to work. Pluck

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 29

enough feathers from the breast to give bare skin half an inch wide by
two inches long. Then with a sharp knife cut through the skin, length-
wise of the bird, an opening one inch long, over the place of the swollen
crop. Cut only the skin, leaving the crop untouched umtil the blood of
the first incision has ceased to flow. Then cut through the crop a line
a little over half an inch long. Half an inch may seem short, but you
will be surprised to see how large the opening is after you have worked
through it for a while. In removing substances from the crop be care-
fut to let as little as possible slip between the skin and crop. With an
opening into the crop, begin with sugar-tongs, tootlipicks, or anything
else handy, to remove the contents. If filled with grass or hay it may
be necessary to cut the mass with scissors before any star't can be made.
When the crop is apparently empty push your little finger into it, feeling
to know whether there is any cbstruction at the outlet. If you find the
opening clear, the last thing is to sew up the cut. With needle and white
silk thread take two single stitches in the cut in the crop, leaving ends
long enough to hang out of the wound an inch. Then in the same way
take three stitches in the skin, being careful not to include the crop in
the knot tied. After the operation, feed ligiitly on well cooked mash,
omitting grain for a week.

Infianimation of the Crop.

Inflammation of the crop is caused by an irration of retained food
or from the effect of foreign substances swallowed. Irritating materials,
such as paint-skins, rough-on-rats and pieces of unslacked lime, produce
the trouble through direct contact with the mucous lining of the crop.
The feeding of too large a quantity of black or red pepper in the mash
has caused inflamed crops as well as trouble with the egg functions. With
a crop that is tender and even painful the hen is restless, moving about
without aim, giving one the im.pression that there is trouble w'ith diges-
tion. Now and then the bird m'ay be seen trying to swallow when it
has taken no food for hours. The motions of breathing are jerky, made
so by the pullin'g of the muscles on the crop.

If the cause is recent, still getting in its work, try to empty the crop.
If the contents are small it may be well to dilute them by pouring into
the mouth a few spoonfuls of water and then empty as before. If
behind the trouble is the effect of air-slacked lime, give weak vinegar
water; if phosphorous (rough-on-rats), give magnesia. Having emptied
the crop give flaxseed tea and keep the birds on simple diet for a week.

Enlarged Crop.

Enlarged crops are more a source of fret to the owner than to the
birds. These crops have become large through a long continued stretch-
ing; sometimes from over-feeding, more often from impacted crops
allowed to corredt themselves. The appearance of a bird with an over
large crop is not pleasing and there is always food in it that the weak
muscles cannot push on the gizzard. To remedy this trouble, pluck
feathers as for impacted crop and make incisions as before, only mak-
ing them much longer. Cut out with blunt pointed scissors, both skin

30 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

and crop, so the opening will look like a pair of ( ), removing quite a

little membrane. Sew it as described for impacted chop, being sure to

Stitch the crop and skin separately. Feed lightly for a week, removing

such threads as are in sight at the end of four days. There is little profit

in doing all this for a fifty-cent hen, but if the bird happens to be your

best exhibition cockerel you will have a feeling of satisfaction when the

ill looks are remedied.

Gastritis.

Gastritis is a disease of the enlargement of the food passage just
before it reaches the gizzard. It seldom is met except in connection with
inflammation of the crop. The same cause of irritation works in both
cases. Long continued over-feeding or the over use of spice, or the ill
effects of the taking in of some poison, are behind gastritis. The mucous
lining is red, over moist and the blood vessels large. The symptoms
are those of indigestion — lack of appetite, diarrhea one day and consti-
pation the next, some little rise in temperature and general weakness.
Study to find out the cause of the case you may have on hand. Do not
let the irritating cause continue its work. Make the drinking water
soothing by adding some rice and then boiling it. Omit from mash all
bran and mix it With clover tea. Add to every pint of the drinking water
one-tenth of a grain of arsenite of copper.

Indigestion.

This is a disorder affecting the entire digestive system from the crop
to the intestines. It may be an indication of a naturally weak digestion
or it may be the result of an over-feeding process. Even the persistent
use of an imperfectly balanced ration is likely to give symptoms of indi-
gestion. There is danger in feeding too often, especially young chicks.
There is quite a difference between letting a bird hunt for its food all
day and giving it a full meal too often. Exercise is needed as well as
good food to give the best results. In fact, lazy birds are especially
prone to dyspepsia, and commonly it is the owner who is to blame for
the lack of exercise. The use of ground grains and meat to the exclusion
of clover hay and vegetables, is responsible for many a flock of dyspep-
tic hens.

Given a flock of hens with indigestion, the first step is to put them
into every-day common sense care and feeding. Have the house free
from dust and cobwebs, that is, let the sun shine in and sweeten the
pens; clean every water dish and see that the supply in future is pure;
decide on a well-balanced ration and feed at regular hours; provide
scratching material enough to give exercise sufficient to produce good
appetites. If for one week at the beginning of the improved care you
will add one teaspoonful of sulphate of magnesia to every quart of drink-
ing water, and follow this for two weeks with one-eighth of a grain of
strychnine to each quart of water, you will hasten the time when the
birds will be well.

Break-down.

Break-down is easily recognized by the prominent "baggy condi-
tion" of two and three-year-old hens. I have seldom seen it in pullets

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 31

and never in male birds. Break-down is the result of a corn diet. The
birds are not satisfied with the elements furnished in the corn and corn-
meal, and to supply the need of existing in their system eat to excess.
In this they gee too much of the fat-producing parts and too little of
muscle and egg elements. There is a large fat deposit in the abdomen,
bulging and dragging down the skin and muscles, giving an ungainly
appearance to the bird. It is a question to be decided on its merits at
the time -w^hether to diet these cases or to market them. They probably
are salable and if cured will be worth little for breeding or egg laying.
The real good to be gained from recognizing the cause of the "break-
down" condition is that of avoiding it in the future. Having made the
mistake of using too much of the corn products, be careful not to do the
same another year. Because one of our state experiment stations has
issued a glowing report of the results of feeding corn, do not follow too
deeply in its wake. If you will try it, let it be on a single pen, and you
will not run the risk of few eggs and many hens with "break-down."

Spring Ailments.

It is the first of May and the trouTales of spring are at work in our
flocks. The old birds are getting out into natural conditions and the
little chicks are beginning to find out that there are dangers for them
even when they emerge from the shell. What are these troubles that
confront us at the opening of the growing season? First I would put
lack of vitality. The breeding birds have been kept more or less in con-
finement and fed probably a ration too rich in the corn element. They
have likely been too fat during the winter for best results and have just
goit Worked down in weight to normal size. If allowed to run wild dur-
ing March some of them have eaten too much dead grass and a case or
two of "crop bound" may be on hand. Then lice are getting in their
best work. Each day of increasing warmth adds to the number of lice
that infests all hens, thereby decreasing the strength of the birds. If
to the factor of atmospheric heat we add that of the internal warmth of
the broody hen, we still more increase the danger from lice. A bird with
weak vitality, whether from lice or other source, is subject to digestive
troubles and is in danger of tuberculosis if exposed to' the germs.

Another danger of spring time is the use of "egg-fo'ods." Why it is
at this time of the year that so many fly to some irritant to increase the
egg yield I do not know, but I do know that it is during the late winter
and early spring months that I get most letters asking for some formula
for an "egg producer," or, as many write, "a condition powder for chicks
and hens." I never send any such formula, as the best recipe is good
food in proper proportions, and exercise. There may be a good condi-
tion powder, but there is nothing better than food of the right kind and
quantity. There is also a danger in feeding unknown articles to our
birds. My own experience, and that of my correspondents, satisfy me
of the truth stated in one of our poultry journals, that "condition pow-
ders waste good money and at times work mischief to our birds." A
little money spent just now on some green food, even though it be only

33 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

cut clover, will give better results in number and fertility of eggs than
any egg producer on the market. There is nothing better for spice than
black pepper and ginger, but these should be used as we would in our
own food. To increase the amount is to irritate the digestive canal and
stimulate too much the egg passage.

The secret of healthy birds, and an average egg yield to be proud of,
is intelligent care and feeding rather than the use of any drugs. My
best results in growth and egg yield have always been obtained when I
fed simply a well-balanced ration slightly spiced with black pepper. I
have used nothing else for five years and if I were to tell the results of
some experiments six years ago with "egg persuaders" you would be
surprised to see how the egg yield went down as the "egg food" was fed.
Most of the large egg records have been made without stimulants. Last
year, in ten and one-half months, my hens averaged one hundred and
ninety-six eggs for every bird in my yards and this was without the use
of any drugs or doses of any kind. These birds were raised without any
condition powders and at no time were they sick in any way. It is a
waste of good money to buy "egg foods." Study to feed sweet, well-
balanced food and depend upon exercise for the best tonic you can
obtain.

A good ration for results in egg yield and health varies somewhat
according to the season and the condition of the birds. I have found
the following to give satisfactory returns in every way — ^the mash, well
cooked and fed warm, made of bran two parts, ground oats one part, cut
(or ground) clover two parts, cornmeal one part, ground meat and bone
one part, all by measure. Feed two-thirds of what they would eat if
you gave them the chance. Wheat, barley and corn, fed sparingly in the
litter after the giving of the morning mash, and given freely at night,
give best results if used according to the temperature of the season.
The lower the temperature the more corn and less wheat; the higher
the temperature more wheat and less corn. Barley should not make up
more than one-fifth of the whole grain fed. Good food alone, although
properly balanced, will not produce healthy chicks and good laying hens.
They must have pure air and a dry location. To oblige birds to sleep
over the accumulations on the droppings boards, or to breathe the air of
a crowded, poorly ventilated house, is to lessen the profit as well as to
invite disease to your fiocks.

Tuberculosis in Brooder Chicks.

There is a danger to our brooder chicks, often overlooked and sel-
dom recognized, from tuberculosis. I am sure I am not wrong in stat-
ing that one-fifth the loss in brooder chicks is due to tubercular
troubles. It is hard to say where the first case comes from in a new
brooder, as it is believed that the disease does not exist in the newly
hatched chick, but the number of cases gradually increases as the brood-
er continues to be used. The less care given to cleaning the brooder the
more cases of tuberculosis will appear. Tuberculosis thrives in foul air
and darkness. What an opportunity then there is for it to make ranid

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 33

progress in many of our brooders. Remember how much pains we take
to have a circulation of pure warm air through our incubators, and then
see how ready we are to confine the growing chicks to the dark and close
air of a pipe brooder system. How many brooders do you know that
admit light? Are your brooders so made as to furnish an abundance of
fresh, warm air, and lastly, do you keep them clean? What better place
could be made for the development of tuberculosis than the dry, dark,
foul, hot modern brooder? To get the best results from artificial brood-
ing, we must start with germ-free brooders. They must be supplied,
with sweet air in generous quantity; they must be kept clean, and they
must be opened as often as possible to the direct sunshine. The best
destroyer of a tuberculosis germ is fresh air and sunlight. In incuba-
tors we have reached a high standard, but in brooders we are still wait-
ing for as good results. There is a small fortune for the man who can
put on the market, and introduce it, a brooder that supplies a large
quantity of fresh warm air, and has at the same time a well lighted
hover chamber.

The Rhode Island Experiment Station states in a recent report:
"The simple expedient of removing the hovers and setting them out of
doors in the full sun reduced the evidence of tuberculosis in the post-
mortem examinations from nearly fifty per cent to only three per cent."
It also says: "For guarding against tuberculosis, give the interior of
the brooders all the sun and air possible on pleasant days."

During the past winter I was asked to visit a broiler plant where
the deaths from some new disease were very large. I found that under
apparently the same conditions in previous years there had been a much
lower death rate. The chicks as they came from the incubators were
large and healthy. There were few deaths until the third week. The
style of brooder, way of feeding, and amount of food seemed to play no
part in the results. The chicks seemed to thrive for a while and then
in tens and twenties would lose appetite, become dumpish, grow thin
and die. Of the chicks brooded in the dark days of January fifty per
cent died. Examination showed little change in the gizzard or bowels.
The livers were slightly darker than in health, but the lungs were soft
and gritty. These were tuberculous chicks from infected brooders and
the only thing to do was to clean up the brooders and keep things in
as sweet a condition as possible, and arrange to start next season with
brooders free from germs.

The Liver.

An over-large or solid liver (hypertrophy it is named), is most com-
mon in the late winter or early spring months, especially in hens com-
pleting their second year. This result is due to the constant over-feed-
ing of heat-producing foods to the exclusion of bulky vegetable ele-
ments. On many farms corn is the only grain raised, and to the farmer
it seems too bad to buy wheat and barley when he has so much corn on
hand. Then there is the lack of exercise due to close houses and small
yards, and no scratching material. Over-feeding and little work cause

34 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

the deposit of fat in various parts of the body and no organ suffers more
from this cause than the liver.

At the beginning of this trouble the hen shows an increased bright-
ness in comb and wattles and is an extra good layer. Soon .however,
the reaction comes. The comb becomes less bright and the bird takes
little pains in the care of its plumage. As the bird becomes more and
more heavy it moves about slowly, taking time in all motions, staying
on the roost late in the morning and returning to it early in the after-
noon. Unless some "break down" intervenes the bird at length crawls
into a corner at night.

Birds in the early stages of enlargement of the liver respond fairly
well to a changed ration. Of course it takes longer to remove the dis-
eased condition than it did to produce it, and the profits are sadly
reduced during the weeks of patiently feeding the birds to overcome the
hurtful state of body.

Add to the drinking water, one-half teaspoonful powdered muriate
of ammonia to every quart and continue this for one week.

Atrophy.

This is due to a starvation diet, either from a badly balanced ration
or from too little food. I saw a flock in this condition several years ago
due to the owner's trying to keep cheaply through the winter a lot of
late hatched birds. Atrophy or wasting of the liver may also be due in a
small proportion of cases to a previous condition of enlargement.

There is no better way to avoid this, and other diseases of the liver,
than by common sense care and thoughtful feeding. If we would only
profit from our experiences of the past we should soon see little liver
trouble of any kind.

Birds in which this wasting process has begun are off condition,
showing it in every part of the body. The bird is dull, inclined to stay
near the house, does little scratching and is off color in comb and wat-
tles. Feed these birds generously of a ration easily digested and well
balanced. Give fresh water daily, adding to each quart one-half tea-
spoonful "Fowler's solution of arsenic."

In fattening birds for market do not take too long to accomplish
your purpose. If you do, you run the risk of having some of your birds
break down and go light. The fattening process is one step toward a
fatal end and must be brought to its desired limit before disease has
an opportunity to begin.

Constipation.

This condition is met with in both chicks and old birds, but is most
common in young birds. Especially in brooder chicks do we have this
trouble to overcome. Little exercise and the feeding of a mash or
johnny cake containing too little of the coarser forms of grain is to
blame for many cases of constipation. Even the absence of green food
favors sluggish bowels. Hens kept in close houses and small yards
away from all grass and weeds are subject to this trouble.

Constipation in brooder chicks is quickly cured by increasing the

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 35

proportion of bran, in the mash, and furnishing green food, such as let-
tuce, cabbage or steamed cut-clover. Also put into the brooder pens all
the waste from the hay mows or baled hay. In this waste the chicks
will find and eat many a seed or leaf that will help supply a craving
and furnish bulk for the bowels' demands.

Adult birds, with constipation, need treatment much like that of
chicks. Give them a grass run in the growing season, and in winter
feed liberally of cut-clover and bran, increasing or diminishing the
amount as seems to be required.

Peritonitis.

Peritonitis, or an infiamination of the membrane covering the organs
in the abdomen and lining that cavity, is a serious and aftal disease. It
is seldom a disease originating in the membrane, but extends from some
other part or organ of the abdomen. Some outside violence may so
irritate the memljrane as to precipitate trouble, but it is more likely to
occur from either the bursting of a blood vessel in the egg passage, or
from tuberculosis.

The fever in peritonitis runs high, from 105 to 110 degrees. The
bird is decidedly hot to the touch, especially over the bowels. There is
much uneasiness in the bird's motions, though at the same time the ten-
derness of the inflamed parts is -extreme. As the inflammation pro-
gresses the bird becomes weak, flnally falling on its side with legs drawn
close to the body. The appetite is gone and breathing difficult.

These cases are seldom cured. Most of them are hopeless from the
start. Opium pills, one grain each, given twice a day will ease the pain
and quiet the bird. All food should be liquid, milk and beef juice, and
will have to be fed to the bird. Equal parts of beef .iuice and milk, fed
warmed to blood heat, and given in tablespoonful doses three times a
day, will be the best you can do for diet.

It is seldom, however, that a case recovers from peritonitis.

Egg-Bound.

This may be due directly to the condition of the egg passage or to
some more remote cause. There are more deaths from this trouble In
late winter than in all the rest of the year. This is largely owing to
an overfat condition of the entire system, in which the egg passage is
pressed upon by the accumulation of fat about it, hindering the passage
of the egg. Egg-bound is most common in sluggish birds or those
closely confined without opportunity to exercise. Active birds, such
as the Leghorns, seldom take life easy enough to get fax, hence are not
subject to "egg-bound." The large birds, slow in movement, but with
good appetites, take on fat mere readily and present isolated cases of
this character.

A large proportion of birds which die from this egg-bound condition
will be found on examination to be over-fat. Not only are there large
collections of fat in the abdominal cavity, but much of the muscular
tissue is replaced by streaks of fat. This weakens the muscles of the

36 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

egg passage so that between the extra straining and the weak walls it
gives way, allowing the egg or its contents to pass into the a^bdominal
cavity. The presence of a foreign body excites inflammation and peri-
tonitis follows.

T!his same egg-bound condition may cause death from heart disease.
The bird goes on the nest to lay. It strains violently to pass the egg.
The heart muscles, in common with the general muscular condition,
are decidedly weak from fatty degeneration. The extra exertion is too
much for the weakened heart, and it gives out, the bird being found
on the nest dead.

Even the collection of fat at the lower end of the abdominal cavity
is sometimes sufficient to^ prevent the passage of the egg. Over-fat hens
are inclined to lay double yolk eggs, and the extra size adds to the dif-
ficulty in passing the egg. Then there are cases where an egg gets
broken on its passage through the oviduct, obstructing the passage of
eggs following ihe broken one.

Sometimes pullets are egg-bound for a few days when trying to
pass their first egg, but these cases comm'only adjust themselves after a
short time.

You have all seen cases of egg-bound hens, and recognize the symp-
toms. The hen moves about, withovit apparent cause, going at times
to the nest, but without dropping an egg. The tail feathers are lowered,
looking much as they would on a rainy day. Take the bird in your
hands, watch the movements of the muscles at the vent and you will
see that the bird is trying to eject an egg. Pass your little finger, well
oiled, into the passage, and you will feel the muscular movements and
perhaps run the finger tip against the egg itself.

Long continued cases of egg-bound birds are seldom helped by any
treatment. The over-fat condition has existed too long to be helped by
any change in diet. If the bird is heavy and in otherwise good health
serve in a "chicken pie" at your earliest convenience.

Simple cases of egg-bound hens are worth trying to help. With
an oiled finger try to reach and break the egg, removing it if possible.
If the egg is beyond reach try giving twenty drops fluid extract ergot
in a little warm water, and after waiting an hour hold the vent over
hot water.

Birds with any trouble of the egg duct should be taken from the
male bird and housed alone. Feed lightly and give warmed water to
drink. If you get the egg away safely, withhold the fat producing foods
for a month, giving freely of clover and vegetables. Tone up the bird
by adding ten drops tincture nux vomica to every pint drinking water.

Inflammation of Egg Passage.
Inflammation of the egg passage may occur in connection with an
egg-bound condition or may be dueto the over-use of stimulating condi-
ments and medicines. Some of the "egg foods" for sale warranted to
increase egg production are decidedly too irritating for long continued
use, and are not without their dangei's at any time. Cases of inflamma-

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 37

tion of the egg passage are occasionally met as the result of the spread-
ing of the disease known as vent gleet.

Outside injures seldom affect the egg passage except as folloTving
breaking and holding back of an egg.

Inflammation of the egg passage is a serious affair. The effect of it
is at once seen in the bird's movements and general appearance. There
is almost a constant desire to strain, as if an egg was in the end of the
duct. This straining is sometimes so violent that a blood vessel is
broken, causing death at once. As the bird stands, or moves about, you
will notice that the wings are dropped a little as though there was a
relaxation of the muscles. The feathers are ruffled and stand out from
the body more than normal. The vent of the bird is hot, red and in
motion. In a day or two the bird becomes quiet, as the result of exhaus-
tion, gives up some of the straining, and shows an increasing paleness
in comb and wattles. The temperature drops, day by day, till at last
the bird dies of the widespread inflammation.

This disease is a good illustration of the need of watching closely
our birds and remedying trouble in the very beginning. So many of
these cases are preceded by a retained egg that might be removed that
we should learn to attack disease at the outset. This disease is incur-
able unless the cause can be removed. Back of some of the cases is an
overfat condition. The eggs are large, passage fatty and weak, egg
retained, inflammation follows. These cases are likely to be hens fed
with pullets. They are less active, have good appetites, and put on
fat on the same ration that makes the pullets fine layers. Some of these
cases can be avoided by cooping hens and pullets separately, and feed-
ing the old birds a larger proportion of clover hay.

When you think you have a case of inflammation of the egg pass-
age, begin active treatment at once by giving each bird one-half tea-
spoonful sulphate magnesia in a tablespoonful of warm water. Oil a
small finger with castor oil or vaseline and gently try to find out by
examination whether there is a retained or broken egg in the passage-
Finding an egg, try to break it enougih to enable you to remove it.
Every motion you make should be gentle and slow. Succeeding in
removing an egg, feed the bird for a week largely on cut-clover and well
cooked bran. Give little grain and avoid corn and cornmeal.

Soft-Shelled Eggs.

This is not exactly a diseased condition, but may be the first symp-
tom of approaching danger. Over-stimulation of the egg organs by use
of spice, or so-called "egg foods" tends toward the production of thin-
shelled eggs. Even fright may hurry along the eggs before the shell
has been added. Worms may increase in the intestines to such an
extent as to stimulate the egg passage to push along the egg beyond its
usual distance. An over-fat hen has a tendency toward laying thin-
shelled eggs. In fact, this is the usual cause of soft-shelled eggs.

There come times when a knowledge of the causes of this condition
is, useful, but even then we sometimes fail to correct the tendency to

38 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

tMn or soft-shelled eggs. The bird that laid the brown eggs that took
Che first prize and several specials at at the Boston show in 1899, was-
sold to a man in the west for twenty dollars. In spite of the fact that
he wished to set some of the eggs, and above all to be able to exhibit
the best brown eggs at the Nashville show, the bird at once developed
a tendency toward thin-shelled eggs. It seemed to be in perfect health.
Food, exercise, magnesia in drinking water, grit and oyster shells,
everything thought of was tried, but nothing seemed to make the
slig'htest change. I think it likely that the bird started by being over-
fat and this in some way set up an irritation of the egg passage. Being
unnoticed or neglected, the condition became chronic and apparently
incurable.

Provided the cause is an over-fat condition, you can meet this dif-
ficulty by providing a diet low in fat-producing elements, supplying
grit and oyster shells in abundance, making the birds work for much of
the grain, and adding a liberal amount of cut-clover to the mash. One
or two doses of sulphate of magnesia (one heaping teaspoonful to a pint
of drinking water) kept before the hens for a day, twice a week, will
help remove the layers of fat.

Avoid this unsatisfactory condition by feeding a well balanced
ration, not trying to increase the egg yield by means of anything that
does the Vi^ork by irritation of the egg organs. Know the condition of
the bodies of your birds and so feed as to keep them in a laying state,
but not over-fat. Do not be afraid of a little fat during the winter
months, but furnish sufficient exercise to do all the stimulating needed.

Cholera.

Cholera is a disease of fowls, attacking all parts of the body, but
especially manifesting itself upon the mucous lining of the intestines.
It is a germ disease, easily carried from place to place, passing from
bird to bird with the slightest exposure. Cholera varies in intensity
in different seasons, sections and countries. The cases reported and
described in this country are not so severe as those told us as occurring
in Great Britain. While the disease is to be dreaded, and is fatal
enough, we are fortunate in not having to handle it in the true Asiatic
type.

You will call to mind the emphasis I have always laid upon the
part filth plays in disease. Cholera is a prominent example of this
truth. There is something about the good breeding ground that filth
offers that is favorable to the beginning of cholera. Just where the germ
hides itself away, awaiting the right conditions, no one yet knows, but
many cases have been reported as occurring under such circumstances
as to rule out all reasonable doubt as to their having been introduced
from without. On the other hand, given the uncleaned poultry house
and bringing the disease, no matter how mild it may have been, from
without, it will take on a severe type and prove very fatal.

It is also true that healthy birds easily contract cholera. Clean
houses, good care and food are no protection from this disease. The

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 39

adding of a single bird sick with cliolera to the plant, or bringing in in
any way the discharge from sick birds, is enough to keep the owner busy
burying birds for a long time. There is danger of introducing the dis-
ease if there is any passing between an infected plant and a healthy
one. This danger is largely due to droppings from sick birds being
carried by the shoes from place to place.

Cholera knows no breed. The sluggish Cochin and the active Leg-
horn show no difference in susceptibility to this dread disease. Chicks
and adult fowls are alike fair prey to this trouble.

Temperature is a factor in spreading, as well as in controlling,
cholera. Warm, damp days are favorable to the increase of an epi-
demic; while a continued freeze often holds in check an outbreak of
cholera. Cholera shows itself in the wet days of autumn or early
spring, rather than in midwinter.

Knowing the danger existing from infested flocks, take pains to
avoid neighbor's sick birds. It is not hard to keep out disease, but
when once introduced, cholera and roup must be foug'ht long and hard.
In no better way will the little house of detention prove its worth than
in keeping out roup and cholera.

Prevention is more satisfactory than medicine. In fact, unless you
early recognize the trouble you have to contend with, you stand little
chance of curing the birds. Cholera runs so rapid a course that there
is short time to do any active medication. Your bird may look well in
the morning, be sick at night, and dead the next day.

The first symptom is a slight, watery diarrhea, lacking in color as
the hours go by. "With this the bird is sluggish and not easily moved
by any motion of the owner. It is inclined to remain standing wher-
ever it may be; often gets into a corner and stands in the sun with its
tail drooped. There is a look of disarray to the feathers, a roughness in
the appearance of the plumage; and the fluff below the vent is wet with
diarrheal discharge, if indeed it is not stuck together. There is a gen-
eral let-down to the muscular system, the wings drooping, head carried
low, and even the eye-lids half closed.

There is no desire for food, but the 'bird is decidedly thirsty. The
■desire for water is offset by the sluggishness of the bird, and it may be
seen starting for the water dish, then stopping to wait on the way. The
first discharge from the bowels is thick from the usual contents of the
intestines, but as the bowels become empty the discharge gets less solid
and quite watery. As the inflammation of the bowel lining increases
there appear slight bloody streaks in the discharge, and this may in-
crease until the flow is nearly pure blood.

Severe cases show some irritation of the throat and nostrils, a
slight discharge appearing in mouth and eyes. At the end of the flrst
day you may expect to flnd the bird decidedly weak. The comb gets
darker than in health, passing from red to purple as the disease pro-
gresses. Hill, in his book, "Diseases of Poultry," gives the best descrip-
tion of the post-mortem appearance of this disease as follows: "Lin-

40 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

in'g membrane of the mouth livid, except toward the outside, which was
pale; throat purple and full of sticky, dirty yellowish matter; tip of
tongue hardened and partly detached; eyes sunk deep into the sockets;
eyelids emphysematous or swollen; gizzard empty, except a little gravel
and thin, acid fluid; muscular substance of a deep red color; intestines
extensively inflamed, with extravasated blood patches under the mucous
membrane, and here and there corrosions. The matter contained in the
intestines was of a dirty, thin, ichorous, acrid nature; liver deeply con-
gested and increased in volume; lungs slightly congested and pleuritic
exudation; heart purplish-red and studded with ecchymose or extra-
vasated blood spots; pericardium contained an excessive amount of
straw colored fluid."

The treatment of such a disease as cholera, running so rapid a
course and with such violence, must be prompt and active. To wait a
few days to see whether any more birds take the trouble, is giving your-
self a hard, discouraging season in which to get rid of the last case.
The man who is quick to see any change in appearance of his hens will
early note danger in the first few hours of cholera. At the first sug-
gestion of a possible cholera case quarantine all doubtful birds; at once
scald or bake every drinking dish; scald all food utensils, and clean up
every house. In other words, destroy every lurking germ that can cause
future trouble. If the sick birds can be kept by themselves so much the
better.

Add to each quart of drinking water for the sick birds spirits of
camphor, one teaspoonful, and one-fourth ounce of sulpho-carbolate of
zinc. The sulpho-carbolate of zinc should be white in color. The more
red it shows the more impure and irritating it is. Much of the sulpho-
carbolate offered is not white and should be avoided for internal use.
You will notice that this salt of zinc is often suggested by me. I get
much, satisfaction from it as an internal antiseptic. For drinking water
for the apparently well birds, add to every quart, one-eighth ounce sul-
pho-carbolate of zinc.

If the diarrhea is excessive give a pill of "Dover's Powder," one
grain every two hours until the discharge lessens. The opium in the
pill relieves pain and quiets the muscular action of the bowels. The
diet question is difficult to solve. Anything bulky is out of the ques-
tion, if indeed the bird does not directly solve this by refusing to eat
at all. Highly concentrated food is needed to sustain life; something
easily digested, and this requirement is best found in meat juice. One
tablespoonful, every four hours, given by means of a spoon or glass
dropping tube, will help the case. The meat juice is prepared by half
cooking steak, squeezing the liquid out and adding a little salt and
pepper.

The treatment of cholera is not satisfactory in results. If you suc-
ceed in curing more than one-half of your birds, you may well doubt
the presence of that disease, and may make up your mind that the
trouble is simple diarrhea, enteritis or indigestion.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 41

The successful plan of handling cholera is prevention, rather than
the time and labor needed to doctor sick birds.

Dysentery.

This may be a neglected diarrhea running on into a deep inflamma-
tion, or it may be a disease of itself originating from some filthy con-
dition of the poultry plant. At any rate, poor care always enters into
this disease. It may be from wrong ideas of what is needed to keep
healthy birds, or from allowing the disease to be introduced through
outside birds. Filthy water or foul floors are likely to spread dysentery,
if indeed they are not the direct cause of it. Dysentery always is
accompanied by a looseness of the bowels. The discharge is thin, often
watery, with more or less blood, according to the severity of the dis-
ease. The bird early shows weakness of the muscular system, and is
soon "off its feed."

This disease is not highly infectious, but there is much danger if
the plant is not well cleaned up at the very beginning of the outbreak.
There is danger enough to call for the division of the flock into well and
sick birds. The disease seems to spread by means of the droppings.

All suspected, as well as all decidedly sick birds, should have an
ihtestinal disinfectant given in the drinking water Here we find
another use for the sulpho-carbolate of zinc, or for a combination of
the sulpho-carbolates of zinc, soda and lime. One ounce of the zinc, or
of the combination, added to two quarts of boiled water, should be the
only drink for four days. The best results will be obtained by placing
this drink before the birds, for ten minutes at a time, soon before feed-
ing, four times a day. If the discharge is decidedly bloody a pill of
Dover's Powder of one grain can be administered in a little mash twice
a day. If there seems to be much pain, give three doses of the Dover's
Powder per day.

The diet of all the birds, sick and well, ought to be non-irritating for
a few days. Feed lightly of the coarser parts of the wheat, giving mid-
dlings rather than bran, making at least one-third the mash of
clover hay, thoroughly cooked. Feed wheat rather th^n corn for a
week, supplying grit in abundance. If possible let all drinking water
used for a month be first boiled. Clean all dishes often and keep all
droppings out of them.

In uncleaned brooders there sometimes develops a condition resem-
bling dysentery, a condition to be removed by keeping the chicks' sur-
roundings in a correct way. Winter chicks are especially prone to
bowel trouble, and if fed in such a way as to make the little ones eat
off the wet floor they are likely to be good subjects for dysentery or
enteritis.

Dropsy.

This is a disease of the abdomen, or it may be a symptom of disease
in some other part of the body. There is always a collection of water
or serum to be found in or between the tissues of this section of the

42 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

bird. Anaemic chicks sometimes develop dropsy as the result of filthy-
surroundings or incorrect feeding. The dropsy is secondary to the
anaemia.

Old birds may have this same condition as the result of poor sur-
roundings or care, or it may result because of obstruction to blood flow
from diseased organs, or from the pressure of tumors.

Tonics, such as tincture of nux vomica, one teaspoonful to two
quarts water, or arsenate of iron one grain to one quart water, used as
drink for the sick birds, will help improve the general health of the
fowls and sometimes this is followed by the disappearance of the dropsy.
With tonics, good food, dry, sunny houses, clean yards and houses, you
may look for improvement.

If the collection of fluid is large it will be well to insert a hollow
needle, first boiling it in water, through the tense skin, letting much of
the liquid run out. Follow this by giving in the drinking water one
ta;blespoonful sulphate magnesia to each quart, and keep this up for a
week, or until you see a change for the better. When this improvement
begins, change from magnesia to iodide of potassium, twenty grains to
each quart drinking water.

Birds that have had dropsy are to be ruled out for breeders. Birds
that have a history of sickness of any form are to be viewed with sus-
picion, for egg yielders as well as breeders. Flocks that seem to have
a tendency toward certain diseases are poor property, and should De
put one side and a fresh start taken, or fresh blood should be promptly
introduced.

The Lungs.

The diseases of the lungs are bronchitis, pneumonia, consumption
and tuberculosis. Of these, bronchitis may be either acute or chronic;
pneumonia is acute, consumption and tuberculosis chronic. These dis-
eases are not easily given one to another, but there is danger enough to
make it desirable to keep all sick birds away from well ones. Bron-
chitis is limited to the lining membrane of the bronchial tubes, pneu-
monia to the air cells, consumption to the substance of the lung tissue,
tuberculosis to all parts of the lungs.

Bronchitis.

While catarrh is an inflammation of the lining of the nostrils, bron-
chitis is limited to a like surface of the breathing tubes. Bronchitis
may be as mild as a simple catarrh or as severe as the worst attack of
roup. We see all grades of severity, from a common "cold" to a suffo-
cating catarrh dangerous to life. There is always plenty of germ life
to be found in the mucous discharge, but we are not sure whether the
germs are the cause or the accompaniment of the disease.

Bronchitis is caused by exposure to storms, espcially when the birds
are housed in too close or too warm a building; by sudden atmospheric
changes; by direct currents of cold air; by irritating particles of dust or
lime; or by the spreading of inflammation from diseased throat or
nostrils.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 43

Bronchitis is not so often seen in young chicks as is diarrhea; there
seems to be a tendency toward bowel rather than lung trouble during
the early months of the bird's life. Bronchitis in chicks is commonly
caused by exposure to rain; by sudden extremes of temperature due to
over-heated brooders and cold brooder houses; or by close, foul air. I
am of the opinion that more cases of catarrh and bronchitis are due
to bad air than to all other causes. Bad air is filthy air, and filth is a
prominent factor in the causation of disease. Foul air lowers the vital-
ity, diminishes resistance to disease, and furnishes good conditions for
trouble. The close, uncleaned hen house, or the unventilated brooder,
•alike, are the unsuspected cause of many troubles.

There is little danger from bronchitis after the chicks pass out of
the brooder, until late fall, when the birds are often caught out in the
roosting coops by some storm, or are transferred from the airy summer
coops to some crowded, close house.

Birds sent on the train to an exhibition or to some new owner, stand
^a chance of developing bronchitis. The hot show room and warm cor-
ner of the express car, are likely to be succeeded in winter by exposure
to a low temperature that is dangerous.

Birds that have a history of roup in previous months, or birds
descending from stock with a record of cured roup, seem to be fit sub-
jects for catarrhal diseases, and no one is more likely to appear than
bronchitis.

I have known air-slaked lime to so irritate the mucous surfaces as
to produce what resembled an ordinary bronchitis. The droppings
boards were freely dusted with the lime while the birds were confined to
a closed house. There seems no reason for the use of air-slaked lime
about poultry buildings. Ground plaster and dry earth are so much
better and cheaper that they should always be used, and this source
of danger be avoided.

Unless you are looking for the outbreak of this disease it will have
got a start of one to three days before the bird appears to be really sick.
There is from the first, some rise of temperature and a little difficulty
in breathing. The lining of the bronchial passages are dry and swollen,
hindering the passing in and out of air. At the end of the second day
the bird is quite thirsty and is a constant visitor at the water dish.
There is not a decided cough, but the noise made is more of a whistling
character. It is not often to be heard at any distance from the bird,
and may require the putting of your ear to the side of the bird, to make
out the peculiar sound. As the disease progresses there is more and
more mucous poured out, disturbing the action of the lungs, and chang-
ing the noise from whistling to rattling .

Chronic bronchitis may arise from the passing of an acute case into
the chronic form, or it may be simply slow and light from the begin-
ning. The chronic form is not unknown to any breeder of a few years'
experience. These cases often seem to be well birds except for the rat-
tling in breathing. We dislike, however, to hear this noise, and it is

44 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

always a source of danger to have even a local disease on hand. Chronic
bronchitis responds fairly well to medication and any one of us is
willing to take a little trouble to cure it.

If you have a case of bronchitis on hand, and suspect that others
are developing the disease, be prompt to attempt aborting the sick-
ness. Aconite will do this in a large proportion of cases. I prefer acon-
nitine to the tincture for quick and sure results, but it is not to be
bought outside the large cities, and even there is not always to be had
in convenient form for use. I have obtained such sure results froni the
use of the alkaloid (aconitine) in my own practice that long ago I
put on one side the tincture. A good tincture should be given in drop
doses to each bird, every two hours. There is no better way than to
mix as many drops as you are to feed birds, with a little mash and give
in such dishes as to let each bird have its proportion. One day's treat-
ment persisted in will abort nine-tenths of the cases. Feed a hot mash
of at least one-half bran, and keep all birds in as even temperature as
possible.

The chronic cases, known by the marked rattling in breathing when
on the roost at night, require a course of tonic treatment. The combi-
nation of the arsenates of iron, strychnine and quinine, known as
"Dumas' Anti-malarial Pill," was introduced by me to the poultry world
five years ago, for the cure of chronic bronchitis. It has done good
service.

This pill, containing iron, strychnine and quinine, should be given
in a little bit of mash, morning and night. Quite often the only ease of
chronic bronchitis on hand will be one of the best males, and it annoys
me to have the head of a pen sick in any way. These cases are more
disagreeable than dangerous. A little better feeding of easily digested
food should be given these chronic cases.

Pneumonia.

Pneumonia is a catarrhal inflammation of the lining of the air cell
of the lungs. It is a serious disease, often unrecognized during life,
and proving fatal in a large proportion of cases. The more we have to
do with this disease, the more sure we are that it is somewhat infectious.
It pursues so peculiar a course in many instances that we cannot think
otherwise than that a single case on a poultry plant is of danger to all
the other birds.

Pneumonia arises under various conditions and circumstances. It
sometimes appears in a flock that has been shut in a tight house, in
close air and damp floors, and then let out one day into the cold zero
weather of our northern states. Chicks and fowls alike suffer from
pneumonia when kept on the '"hot house" plan. All ages, except under
three weeks, require the daily exhilaration to be obtained only by expos-
ure to the fresh air. The moment you begin to baby a bird you are com-
mencing a process that is dangerous to health. There is life, vitality
and profit in the reaction that comes from breathing pure air. It takes
extra good judgment to ventilate the long, tight front houses, and

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 45

the steam-warmed brooder houses, and many a plant has failed in the
attempt. The scratching houses have helped solve the question for adult
birds. Along this same line we must raise our broilers if we wish to
avoid a high death rate. Close, damp air always is a source of trouble
to birds of any age. There is very little sickness to be seen in the
scratching shed house, and in my own "Peep-o'-Day" houses I have
never had a sick bird. If we make our birds scratch for part of their
living and give them plenty of protected fresh air room, we shall sel-
dom have a case af pneumonia arise in our flock. Last winter when the
thermometer hung near zero for a week my Wyandottes continued to
work and lay, even though the doors between scratching and roosting
rooms of my "Peep-o'-Day" houses were never tightly closed. I do not
advise this exposure for the tall combed birds, but Wyandottes and Ply-
mouth Rocks will do their best if treated in the manner stated. Do you
know how this life of exposure affects the soldier on the plains? No
matter what the weather so long as the tent life is continued there is
little sickness. But transfer the men to the red-hot stoved warmed
barracks and you soon get influenzas and pneumonias.

Very young chicks, dragged out into the pouring rain by the active
hen, often become chilled and develop a low grade of pneumonia. These
cases seldom recover and those that do are poor stunted chicks. Study
and practice prevention and let our failures only lead to renewed
efforts to have healthy stock.

Chicks with well developed pneumonia show no sure sign of the dis-
ease. Most of them are without appetite, breathe rapidly, and move
about little if any.

Adult birds show the rapid (panting) breathing, dullness in appear-
ance, sluggish movements, and loss of appetite. In fact, the full pow-
ers of th.3 bird are put forth in the effort to get air enough to sustain
life. If you put your ear over the chest wall and listen carefully you
will get a peculiar sound that is crackling or snapping in character. In
a short time the bird may be seen standing in a corner, in a listless state,
wings drooping and a relaxed condition of all muscles except those used
in breathing. ' ,-

The ti-eatment of this disease must be prompt and active. To wait
a few days or to be afraid to use good sized doses is to lose the bird. The
disease is sudden, rapid in its course, and dangerous to life. Hence be
quick to see the first appearance of any sign of pneumonia and meet the
indications.

If you can arrange it conveniently, place the birds in coops in a
room that can be warmed to seventy degrees of temperature, with some
plan of furnishing moisture. If the room be otherwise dry and sunny,
with heat enough to allow for ventilation, you will get better results.
Let the food for a week be little besides raw eggs, milk and beef juice.
This may be given with bran, as a hot mash, or it very likely will have
to be put into the throat by means of a dropping tube. If the bird is

46 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

willing to eat, let him; if he cannot, you must give him food or he is
likely to die.

Among the remedies in common use are two that you must avoid,
and these are quinine and liquor. They will do more harm than good,
and should not be used in acute troubles. Quinine is always to be
avoided in any acute inflammation of the chest. In small doses, as a
tonic, it is good in chronic diseases of the birds.

There is no single remedy for pneumonia better than aconitine, early
administered and given in sure doses. The tincture, if reliable, will
give as good results. The trouble in giving medicine to a bird is to be
sure that he is getting the right amount in the right way. One drop of
the tincture, or one-fifteen-hundredth of a grain (1-1500) of the amor-
phous aconitine, every two hours, during daylight, will do something
toward bringing the bird through the sickness. The small dose, often
repeated, will give results that are not obtained when giving large doses
twice a day. Make a few pills of mash and sulpho-carbolate of zinc,
one grain of the zinc in each pill, and make the bird swallow one morn-
ing and night. The liquid medicines can be given in a little water from
a spoon, or dropped from a tube, or mixed with mash if the bird
swallows.

Consumption.

It is too bad to be obliged to consider consumption and tuberculosis
together, but in presenting the subject to a lay audience they must b
kept close in their relation to each other.

There is a similarity in these diseases. They present certain symp-
toms in common. They are widely different in others. Consumption
is likely to have followed a badly cared for case of pneumonia, bron-
chitis or roup. Tuberculosis is always preceded by a previous case.
Neither disease is likely to appear in well cared for, sturdy birds. It
seems necessary to have the proper soil before either disease sends deep-
ly its roots. Neither disease is inherited, but birds from weak ancestors
fall a ready prey if the right conditions are presented.

Birds kept in a way favorable to roup are quite likely to present a
few cases of consumption. Anything in housing, feed or care, that tends
toward lowered vitality is a factor in these troubles. There is no better
way to avoid consumption and tuberculosis than to keep strong, sturdy
stock. Careless, persistent, inbreeding leads to a dangerous tendency
to disease.

Tuberculous cattle, and persons, too, are to be viewed with suspicion
and avoided whenever possible. The danger is small, to be sure, but
enough to call for good care in preventing the beginnings of trouble.
The better the general condition of your birds, the less danger there is
of consumption or tuberculosis appearing in your flock.

There is much satisfaction in having birds so well that disease finds
poor soil for chronic troubles. Breeding birds should always be up to
the highest standard of health. The crossing of birds with a tendency

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 47

toward lung disease is a dangerous plan and is followed by many mis-
haps.

Consumption is a disease limited to the lung tissue, hut in a small
proportion of cases is accompanied by a fetid diarrhea. It is likely to
have been preceded by either roup, bronchitis or pneumonia. The early
symptom is not one that would call your attention to the seat of the
disease. It is simple weakness , apparently without cause. Perhaps in
a week's time there appears some slight trouble in breathing, a little
shortness of breath on exercising, or some roughness of respiration
when on the roost at night. There is no real cough. The irritation pro-
duces a changed jerky breathing that must be heard to be known. It
makes you wonder whether there is not some foreign body in the nasal
passage that obstructs the movement of the air. As weeks and months
go by, the bird stops laying, becomes thin and light, more and more pale
in comb and wattles. Indigestion increases, the food passing from the
bowels in much the same state as when swallowed. Left to take its own
course, the birds finally dies, thin, light in weight, and pale in color of
skin. Any bird in this or any similar condition ought not to be allowed
to live out its days. The early use of the hatchet prevents the waste
of time and food, as well as reducing the danger to the well members of
the place.

Tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is a disease more rapid and intense than consumption.
Consumption has little increase of temperature, while tuberculosis has a
persistent rise of bodily heat. Tuberculous birds present a constant
decrease in weight and the difficulty in breathing is quite manifest. In
connection with every case of tuberculosis there is to be found at work
as a factor in the disease a germ — bacilus — and this germ must be pres-
ent to confirm the diagnosis. There have appeared cases enough of
tuberculosis in poultry yards, apparently contracted from sick cows, to
warrant our being on the watch for all sources of possible trouble. Even
a case of a single bird "going light" should be quarantined as a possible
source of future trouble.

Suppose you find you have a case on hand resembling the trouble
we have under consideration. Your best plan will be to kill and burn
the sick bird. It is not safe to depend upon burying the bird. It may get
exposed through the efforts of some dogs and become an object of dan-
ger. The sick birds disposed of, then turn your attention to the protec-
tion of the well members of the flock. Clean out at once all litter from
the houses and yards. Take off a thin layer of soil from the earth floors
of pens and a little from the bare yards near the houses. Brush up the
inside of all buildings and remove all dust and cobwebs from the win-
dows. Whitewash in a thorough manner the woodwork of the build-
ings, not forgetting the roosts and droppings boards. Last of all scald
every drinking and feed vessel.

Birds healthy from the start, well fed, given plenty of fresh air and
sunshine, not crowded, do not easily contract tuberculosis, even though

48 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

they may come in contact with it. There must be a lowered condition
of vitality in the bird to enable the germ of tuberculosis to find a suit-
able soil in which to grow. If this disease ever gets under headway in
your poultry yards, you have only to blame yourself for the discour-
aging outlook before you.

If you have the time and inclination to doctor some of the cases
in the beginning of the disease, you will find the use of good tonics
and cod liver oil to give fair results in a small proportion of the sick
birds. The chances are about equal, however, that you have had indi-
gestion to contend with rather than real tuberculosis. Birds that are
really tuberculous seldom are cured by any treatment. Any good emul-
sion of cod liver oil mixed with the mash will help nourish the bird. For
a tonic there is nothing better than the arsenate of iron in pill form,
1-50 grain each, twice a day. If the breathing is at all bad the use of the
syrup of hydriodic acid, five drops three times a day in mash, will do
much to relieve the condition.

A poultryman who has on hand several cases cf tuberculosis ought
to stop at once the shipping of birds for breeding, and eggs for hatching.
He has no right to impose upon some one else stock that is doubtful if
not dangerous.

Six years ago, in an article in "Poultry," an English paper of good
repute, J. Woodroffe Hill put himself on record as follows:

"The broadest fact established regarding the exciting cause of tuber-
culous deposit is that the domesticated animal is more liable to tuber-
cular disease than the same animal in a wild state. The staibled cow,
the penned sheep, the tamed rabbit, the monkey, the caged lion, tiger or
elephant, are almost invariably cut off by tuberculous affections, no
doubt due to deficient ventilation, and the abeyance of normal exercise
of the pulmonary functions. Compare the ordinary barnyard fowl with
the highly bred show bird as to vigor, stamina and freedom from heredi-
tary disease, and the former, generally speaking, shows the cleanest bill
of health, for this reason — it lives in a more natural condition, is not
crammed with artificial food, or dosed with quack nostrums, and gets
What grit it chooses to find without being supplied with any special
form.

"The ravages of tuberculosis in the human family are too patent to
ignore its gravity in the lower creation, and the poultry fancier will best
consult his own interests in studiously avoiding breeding from or pur-
chasing birds of scrofulous or tuberculous taint, and in the event of the
disease manifesting itself, to dispose of his stock, thoroughly disinfect
his ground, and after a sufficient interval import fresh and pure blood."
The warning of Prof. Hill is well worth heeding. At the same time
I am sure that the same danger does not exist here as in England as
regards pure bred poultry. There are fully as many sick birds in farm-
ers' flocks as in the yards of our fanciers. I am more impressed every
season with the health and vigor to be seen in the birds sent to the win-
ter shows. Given your pick of the birds at the early fall fairs in con-

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 49

trast with the winter shows, I know that for health and utility you
■would take the carefully bred birds of the fancier. Let us profit from
the statement of Prof. Hill, in so far as it indicates a possible danger.

The Liver.

The diseases of the liver are too numerous and too common to be
passed by at this time. They generally result from too good feeding
or from the over use of condiments. Nine-tenths of these liver troubles
are due to the giving of a ration too rich in starch elements. The single
liock on the village lot is especially prone to liver disease because of the
large proportion of bread foods in the table waste. Unless you can con-
trol the feeding of this waste it is safer to depend upon a mash of bal-
anced ground grain and meat.

Congested or sluggish liver is the beginning of inflammation of the
organ or may be a serious trouble in itself. If left to follow its own
course, with no change in diet, the chances are that inflammation and
enlargement will follow.

Any trouble with the other organs of the abdomen that obstruct the
circulation of the blood will congest the liver. The persistent feeding
of many of the so-called "egg foods" to birds closely housed and yarded
irritate both liver and egg organs. The use of a ration in which pota-
toes form too large a part throws so much work upon the liver that in
its endeavor to perform its part, it becomes at first congested, then
inflamed, and ends in permanent enlargement or in atrophy.

The early symptoms of a congested liver are seldom noticed. There
is a lack of color in comb and wattles that makes one wonder what is
to follow. Usually your first sign of trouble is a watery diarrhea, dark
at first, but changing in a few days to a yellow cast. The feathers do
not look smooth and shiny, but have a dull, rough appearance. At this
time the color of comb and wattles has begun to change from the nat-
ural hue to a dark red or purple, often getting nearly or quite black in
color. The sick birds show no appetite for food, but move from place
to place without ambition to eat or exercise.

If these cases are early noticed and properly treated; most of them
will recover their health. As the cause is largely one of improper feed-
ing, the return to rational foods must be the first step. If the mash is
made as largely of cut clover as you can get the bird to take you will
be doing well as a starter. Drop out much of the flour and cornmeal.
Better feed green cut bone or fresh meat, than dry meat meal, for a
month. Give the birds as scratching material the waste from the hay
mows. If the cases appear in warm weather give the birds access to a
clean grass run.

At the first appearance of liver trouble give each bird a teaspoonful
of castor oil. If this is not easy for you to do, the next best plan will
be to get the same results by adding one-half teaspoonful sulphate mag-
nesia to the drinking water of each bird. If the birds are not thirsty,
you must give it from a spoon or dropping tube. After a single dose of

50 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

laxative medicine I should refrain from further medication and depend
upon proper food and care.

Hepatifcas or Inflammation.

Hepatitas or inflammation is really the stage following congestion
of the liver. There is little satisfaction in doctoring cases that have
been allowed to drift into this condition. As the result of the inflam-
matory process the liver tissues are permanently injured. Even though
the trouble is brought to a standstill, the organ is partially unfit to carry
on its needed work. Many of these cases of inflammation have a past
history of chronic lung disease, or of break-down from over-feeding.

The symptoms of this stage follow those of congestion of the liver.
The diarrhea is watery and yellow, poor appetite, and increased desire
for water. There is a sluggish manner in breathing, suggesting lowered
vitality. The birds show little inclination to move about; lose weight
rapidly; becoming little more than skin and bones in the course of two
to three weeks.

Treat these cases, if at all, by clearing out the bowels once with
castor oil or sulphate of magnesia, following this by the use of tincture
of nux vomica one-fourth teaspoonful to every pint of drinking water
given the birds Feed lightly of heating foods, depending upon clover
and bran largely for mash, with an out-of-door life when possible.

The Comb.

Nearly all so-called diseases of the comb come in connection with
some other disease or condition. I suppose they are commonly classed
as diseases because of the prominent position the comb symptoms
hold. Any change in the looks of comb or wattles is plain to the most
thoughtless poultryman, and presents a sign of danger if not showing
the indications of a normal bird.

There are fewer cases of comb diseases in this country than in Great
Britain, owing, I suppose, to better care and more healthful surround-
ings. It is well to remember that a change in the appearance of the
comb indicates a disturbance in some other part of the bird. If to the
comb symptoms are added similar changes in wattles and ear-lobes, you
are to understand that the case is all the more dangerous, and needs
more careful and immediate attention.

The comb tells quite a little story of what is going on in the organs
of the whole body. Its appearance is as helpful to the poultry keeper
as the tongue of a human patient is to the observing physician.

The normal condition of the comb presents that healthy look that
we all so like to see in our birds, and that is a sign of good bodily condi-
tion. As poultrymen we may call that color "standard red." Any devi-
ation from this red, whether it be to a darker or to a lighter hue, is an
indication of changed action in the workings of the organ, or to a change
in the vitality of the whole bird. The light colored comb shows an ana-
emic state of the bird, while the dark (purple) comb indicates the oppo-
site— plethera. One may be a sign of under-feeding; the other that of
cramming or over-feeding.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 51

Fungoid.

This disease attaclvs birds when exposed to previous cases, and
seems to break out also in flocks that have been fed a ration rich in
ritarches. It is easily passed from bird to bird, and is seen in its worst
aspect when the birds are suffering from a low state of vitality.

Fungoid presents indications of a local rather than a general dis-
ease. It seems to affect only lightly the workings of the bodily func-
tions. The full force of the disease seems to show itself in the comb
and wattles. The first indication is the appearance of little bunches of
hard substance under the skin covering the wattles and comb, about the
size of bird shot, and feeling to the touch like shot, and no change from
normal in color of skin over the little swellings. In a few days these
shotlike hodies soften, flatten a little, break through and discharge
through the opening in the skin, a watery, straw colored fluid.

There may be a dozen of the discharging openings. In a day or two
there are likely to appear near these openings or ulcers other shot-like
bodies that follow the course of the flrst lot. Crop after crop of these
may appear until the comb and wattles are closely covered with them
showing various stages of the disease. The discharge darkens slightly
as it diminishes in quantity, drying on the surface, and presenting a
disagreeable appearance to the sight. The dry surface is itchy to the
bird and she is sure to do more or less scratching, causing more irrita-
tion and some bleeding. In a third of the cases the disease spreads to
the skin of the head and neck, increasing the size of these parts and pre-
senting a picture disagreeable to any lover of poultry.

If this disease has been allowed to grow into the condition last
described, little treatment will avail. The birds are in a hopeless state,
with little prospect of cure. They are probably thin, with no appetite,
and present the appearance of tired out birds. Kill and bury every one
of the long continued cases, and give your attention to new cases. The
legs should be tied together, yet loose enough to allow walking, while
close enough to prevent any scratching of the inflamed surfaces.
"Wash as often as you can the whole surface of comb and wattles with
a solution of carbolic acid crystals, five grains to a pint of water. This
lessens itching and diminishes the danger of the spread of the infection.
The food should be highly nourishing and fed warm. Of course every
sick bird should be removed from the flock to lessen the danger of expos-
ure. This disease, introduced into a flock of healthy birds, runs a more
rapid course than when the stock is low in vitality.

White Comb.

Unlike fungoid that is not contagious, white comb depends upon
a low state of vitality. The disease manifests itself in the same location
as fungoid, but presents a different appearance. The first indication is
the coming of little red or white points in the skin covering both comb
and wattles. Usually these are white when first noticed. The
nearness to the skin causes an early breaking of the little gatherings;

52 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

the contents proving to be thin, light colored and quickly drying on the
surface. This gives the parts affected a scurfy, whitish appearance.
The movements of the bird loosen the dry flaky substance, and it
comes off in little pieces of the size of bran. As the disease spreads to
neck and face the irritation causes the feathers to drop out, adding to
the disagreeable appearance. With the local symptoms are to be
noticed a paleness of all mucous surfaces, and a suggestion of weakness
in all motions of the bird.

White comb is the result of long continued exposure to close air,
little or no sunshine, and total ahsence of all green vegetable food. This
points, of course, to city cellars and shut-in town back yards.

The cause suggests the remedy. Either give up the keeping of
birds under such unhygienic conditions or remove them to pastures
green, with sunny skies. A tonic of a little nux vomica may be helpful,
but after all the best remedy is good food with proper care and housing.
Oil the sore surfaces with an ointment made by mixing one part oleate
of zinc and ten parts vaseline. Do this once a day until the eruption
disappears.

Black Rot.

This is a condition of the comb resulting from imperfect circulation
of blood through it and is really evidence of the death of the tissue
involved. It is a rare occasion when we meet black rot except in tall
combed birds. Nearly every case that has been examined after killing
has shown some disease of the liver. It is probable that the comb symp-
toms are secondary to the real disease.

The first indication of the approach of this trouble is a darkening
of the color of the comb. The points only may be involved at first, or
the purple hue may extend to the whole structure. From purple, the
color changes to blue and then to black. If the bird in other respects
is healthy, he may live long enougii to have the diseased portion sep-
arate from the healthy portion, leaving an unsightly stump. The dis-
eased portion of the comb may be either dry or moist, "dry rot" or
"moist rot," according to the case. In connection with an inflamed,
dying comb, there is nearly a complete loss of appetite and a looseness
of bowels. The bird shows little desire for exercise and remains on the
roost or under the droppings beards for hours at a time.

The varied circumstances under which cases of "black rot" have
been noted give little idea as to the cause of the disease. In a few cases
there is a history of a sudden chill and in others the houses were close
and damp.

If the disease gets a good start, treatment does little good. The
comb should be painted twice a day with a lotion of one ounce of water,
one-half ounce glycerine, and carbolic acid crystals, two grains. Keep
the bird in a dry, sunny, clean room, giving pure water and fresh air.
Be sure that green food, in some form, such as dandelion or cabbage
leaves or onions, be within reach at all times. The adding one-half tea-

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 53

spoonful muriate of ammonia to each pint of drinking water will help
relieve the congested liver.

Frost Bite.

The appearance of frost bite is much the same as that of black rot,
but the bird does not lose its appetite and is nearly as lively as usual.
The color of the comb or wattles is purple or black. The darker the
color the more danger of the frozen part being lost. The more rapid the
thawing of the part the more danger of serious results to the portion
affected.

Frost bite is, of course, due to exposing the birds to too low a tem-
perature or the long continued heat absorbing action of a zero breeze.
Low vitality, from close houses or under-feeding, increases the danger,
both of frost bite and the after effects.

The taller and thinner the comb the more it is exposed to the loss
of heat, and the more care should be given to proper housing and yard-
ing. Do the best we can there will, at times, come cases of frost bite
into our flocks. A sudden drop of forty degrees in the night or the unex-
pected rise of a zero breeze, will catch our birds when we are unpre-
pared. The best house and the best care will not prevent the appear-
ance of a case now and then.

If the trouble is seen before the frost has thawed out, put the bird
in a room that will warm up slowly, letting the circulation begin slowly.
Avoid a place where the bird can get into the direct sunlight or a room
that is much above the freezing point. Even the holding of dry snow
against the comb will help remove more slowly the frost of the parts.
Having restored the circulation, or noticing the bird after it has thawed
out, apply twice a day an ointment of vaseline, six tablespoonfuls,
glycerine two tablespoonfuls, turpentine one teaspoonful. This will
help start into a healthy condition the blood circulation of comb and
wattles, and at the same time reduce the swelling.

Injuries of Comb.

Injuries to the comb and wattles are more or less common, and are
usually the results of fighting or from getting caught in wire or lath
divisions of the house or yard. Sometimes a thin comb is nearly torn
from the head or a wattle is badly slit. To avoid deformity the parts
should be brought closely together and stitched with a needle and fine
white silk. The blood supply is so good that even though three-fourths
the part is torn a little, stitching will result in the part healing and
presenting a fine appearance as the result of a little careful work. Keep
the bird alone until the stitches can be cut and removed, thus preventing
any picking by other birds. Whenever blood dries on the surface of the
comb and you find other birds inclined to pick at it, put the hird away
by itself. It is easy to teach birds to pick under such conditions, and the
habit is a bad one. The irritation to the sick bird is also bad and delays
healing, if indeed it does not undo the good you have done. For a
sore comb or one that is slow in healing, apply an ointment of oleate

54 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

of zinc one part to vaseline ten parts. This protects the sore parts and
hastens the healing of the tears.

Eczema.

I have sometimes thought there was no difference between eczema
and "white comb," and yet we seldom see the two troubles in the same
bird. Eczema is a disease manifesting itself in the skin, yet due to a
constitutional cause. It is caused by the over-feeding of a highly nitro-
genous ration, by lack of excretion, or from closely inbred birds of a
rheumatic tendency. The disease is never passed by contact from bird
to bird. It is not contagious.

While eczema may appear on any part of the skin of the bird, the
usual seat of the disease is the wattles. I am not sure but it appears at
the same time on other parts of the bird, but being covered by feathers
it does not attract our attention. On the wattles it attracts our notice
by the appearing of fine white points. These are slightly raised and
seem to have just the thin skin ovei- them. They continue to increase
in size, new points appearing, the contents becoming thinner and
slightly lighter in color. When several "points" have united, the skin
bursts, the fluid runs out, and dries on the surface, forming a scurfy
crust. In severe cases the discharge has been noticed to irritate the skin
of the shanks and toes where it falls on them. Birds with eczema pre-
sent a tired appearance and a marked loss of appetite.

These cases need an improved diet. The mash should contain a
good proportion of cut clover, green vegetables should be fed liberally,
and there should be very little meat fed in any form for weeks. Green
cut bone, free from meat, will be helpful in building up the bird.

One grain pill citrate iron and quinine every morning and one grain
calomel at night for one week will help clear up the constitutional con-
dition, and increase the health of the bird.

Apply to the diseased wattles several times during the week the
same ointment as recommended for "white comb."

Chicken Pox.

We seldom have cases of chicken pox among our adult birds, but run
across it in the autumn of the year in the nearly matured stock. Cold,
damp, dark days increase the number of cases and intensify the disease.
While the eruption may appear on any part of the skin of the bird, we
usually see it on the face or underside of wings. These places are easy
to get at and from the character of the eruption we name the trouble.
The eruption may extend to the eye balls or appear directly on them,
and may cause the loss of sight, if not the destruction of the eye balls.

The more numerous the sores or ulcers the more prominent the loss
of appetite, strength and color.

Chicken pox is known by the scabby ulcers appearing on any part
of the body, but more often on head or wing. These ulcers exude a
liquid that is inclined to dry on the surface and present a scaly, dirty
coating. The sores present themselves in crops, and have no great

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 55

depth. Unlike white comb they do not present at first a fine white
point. Along with the coming of the eruption the bird shows more
thirst than common, and a slight rise of temperature.

Chicken pox does not prove fatal unless there is marked lack of
care in housing and feeding. Birds kept dry and out of cold winds on
simple nourishing foods, need little medicine. If chicken pox appears
during a long continued storm in the fall of the year and the birds are
not kept from exposure to it, there is likely to be a large death rate.

For the eruption there is nothing better than common carbolated
vaseline. Feed a simple mash of at least one-third clover mixed with
boiling milk. See that all damp scratching material is promptly moved
and dry straw supplied in its place. The danger in this disease is expos-
ure to cold and wet.

Apoplexy.

By apoplexy I mean the condition resulting from a break in a blood
vessel of the brain. This break may come because of a weakened state
of the artery itself, or from too great a blood pressure on it from over
action of the heart. The common cause of weakness of the blood ves-
sels of the brain is an over-fat condition of the whole bird. In common
with other parts of the muscular system, the little muscles of the
arteries suffer from fatty degeneration, which produces a weakened wall
to resist pressure. Without some other direct factor this fatty wall
would seldom give way and produce a brain trouble. However, let a
bird in this fatty state be chased violently about the farm, and the
increased action of the heart brings to bear on the brain vessels
increased pressure that is likely to produce serious results. Birds in
this diseased condition are likely to have difficulty in passing their eggs,
and during the greater strain imposed upon the bird in laying it is liable
to burst a vessel in the brain, and apoplexy results. This accounts for
many laying hens being found dead on the nest.

Filling crop and gizzard to extreme fullness, in an over-fat bird, has
been known to produce apoplexy and death. I remember a case in my
own yards several years ago. A two-year-old male, a Wyandotte, at
the end of a long breeding season was put into a pen with a dozen half
grown cockerels. While in the breeding pen he was all attention to the
hens, seeing that they had food enough before he would help himself,
but under his changed circumstances he was greedy to get all he could
from the young males. As I fed them one night, I noticed how lively
the cock was, how he was eating as I had never seen a bird eat before.
Apparently he was in perfect health. Half an hour later, I found him
lying on his side dead, with purple comb and wattles. His crop was
stuffed with grain, and his gizzard was tightly packed with food of all
kinds.

In times of long continued hot weather cases resembling apoplexy
may be met. These are usually sunstroke, and while there is brain
pressure, there is no clot of blood to be found in the brain as in apo-
plexy.

56 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

Prevention of apoplexy is along the line of proper care. First, the
feeding a well balanced ration; second, no chasing of birds by dogs or
boys; third, moderate feeding in such a way as to prevent a greedy bird
getting his food in too short a time.

Cases of apoplexy, and cases resem'bling it in any way, should be
bled at the first indication of the trouble. To wait awhile is to see the
bird die. With a sharp knife open a blood vessel on the under side of
the wing. Let two teaspoonfuls of blood flow before allowing the blood
to clot. Even this small amount will reduce the pressure on the vessels.
A laxative, such as castor oil or one drop croton oil, should be given if
the bird can be made to swallow.

Few cases of apoplexy ever regain good health. There is always
something wrong about the birds, and they are constantly getting out
of condition. If a number of cases appear in a flock, it will be well to
make a few changes in diet. Reduce the quantity of corn and cornmeal;
increase the amount of clover and green vegetables, and give the birds
their freedom, or yard them on large grass fields. Provide some protec-
tion from the heat of noon day.

Worms.

I shall say little on the subject of worms, except as relates to the
roundworm, the tapeworm and to gapes. These are three worms that
are common enough to warrant suggesting treatment for the condi-
tions that arise when they are present in our birds. There are a dozen
others that are of interest as curiosities, but they are rarely seen and
are not really dangerous. Our government, through its department at
Washington, and some of the State Experiment Stations, is doing good
work in the study of worms and their relation to poultry disease, and
the printed reports should be studied by poultrymen. The Rhode Island
Station has advanced study in this line, especially the relation of worms
to turkey disease. It is well to understand the dangers and symptoms
of these parasites, that we may recognize their presence and so avoid
serious trouble and possible failure.

There are two kinds of worms that are more or less common in the
digestive canal of fowls — the "roundworm" and "tapeworm."

The Roundworm.

The roundworm receives its name from its shape in contradistinc-
tion to the flat tapeworm. The roundworm is much more common than
the tapeworm, and is familiar to any dresser of poultry. It is not a
source of trouble except from the massing of large numbers. A few
worms make little impression on the health of a bird, but if they abound
in hundreds they will have a decided effect on the digestion of the hen.
The large numbers, matted and wriggling, may be a cause of stoppage;
their irritation causes diarrhoea; and their appetites diminish the nutri-
ment intended to support the hen. These roundworms are seldom
passed in the bowel discharges. Now and then a worm is passed, but
it soon dies in the droppings or is eaten by some other bird. It is not

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 57

till a bird is killed or dies that worms are known to be present. Tbe
roundworm varies in size from one-third to five inches in length. Its
color is white. The head is pointed like the sharpened end of a pencil;
the tail blunt like the end of a finger.

The symptoms of worms are those of indigestion. The comb and
wa'ttles are pale, bird thin, with possibly a slight diarrhoea.

If you suspect worms, try to remove them. Dissolve in the water
that isvto be used for mixing the mash, two grains santonine for each
bird to be treated. Mix a small allowance of mash, quite dry, and add
castor oil, one-half teaspoonful for each bird. Feed this to the suspected
birds, watching for the results of the "worm treatment." All droppings
should be collected often and put out of reach of the birds.

The Tapeworm.

The tapeworm is not as common as the roundworm. I have met
poultrymen who have never seen a tapeworm, even v/hen dressing birds.
Perhaps if they had taken pains to examine the contents of the bowels
they might have another story to tell. Poultrymen are busy folks and
have little time for looking after something that has made only a
slight impression on the health of their birds. Vale tells us that this
tapeworm "appears to be identical with the tapeworm found in cats
(Toenia crassicolis), and it is, therefore, highly probable that it is
derived from the same source — that Is, the fiuke of the liver of the
mouse; for it is an ascertained fact that fowls will actually catch mice
and eat them. I have seen brooder chicks catch little mice and tear
them limb from limb."

Our birds generally show no indication of the presence of tape-
worms. Sometimes the birds will be uncommonly thin in spite of a
good appetite, but tapeworm is not thought of. When the worm gets
quite long, pieces of the tail may be seen in the droppings, looking like
narrow tape.

Knowing, or even suspecting, that you have a case of tapeworm to
deal with, give the bird six drops oil male fern in one teaspoonful castor
oil. The proper time of the day to give this is in the morning while the
crop and gizzard are empty, and if the food of the night before is a
light one, so much the better. Two hours after giving the male fern,
give a light mash containing for each bird treated one tablespoonful
castor oil.

Gapes.

Gapes is a disease appearing in chicks, rather than in old birds, and
is the direct cause of death of millions of young chicks and wild birds
every year. I have known of its resulting fatally in fifty per cent of
cases attacked. Gapes are caused by the irritation of a parasitic worm
in the windpipe. A single worm makes little impression, but when they
are present in dozens the danger is not to be courted. The direct irri-
tation is not the only source of difficulty, for the loss of nutrition needed
to support the life of the worm is felt by the bird.

Every case of gapes presupposes a previous case. It does not arise

58 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

from filth or wrong feeding, but it does seem to talie fresh vigor when
the surroundings are unhygienic. There are fewer cases of this dis-
ease in New England than in the Middle and South Atlantic states,
whether due to the long cold winter or not is uncertain. It seems to
flourish in the dry sandy sections of our country, in the wet days of late
summer and early fall. Heat and wet seem to go with fresh outbrea-ks.
A few of the worst epidemics I have known have appeared in the late
fall, in full grown birds, kept on wet clay coil.

Gapes have often been found in the common earth worm, in those
sections of the country where the disease is to be met. This may explain
why the disease appears year after year in spite of the most careful labor
towards cure and prevention.

Gapes have been a suibject written about since the first of the past
century. The national agricultural department, fifteen years ago, em-
ployed Dr. H. D. Walker, of New York, to study the gape worm. As
part of the report of his labors, we are told that newly hatched embryos
introduced into the windpipe of a chick gain full size In eight days.
That eggs must have a temperature of above thirty-two to grow and
are destroyed by freezing.

The parasite that is the cause of gapes varies in length from one-
eighth to one-half inch, and is threadlike in appearance. Its color
varies according to the amount of the bird's blood that it may have
taken at the time of examination. It may be pale or even bright red.
Often you may think you have found a double-headed worm, but careful
looking will show you that what seemed at first one worm with two
heads is really two worms closely united for breeding. The worm
usually found in the windpipe is half an inch long and its diameter that
of a medium-sized sewing needle.

The history of this parasite is an interesting one and may be pur-
sued to advantage in the reports of some of the state Experiment Sta-
tions.

The symptoms vary according to the amount of irritation and loss
of nutrition. The early symptom is a little cough (hack), as though a
little dust had slipped into the windpipe ,and the bird was trying to
eject it. As the worms increase in size and number, their presence
inflames the lining membrane of the windpipe, increasing the amount
of normal secretion as well as thickening the lining itself. The increase
of irritation, the flow of mucous, and the swollen membrane, all work to
change the character of the breathing, giving us the gasping or gaping
that names the disease. The bird goes about with open mouth, as if he
had taken a mouthful of too hot food. In some cases the mucus secreted
is so plentiful as to partially prevent the passing of air, and in others
it is drawn into the bronchial tubes often causing the death of the chick.
The inflammation itself may extend to the lungs and so kill the bird.

Besides the gaping and open-mouthed breathing, there is at times
sneezing, trouble in swallowing food, and loss of flesh. Gapes is a ser-
ious diseivse and precautions should be exercised to prevent its entering

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 59

your yards, and the subject should be studied to obtain the knowledge
needed to cure cases arising in your flock.

It is always well at the beginning of any serious sickness in our
birds to gain the information (to be obtained in no other way) gleaned
from a post-mortem examination. It is better to know you have gapes
to deal with, than to doctor for gapes when you have on hand an epi-
demic of pneumonia or bronchitis. The very treatment needed for
gapes would surely kill the subjects of these last named diseases. Exam-
ine carefully the whole lining of the windpipe, using a magnifying glass
of low power if you have one, and do not give treatment suggested for
gapes unless you find the worms.

The very location of the home of the gapeworm makes its treatment
difficult. If the worm lived in the crop or bowels it could easily be
reached with liquid medicines, and the irritation itself would cause much
less distress to the infected bird.

To reach the worm in the windpipe all sorts of combinations of wire,
hair and feathers have been offered to a confiding poultry public. Some
do bring up sample worms, but most of them are utter failures. The
best only confirm your diagnosis, and have little effect towards the cure
of the trouble. The few large worms extracted lessen irritation for a
while, but the short young worms are too small to be caught in any
device yet invented. The instrument in ordinary use consists of a long
wire, having at its end circles of horse hair. This is pushed down the
air tube, turned two or three times, slowly withdrawn, with one or more
worms possibly entangled in its meshes. This is a slow process and
very wearing on the bird.

The most common and satisfactory treatment is the use of lime dust.
The birds are shut into a barrel or box, so arranged as to allow inspec-
tion of the birds while subjected to the process, and air slacked lime is
allowed to settle slowly through the air of the chamber. This is done
by having part of the top of the box or barrel covered with bagging so
the dust can be admitted slowly as well as finely. The lime irritates
the linings of the windpipe as well as those of the finer tubes of the
chest and its use is followed by coughing and sneezing. This dislodges
the worms, and repeated coughing brings up some of them. Care must
be taken to limit the amount of lime used, and air must be admitted in
fair quantities. Too little air or too much lime long administered will
cause a serious inflammation of the mucous memljrane of the air pass-
ages.

If gapes is introduced into your plant you should plan to raise all
chicks the coming season on ground that has not been used for poultry
purposes for several years. Plow and plant to some hoed crop all yards
or ground that have been used for infected birds. After two years such
land will probably be safe to use again for poultry.

You are never sure you have the gapes unless you can find one or
more of the worms. It is decidedly risky to treat for gapes unless you
know you have that disease to contend with. A bird may gape or
appear to have something in its throat and yet not have the ••gape-
worm" in its windpipe. There is little, if any, disturbance of the gen-
eral system in the commencement of gapes, while in bronchitis or pneu-
monia there is some rise in temperature. To use lime dust on birds
sick with pneumonia or bronchitis is to do that which is likely to kill
the bird. Better no treatment than thoughtless diaeriosis of disease and
an ^off-hand use of strong remedies. Dr. N. W. Sanborn.

60 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

MEDICINE IN THE POULTRY YARD.

By Velma Caldwell Melville.

[A series of articles g'iving actual experiences in treating fowls. Written expressly for
the Reliable Poultry Journal. All rights reserved.]

A prominent fancier ridicules the idea of doctoring fowls, giving as
his remedy for all ills — a sharp axe. While there are times when this
is decidedly the medicine, still there are a majority of instances, espe-
cially among thoroughbreds, where we may employ milder and more
profitat)le means. "We have a homeopathic "book and box" — for we do
not think harsh remedies should be used in the animal world — and will,
in a series of short talks under the above caption, mention some of the
ills, and their symptoms, that our feathered friends are heir to, also the
remedies in each instance.

First, however, we will name some general remedies and tonics
which are not, strictly speaking, in the "box." These may be employed
whether one goes deeper into the science of "Medicine in the Poultry
Yard" or not.

Indigestion.

In fowls, as in all other living creatures, digestion plays an impor-
tant part in health. Indigestion means sickness. It is needless here to
repeat the old story about plenty of grit, but perhaps some of our friends
depend entirely upon this, when there are instances where it fails the
chick even as our teeth sometimes fail us and we have to "take some-
thing." Some are inclined to sneer at tonics for man, beast or fowl.
For those who are so circumstanced as to be able to have outdoor exer-
cise and the like this is well, but yarded fowls, like persons much
indoors, have sometimes to resort to artificial means.

Here are three common and inexpensive remedies that act directly
on the digestive organs — cayenne pepper, asafoetida and gentian. Char-
coal acts as a purifier. For a simple tonic, we are told over and over
to use iron, even rusty nails in the water being recommended. Then
there is the far-famed Douglas Mixture, given elsewhere in this book.
The Douglas Mixture should not be given oftener than every other day
and twice a week is usually found sufficient. Sulphur we find a valued
remedy in the poultry yard, but this, too, should be used with caution.

Then there are the much-noted chicken powders. Certainly we find
circumstances where they are decidedly advisable. Perhaps one of the
best powders is compounded thus: Equal parts copperas, cayenne, sul-
phur and rosin. Pound together and mix well.

Lime water is excellent for fowls in both sickness and health. The
formula is simple. Slake eight ounces of good lime in a little water and
then add water enough to make two gallons. Let stand until clear, pour
off and set the lime away to make more, which is done by adding cold
water, stirring well, and letting settle as before.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 61

Perhaps here we should insert a few cautions. In giving charcoal
teach the chicks to eat it by first pulverizing and mixing with soft food;
afterwards it can 'be kept before them in broken bits and they will take
it as nature prompts. The pan of charcoal is a fixture at our "ranch."
However, in soft form, the fowls are apt to get enough to clog the
system.

Some directions: The size of any dose of medicine given a fowl
should be the same as for a child. To a chick two weeks old give the
sized dose one would to a child of six months; to one six weeks old, the
dose for a child of one year; to one half grown, that for a two-year-old
child; to one full grown, the dose for a child of three or four years. Give
all medicine in solution if possible; if not, in pill.

Above everything else, use common sense, a firm, gentle hand; and
remember that no one remedy will cure everything; and that what will
answer in one case may fail in another similar, the same as in the
human family.

S3n3iptoms.

In doctoring poultry one must observe and study symptoms care-
fully.

Haven't time?

Then don't go into the business, for it takes time to do a thing well,
and to stand a show in the fancier's world now-a-days one must do well,
and very well. When a bird dies make an intelligent autopsy and learn
something.

Of course, we all know that cleanliness is the great "preventive"
and "cure" among fowls, but it is not everything. Look to the lice and
mites first of all, however. Feed carefully, observe all that is written
in the poultry journals and if, after all this, your fowls are sick, try
some of the suggestions to be found in "Medicine in the Poultry Yard."

It pays to make a thorough study of whatever business one is going
into, not more surely broking or banking than fancying. To intelli-
gently proceed to doctor a chicken one must know what a healthy one
is like. For instance, to note carefully the condition of the bird when
the heart, liver, etc., are in normal condition is soon to be able to dis-
tinguish by symptoms when these organs are out of repair.

By handling birds, studying them, being with them, one learns much
about them. We know at once when one of our fowls is ailing, as there
is seldom an hour in the day when some one of the family does not look
them over.

The inmates of one pen of heavy Barred Rocks have to be literally
pushed out of one's way, they are so tame and so fond of petting. An-
other pen of lighter birds fiy on us the minute we enter the run, two
or three disputing for standing room on our arms and hands at once.
And then there are the White Rocks, so gentle and tame that we call
them doves. The majority have names, and, as we stated, all a,re
watched so closely that the slightest indisposition is noticed and prompt
remedies applied, allowing, of course, for nature to cure first.

62 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

Colds, Indigestion, Constipation.

Fowls have "bad colds." For this we give a few doses of aconite —
third dilution — one drop every hour. If feverish symptoms accompany,,
alternate belladona — same dilution and dose — with the aconite.

For foul stomach, sudden indigestion or constipation, a drop of nux
vomica — third dilution — every two hours, usually corrects the difficulty.

One must, however, be cautious about forming too hasty conclusions,
as oftimes very similar symptoms indicate different diseases. In very
complex or confusing cases it were well to sacrifice a bird or two for
the purpose of determining the disease, thereby possibly saving the rest
of the f ock.

First of all, be sure that vermin, a drafty hen house, impure water,
unwholesome food, or some easily removable cause is not at the bottom
of your trouble. Common sense suggests that in all contagious diseases
the affected fowl be removed to separate quarters and these quarters
afterward completely destoyed.

Cholera.

Cholera is perhaps the most dreaded of all the ills that poultry is
heir to. In ordering these articles the editor asked for personal experi-
ence, but we are happy to say that we have had no personal experience
in cholera, though it has been all about us time and again. In this, pre-
vention is far more valuable and comfortable than cure, hence we will
first name some preventives. Let a stiff paste of flour and water form
one article on the bill of fare; corn soaked in kerosene some hours before
feeding, another. One day add sulphur to the soft food; the next, soda;
the next, cayenne; the next tincture or iron. The Douglas Mixture
added to the food is another preventive. Feed a little charcoal occasion-
ally. Add carbolic acid — a little — to the drink. Last, but by no means
least, thoroughly clean up the poultry houses and runs.

As to the "cures," they are legion. One excellent authority recom-
mends ten drops of strong tincture of eucalyptus globules, five grains
common salt and one-half teaspoonful ground pepper. Give in a table-
spoonful of water.

Another advises one ounce of powdered garlic, two drachms tinc-
ture of capsicum, two drachms tincture of camphor, one-half ounce rhu-
barb, one drachm tincture of opium, three drachms oil of peppermint.
Mix well and give from six to eight drops three times a day in a tea-
spoonful of water.

Other fanciers have successfully carried their flocks through on
equal parts cayenne pepper, alum, rosin and sulphur. Mix and put in the
food once a daj'' a tablespoonful to three pints scalded meal.

Still another is, two tablespoonfuls Epsom salts, four of lime and
ten drops tincture of iron added to a gallon of meal.

Lastly, we give Dr. Dickies' "heroic" pills to be used for fowls too
far gone to eat, not claiming them as strictly homeopathic, though
recommended bj'- homeopathic authority: "Sixty grains of blue mass,

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 63

twenty-five grains pulverized camphor thirty grains cayenne pepper,
forty-eight grains pulverized rhubarb, sixty drops laudanum. Mix and
form into twenty pills. Give one every five hours. After three or four
have been taken, give each bird half teaspoonful castor oil and ten drops
laudanum. Give a scanty drink of scalded sour milk with the Douglas
Mixture added in such quantity that twenty-five fowls will get one gill
per day. Give no other drink."

Bowel Trouble. Constipation.

If it is "actual experience" that is wanted, we feel that we are right
at home, for life these days is just nothing but "actual experience." You
see we take the chicks from the hens as fast as they hatch — and some-
times when several hens come off at once they hatch pretty fast — put-
ting them in a basket beside a warm brick well wrapped. "We hope it
not amiss to here drop a caution — do not cover too closely (the chicks,
not the brick). We did this, to our sorrow, the other day.

As soon as they commence eating, which is from twenty-four to
thirty-six hours after hatching, begin the danger and "experience." It
does seem as if some chicks were predestined to live, others to die. But
we do not let the latter fate work out if we can help it, especially in
high-bred chicks.

Bowel trouble is about the first bugbear to be faced, and we lost a
half dozen with it early in the season. Vainly we searched our "book"
for something that would apply to the case. It all seemed too over-
grown; then we tried a little common sense. Several White Rock beau-
ties became affected and we simply made them a "cup of tea." Does not
every one know that "store" tea is an astringent? We made it rather
weak, but gave them nothing else to drink for a day. It would have
delighted a genuine tea drinker's heart to have seen the pretty heads bob
lip and down as they sipped their tea. The way we came to think of
this was recalling an instance when we cured a pet kitten of a bad case
of diarrhea by dosing him with tea. Of course, there exists the danger
of constipation ensuing, 'but only one of ours fell a victim.

For constipation we again sought the "book;" but this time we
turned to the department for birds instead of fowls. Of course what
would suit a cage bird would be more suitable for a baby chick than the
remedy prescribed for a full grown chicken. "A drop of castor oil every
hour until the difficulty is removed." It worked like a charm .

While studying this matter we learned that the juice of yellow car-
rots, used alone as the drink, is a cure for constipation; also that poppy
seed is an excellent remedy for diarrhea and dysentery. In severe cases
of the latter give two drops of tincture of opium in the drink.

Pip.

Then there came another morning when about thirty white chicks
awoke with the appearance of having taken cold. How hoarse their
voices, and — yes, there was one well-defined case of pip even to the little
haj-d seals on the end of his tongue. .Just at first, however, we were mis-

64 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

led by his continually opening his mouth. "Gapes!" we said, and
straightway administered camphor, because this is our remedy — a suc-
cessful one usually in gapes. But matters grew worse instead of better.
When convinced that it was pip we went to work on a new line. You
see the book stood by us in this instance and we diagnosed the case
easily.

Symptoms of pip-scale on tip of tongue, a peculiar pip or "zip"
noise; breathing disturbed and effected through the mouth; dry tongue,
listless, indigestion. The scientific treatment is "warm quarters; cas-
tor oil if constipated. Apply to tongue and nostrils a weak solution of
chlorinated soda, if any local remedy is used, but do not clip end oft
tongue as some recommend." Spongia may be used with good effect;
but the best, simplest and surest treatment advocated is two or three
grains of black pepper each day in fresh butter. We happened to have
no spongia in the box, though it is a favorite remedy for throat trouble
in man and beast here, and did not like to put the grains of pepper down
so tiny a throat. We successfully cured the patient, however, by feed-
ing him cold potato pretty freely, sprinkled with ground black pepper,
giving two doses of castor oil — about one drop to the dose — keeping
him very warm. The others that were hoarse required only heat, a drop
of carbolic acid in the drinking water and careful feeding.

While so much is being said and written on "what to feed young
chicks," it may seem superfluous and even out of place in these talks
for us to have a word on the subject, but we must venture to endorse all
who say use dry bread crumbs the first two or three days; giving water
every two or three hours, but not allowing any one chick to drink too
much. After this introduce roiled oats and millet seed, and a little later
still cracked wheat. After chicks are a week old finely chopped meat
is excellent for them.

Of course, feeding makes or mars the need of medicine in the poul-
try yard to a great extent, but it is not all. Another morning a crate of
baby chicks were dumpish; would not eat, and huddled disconsolately
together. We were sure they were going to die, but as we did not know
what ailed them we could not give medicine. A quiet day, with a little
extra heat and care and rather light feeding did for them much the same
that such treatment does for a dumpish person. There are plenty of
times when a judicious letting alone is the remedy needed, especially
with young birds.

One day the "gude mon" carried all the crates to a place in the barn
where a few hens had been fed at one time. Sitting there was a box of
coal ashes, and as the hens had used it for toilet purposes the fioor was
thickly strewn with ashes and tiny cinders. It reminded one of nothing
so much as bees around honey to see the little fellows crowd around
and pick, pick, pick. It carried its own lesson.

We use sand, finely cracked charcoal and bran as regulators. A
treat in the way of a baked potato, broken open, keeps the little fellows
happy and btisj^ for an hour.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES, 65

Roup, Canker.

A friend gives us the following bit of experience with, roup:

"I thought to improve my stock of chickens by investing in a stan-
dard-bred rooster, and he was a beauty. But one day the chore boy
-came in and told me my rooster was 'dumping around; seemed sick.' I
had him hrought into the house and I should think he was sick! Rags
of canker an inch long hung from his mouth; his tongue was covered
and his throat completely filled. The odor was terrible and my hus-
band said 'Kill him.' But I determined to see what I could do. I spread
new papers on the floor and stood him on them. My hus'band held his
bill apart while I, with a long swab and a solution of carbolic acid and
water, cleaned all the canker from his mouth and throat. I had to dig
pretty hard and it hied freely, but it was the only way. I then blew
sulphur into his mouth and down his throat and fed him on very warm
bread and milk. I had to poke it down him with a stick, but I filled his
crop and then put him in a warm stall in the barn. I burned everything
that I had used about him. I had to repeat this treatment twice a day
for several days, but finally had the satisfaction of knowing I had cured
a severe case of roup. If it had been a common bird it would not have
paid for the trouble." (Rather heroic treatment, but well worth
knowing.)

Next to cholera, roup is the most dreaded disease among fowls. It
is very contagious; begins in the lining membrane of the beak, but rap-
idly spreads until it takes in the whole system. An autopsy usually
shows the liver and gall-bladder full of pus. It is oftener called by other
names, such as diphtheria, influenza, bronchitis or quinsy. It chiefly
attacks old birds, but all ages may have it. The flrst symptoms are like
those of a bad cold; especially marked are the fever and thirst. At flrst
the discharge from the head is thin and almost white, but rapidly grows
thick.

As stated, the odor is very bad. The disease should be checked in
the first stages, and an eminent writer advises that in a fiock where
roup is suspected every fowl should be examined under the wings in the
morning to ascertain if the feathers are stuck together with the dis-
charge from the nostrils during the night. Visit the perches late at
night and listen for obstructed breathing. Immediately attend to reliev-
ing one that breathes hard and remove it from the flock. Too great care
cannot be observed in regard to cleanliness where this disease exists.
Burn droppings and all. Feed warm, stimulating food with cayenne
pepper in it. Onions chopped flne and mixed with the feed are helpful.
Keep the patients warm and dry.

Our book says that no known medicine will cure all cases of roup,
but that German Roup Pills will cure when anything can. As an accom-
paniment it recommends "three pills daily as large as a pea, made of
mustard and ground ginger. Also give pepper tea." : . '

Again we are told to try three pills a day, as large as a fowl can
swallow, made of equal parts of pulverized sulphur, powdered charcoal

66 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

and new yeast with stimulant as given above. In all cases put powdered
charcoal in the food. Castor oil, a teaspoonful at a dose, is advisable
from beginning to finish. In the absence of any other wash for the beak,
throat and head, use castile soap and warm water. When the discharge
is excessive take a common machine oil-can and inject some camphor-
ated sweet oil through the external openings or from the inside, through
the slits in the roof of the mouth. Where excessive difficulty in breath-
ing exists steaming the head sometimes affords relief. Take care in
this operation. When a bird begins to get well give it a tincture of iron
tonic, or some of the other tonics mentioned in a previous article.

Of course, almost everyone has a roup cure, but it would have to be
a valuable fowl that we would handle through a siege of the loathsome
disease, although if taken in time it would not be so bad. In our opin-
ion "prevention is better than cure," and we have the idea that dry, com-
fortable quarters will prevent roup, at least if coupled with cleanliness
and wholesome food.

There is a common canker among fowls that may be mistaken for
the more dreaded disease. Wash the parts, eyes, mouth and throat, in
warm castile water if there is a gummy discharge. Clean out the throat
and mouth with a weak solution of chlorate of potash, alum and water.
Wash off the canker and apply powdered borax in small quantities to the
spots bared by the process. Powdered burnt alum may be good for
white ulcers on the tongue.

Mites, Lice, Sleepiness, Watery Eyes.

More and more as the days go by are we impressed with the fact
that the "ounce of prevention" is better than the "pound of cure;" and
more and more are we convinced that vermin and injudicious feeding
are the diseases of young chicks. Our losses this year have been almost
wholly along these two lines. But as this series of talks does not deal
presumably with either of these, we only pause to say that if your young
chicks are not doing well, vermin is almost sure to be at the bottom of
the difficulty, whether you discover the pests or not. Here is a place to
exercise your faith in some of the unseen realities; yet ten to one mites
are sucking the life out of the little birds by night and the gray head-
louse is getting in its deadly work both night and day. Use insect pow-
der regularly whether you think they need it or not.

We have succeeded in killing a number of fine birds this summer
by feeding them on cold, boiled potatoes. At first we were delighted
with the plan (feeding the potatoes — not killing the chicks). The little
fellows enjoyed chasing the tempting white balls and pecking at them,
but when there was a failure to digest, resulting in the mass souring in
the crop, there was the end of enjoyment for both fancier and fowl.
The crop became distended and froth arose in the throat, producing gap-
ing and finally suffocation. Some of the crops we opened and the seeth-
ing stuff forced itself out with a hissing sound, but it did not save the
chicken.

One other "fatal feature" among our young birds has been prema-

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 67

ture wing feathering. In some instances a bird of three or four weeks
would have wings dragging tlie ground. Chicks of a week have pro-
nounced wing feathers. Of course the feathers sap the strength and
the bird droops and probably dies. Clipping the feathers will stop their
growth and help the bird.

Some of our neighbors have had hens afflicted with the "sleepy
sickness" this summer. The bird droops around, sleeping and drinking
— that is all. Giving them no other drink than strong copperas water
effected a cure.

If your fowls have been housed so poorly as to have sore, watery
eyes, wash the eyes with a weak solution of sulphate of zinc, with alum
water, oT with a solution of alum and camphor. Put sulphur in the food
and furnish clean, dry quarters.

Apoplexy, Paralysis, Staggers.

As fowls are subject to apoplexy, paralysis, staggers and kindred
diseases, all similar in symptoms and treatment, it may not be neces-
sary to be able to exactly discriminate between them. They are affec-
tions of the nervous system due to an excessive flow of blood to the
brain. If unconsciousness ensues after dizziness, staggering, whirling
in a circle and like maneuvers, it is probably apoplexy, and as soon as
the blood leaves the head the bird will be all right. If, however, a
blood vessel is burst the disease is paralysis and death is likely to result
though there may be only the loss of the use of the limb.

In any of these cases turn a stream of cold water on the head until
the blood is driven away, and afterward feed lightly. Give aconite if
the skin is dry and hot; belladona for heat and convulsive movements
of the head. Nux vomica at the flrst indications of the disease will
probably prevent it. Give opium in apoplexy. For some days after
recovery begins, give five grains cf bromide of potassium twice a day.

Gapes.

Gapes sound as alarming to the fancier as does croup to a mother;
and we more often find treatment prescribed for this disease, in the poul-
try publications, than for any other. Of course everyone has seen pic-
tures of the gapeworm and it may be that quite a number have seen the
original of the picture. At best they are not pretty things and they are
alarmingly prolific. There are a number of theories rife as to how the
eggs are carried, one being that lice carry them, another that the gape-
worm is one of the forms assumed by the louse. Constant gaping is the
symptom, but is attended by difficult breathing, coughing, wheezing,
attempts to swallow, droopy appearance. Of course there is gaping
without gapes, as we have already said, but it does not take a long time
for an over critical observer to determine the real disease.

For treatment for gapes we have found small pills of camphor gum
excellent. Some prefer to put clear carbolic acid into an iron spoon and
hold it over a burning lamp until dense white fumes envelop the bird's
head. Vapor from burning creosote or turpentine, or the fumes from
sulRhur will do nearly or quite as well if properly applied.

68 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

There are still others who adhere to the practice of swabbing the
throat with a feather wet in kerosene, turpentine, strong salt water, or
a weak decoction of tobacco. Our book says:, "Powdered alum or sul-
phur, blown down the windpipe, will often kill the worms" (and patient,
too, if administered too freely or too often). Some resort to crushed
corn, soaked in kerosene oil or alum water, but we could never get our
fowls to eat enough of such diet to work wonders.

Here again the ounce of prevention is much handier and cheaper
than the pound of cure. If the drinking water is suspected, boil it. If
a fowl is attacked with the gapes remove it at once from the rest and
burn all food, perches, anything and everything that it has come in
•contact with. Where this cannot be done, soak everything in kerosene
oil or carbolic acid. Perfect cleanliness and a change of food may work
wonders in an infected flock.

Worms.

Worms in the stomach and indigestion are much alike in symptoms,
but otherwise very unlike.

A well-known breeder and authority thus describes a hen he bought
in a high-priced trio: "I saw at a glance that there was something
wrong. She was emaciated; had the appearance of chronic diarrhea,
and ate ravenously. I watched the spot where the bird roosted amd
found indications of mucus and slime, which, to my mind, pointed to
worms. I shut her up forty-eight hours, without food, and then gave
her two-thirds of a teaspoonful areca nut powder. The next morning
about twenty long, white worms lay coiled together where she had
dropped them. I then gave one-half teaspoonful castor oil and she got
well."

Personally, we use santonine.

Diarrhea, Dysentery.

Diarrhea and dysentery may result from tainted food, impure water,
extreme heat, filthy quarters, inflamed intestines, etc. In dysentery the
droppings are frothy and mingled with blood. The bird fails rapidly.
In common diarrhea the droppings ore of various colors and befoul the
feathers. In old female birds there is sometimes a continual white dis-
charge, which indicates a low state of the system and something wrong
in the shell making function.

There are a number of remedies for these troubles, one perhaps as
good as another. In early stages, finely powdered chalk on boiled rice
will do. For the trouble mentioned with the old fowls the powdered
chalk and rice is a good remedj% as is also lime water.

In all these cases a pill, to be taken twice a day and made as fol-
lows, is highly recommended: Five grains powdered chalk, five of
rhubarb and three of cayenne pepper, adding one-half a grain of opium
in severe cases. Camphorated spirits is another efficacious remedy-
three to six grains, on barley meal, to each fowl, or fifteen drops or so in
a pint of drinking water. A little alum or tincture of iron in the drink-
ing water is also beneficial.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 69

In an assured case of dysentery, the odds are against the bird, but if
it is worth saving put it on a diet of milk gruel and give a dose of castor
oil, to be followed by four or five drops of laudanum every three hours.
Keep the patient in a dry, moderately warm place. If diarrhea becomes
chronic try frequent small doses of sweet oil. Bone dust is a preventive
of this disorder, and it is well to use it for some days after a case is pro-
nounced cured. In all these difficulties one must keep the eye open for
cholera.

Cholera.

Speaking of cholera, have any of our fanciers tried vaccination?

W. H. Griffith, of Zanesville, Ohio, writes: "Vaccinate a hen and
in eight days her system will be thoroughly inoculated; then cut off
her head and catch all her blood in a vessel; then pour it on some paper
to dry. A half drop of this dried blood is sufficient to vaccinate a fowl.
Catch the bird, scratch or cut a place on the thigh so as to nearly start
the blood and upon this place the bit of paper on which the virus has
dried and let the fowl run. You need not fear of its ever having cholera.
During the last two years I have vaccinated the poultry in nineteen
yards where cholera was prevailing badly. All died that were not oper-
ated on. Out of two thousand vaccinated only eleven died.''

The above is interesting to say the least. The virus, we believe,
may be obtained at many of our University Experiment Stations.

Another writer tells of his success in curing cholera with table salt;
also Epsom salts.

Constipation.

In constipation among fowls add ten drops of sulphate of magnesia
to each pint of drinking water.

If yoa have homeopathic remedies give nux vomica, aconite and
bryonia in the sized doses mentioned for such remedies in a former
article.

Consumption.

If a cold or catarrh runs into consumption, dispatch the bird at once.
There is no cure.

Rheumatism.

Rheumatism sometimes results from damp quarters or running in
the wet grass. If it affects the legs, bathe them with very warm mus-
tard water, wipe dry and anoint with witch-hazel ointment, lard or
sweet oil.

Leg Weakness.

For leg weakness give rest, nourishment and tonic. Raw fresh egg
and a little cooked meat are strengthening. Give iron in the drinking
water.

The chief chief spmptom of leg-weakness is the fashion of contin-
ually squatting on the hocks. Wheat, barley and other articles that do
not tend to make fat may be fed. If the weather is warm bathe the legs
two or three times a day in cold water. Lime water may be helpful.
As a remedy give a pill three times a day, made as follows: Five grains

70 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

phosphate of lime, one-sixteenth of a grain of strychnine and one-half
grain of sulphate of quinine.

Molting.

During the molting season too much care cannot be given the fowls,
as it is of the utmost importance that they (especially the laying hens)
get through quickly and without deterioration. Keep iron, at least
rusty nails, in the drinking water; feed lean meat and add a teaspoonful
of Douglas Mixture to each pint of drinking water. Give soft, warm
food in the morning and grain at night.

Calcarea carbonica is also a valuable remedy.

Broken Bones.

In case of broken bones, unless the bird is very valuable, the sooner
its misery is ended the better. However, should you have occasion to
set a broken leg, bring the ends together until they fit neatly to the
touch and cover the part with thick paper previously soaked in white
of egg or mucilage. Bind on bits of pasteboard, being careful that all
the dressing fits the leg neatly. Keep the bird by itself and try to pre-
vent its moving or using the limb. If fever ensues, give aconite inter-
nally and shower the leg with cold water.

Injuries; Torn Side.
We had two valuable hens badly torn and lacerated on the sid'^
under the wing; one it seemed a sin to let live an hour. She appeared
to feel well, however, and as we had just paid a large price for them, we
thought best to try to save them. First we washed the wounds out
carefully with warm water and castile soap, dusted in iodoform and
bound new unbleached muslin about their bodies. They improved
slowly until one day one of the hens simply horrified us by slipping her
bandage and giving herself a thorough dusting. But lo, from that hour
her recovery savored of the miraculous! Blessed Mother Nature!

VELMA C. MELVILLE.

TAPEWORM.

There was brought to the Reliable Poultry Journal office in Febru-
ary, 1897, a bottle of alcohol containing a tapeworm three feet long,
which came away from a Golden Wyandotte hen. The worm was com-
plete, head and all. The hen in question ate heartily, but lost flesh and
gradually weakened. The owner could not discover what was the matter
with her. She had no cold, ate well, but became distressingly poor and
weak. Finally he thought of worms. ■ Acting on this theory, he kept
her without food for thirty-six hours, then gave her a full feed of stewed
garlic, cut in short lengths. She ate heartily of this and the next day
the owner had the three-foot tapeworm in alcohol. The hen began to
mend immediately, regained her normal flesh, and was soon as well as
ever.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 71

COLDS.

Fowls easily catch cold, especially when roosting in a draft. The
eyes water the nostrils give ofl. a thin liquid and the face becomes red
and more or less swollen. Simple, so-called roup remedies will correct
this. A common practice is to clean out the nostrils with a piece of
soft cloth and inject into each nostril, also into the cleft in the roof of
the mouth, a couple of drops of a half and half mixture of sweet oil and
kerosene, to which has been added a little carbolic acid, five to ten drops
to a gill of the oils, or a little turpentine. Also rub some of the mixture
on comb and face. Keep the birds up for three or four days, or longer,
if necessary, protecting them from all drafts and feeding soft food spar-
ingly. Do not feed much of anything.

Smoking Resin for Colds.
A subscriber to the Reliable Poultry Journal relates the following
experience with chickens which she found with swelled heads, some
being totally blind: "We prepared a hospital and smoked them with
resin, putting a piece of resin the size of a walnut on some live coals in
a vessel in the hospital. In bad cases we put them in a separate box
and anointed the head and eyes with lard and kerosene oil, with a drop
or two of carbolic acid in the mixture, and in a day or two they were all
right."

Vaseline for Colds.

Another correspondent says he has cured even the most severe
cases of cold with vaseline alone in from one to four days. He anoints
the head and in bad cases puts a little in the mouth. Since he discov-
ered the above remedy, he says he has never lost a bird from colds or
roup.

How to Avoid Colds in Fowls.

Ordinary colds are not due to bad food or filth, and are not contag-
ious, but they can usually be traced to one cause — some vault in the
roosting quarters. Chickens should not roost in boxes in summer time,
nor should more than ten or fifteen roost together on the fioor. It is in
roosting on the ground that the greatest harm is done. Twenty or
thirty chickens may roost on perches and not get overheated from
crowding, but if the same number roost on the fioor, or even out in the
open air on the ground, no matter how warm the weather, they will
bunch up together and those in the middle get overheated and take cold.
Chicks that roost on perches in the open air have the least trouble with
colds.- For summer roosts we make a scaffold five or six feet high and
cover it with brush and weeds, which will keep off the heavy rains, and
also the sun. Under this, two feet from the ground, place the perches.
As soon as the chicks are well feathered out remove the coop and place
the arbor with perches in its stead.

COLDS AND INDIGESTION.

"Where a cold is accompanied by a looseness of the bowels, pills
made as follows are' recommended by the North Carolina Experiment

72 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

Station and have proved effective on Reliable Poultry Farm: One table-
spoonful of lard, two tablespoonfuls of mustard, ginger and cayenne pep-
per. "Work together thoroughly and stiffen with flour; make into pills-
about the size of the first joint of the little finger. Give one pill twice
or three times a day, according to the severity of the case. In mild
cases give one pill each day, evening preferred.

AIR PUFF, OR EMPHYSEMA.

There is a disease from which chickens suffer called emphysema,
"air in the tissues." It reaches the blood through the lungs. When the-
lung trouble is remedied, which nature alone can do, the emphysema
stops, and if not too excessive, the air will gradually disappear from the
tissues by absorption; but if it is very abundant, it may result in death.

Some relief may be rendered by pricking the skin and allowing the
air near the surface of the body to escape. Indeed, this may save
life in some cases that would die if left to nature, but it will not save
life in all cases. The lung trouble upon which the emphysema depends
is one of a transmatic character — a wound of the lungs, or an abrasion
of lung tissue, resulting from violence of some kind. Chicks that get
trampled on by their mothers, or cockerels that fight, are more liable to-
suffer from injuries that result in emphysema — they become inflated
with air.

LEG WEAKNESS.

Leg weakness is generally due to the body increasing in weight out
of proportion to the strengtli of the legs. This is the usual cause, but
any disease that weakens the chick may cause it. The disease usually
be beneficial, must be resorted to on the appearance of the first simp-
toms are a trembling in the legs and a disposition to rest on the hocks.
If the bird is vigorous it will outgrow the trouble, but any treatment, to
be beneficial, must be resorted to on the appearance of the first simp-
toms. For food, give bran, wheat and oatmeal; instead of water, give
skim milk. Cook the oatmeal, and when cool, add thirty drops of
diluted phosphoric acid for each bird affected, and give twice daily. Be
careful to not confound leg weakness with rheumatism. In the latter
disease there is always swelling of the joints. If ducks are attacked
by leg weakness, feed them more bulky food, bran, shipstuff, etc. Give
them chopped vegetables. Stop giving them corn until they are strongs
again. Then feed in moderation.

LIMBER NECK.

Chicks are sometimes affected in this manner, caused, perhaps, by
unusually hot days and nights. A remedy that has been successfully
used is this: Hypo-sulphite of soda; dissolve one teaspoonful in half a
cup of water, and give a teaspoonful of the mixture to each affected fowl
every two or three hours. A teaspoonful of the hypo-sulphite in a quart
of drinking water is also a good remedy.

The following is said to never fail: Give the affected bird a piece
of assafoetida about the size of a green pea. Use the gum form. Repeat
the dose the second day, and the trouble gradually disappears.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 73

FEATHER EATING.

This mischievous hahit is the result of confining fowls too closely
and allowing them to be idle. One preventive is to keep the fowls busy
as much of the time as possible scratching for their daily bread. A
strip of salt pork hung up in the hen house is a preventive and will
sometimes check the trouble. Another effective remedy is to^ bathe the
feathers that are being plucked out with a half and half mixture of
whisky and aloes. Aloes can be obtained in small quantities at any
drug store. As soon as the fowls are given liberty they will get over
this habit.

MOLTING HENS.

During the molting period when the fowls are undergoing a severe
strain, it is well to feed good green bone in liberal amount, also, to mix
linseed meal with the soft food. The process of putting on a full new
coat of feathers is a drain on the system which good green bone and the
linseed meal will largely counteract. Or give them a generous supply
of bone meal, charcoal, meat and vegetables. Tincture of iron in the
drinking water, and a few pinches of red pepper occasionally, make a
tonic for them.

KEROSENE EMULSION FOR LICE.

There is no question of the value of kerosene emulsion, or its safety
when properly made and used, and its cheapness makes possible its free
use up to saturation of all cracks and crevices. It should be made of
strong whale oil soap; one-half pound; kerosene, two gallons. Shave the
soap into thin slices and dissolve in boiling water. When fully dis-
solved and boiling hot, add the kerosene, away from the fire, and vio-
lently churn the solution into a thick cream. Churn and agitate vio-
lently for twenty minutes. If the oil and water separate on standing,
then the soap was not caustic enough. Add to this ten gallons of water
and spray the whole outfit to saturation. This solution can be made by
the barrelful and if well emulsified will keep indefinitely, to be diluted
when needed.

DOUGLAS MIXTURE.

"Douglas Mixture" is made thus: Take of sulphate of iron (com-
mon copperas) eight ounces; sulphuric acid, one-half fiuid ounce. Put
into a bottle or jug, one gallon of water, into this put the sulphate of
iron. As soon as the iron is dissolved add the acid, and when it Is clear,
the "mixture" is ready for use. In hot weather or when the flock is
small, less may be prepared at once, but the above proportion should
be observed. This "mixture" or tonic should be given in the drinking
water every other day — a gill for every twenty-five head is not too much
and where there is infection it must be used every day, but where there
is no disease, not so often, or in smaller quantities if it be used every
day. This preparation, simple as it is, is one of the best tonics for poul-
try known. It is alterative as well as tonic, and possesses, besides, anti-
septic properties which make it a remedy as well as a tonic.

74 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

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RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 75

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ing of turkeys, either in small or large numbers. It will contain a beau-
tiful color-plate frontispiece showing a pair of Mammoth Bronze Tur-
keys, male and female, reproduced from an oil painting, made from
life, by Franklane L. Sewell. It will also contain numerous other illus-
trations, some of them made expressly for this work. Among the con-
tributors will be found the 'best-known and most successful turkey rais-

76 RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES.

ers in this country, the leading article being contributed by Mr. J. P.
Crangle, for many years manager of Fisher's Island Poultry Farm,
where turkeys are raised in large numbers. Persons who are raising,
turkeys, or who purpose doing so, will find this book of great help and
value to them. Price, 50c.

EGGS AND EGG FARMS.

No more practical or interesting poultry book has been published
than this one. It is a money-maker from cover to cover. Every poultry
keeper is interested in getting more eggs, no matter whether he keeps a
few hens or a great number. We doubt if there is a more profitable
branch of the poultry business than egg farming. This book is con-
tributed to by the best authorities in the country. The question of an
increased egg yield is fully covered in a reliable manner, and what is.
being done, and what can be done, on so-called egg farms, that is, on
poultry plants devoted almost exclusively to egg production, is treated
exhaustively. The different foods and food rations are compared, and
numerous experiments made by capable, painstaking men are reported.
This book also contains the latest plans for building laying houses, both
large and small. It consists of 80 pages, 9x12 inches, and is fully illus-
trated. Price, 50c.

PLYMOUTH ROCKS— Barred, White and Buff.

This book was issued from the press April, 1899. It consists of 80
pages, 9x12 in size, and a handsome cover. It contains an elegant col-
ored plate of a pair of Barred Plymouth Rocks, shown in their natural
colors, reproduced from an oil painting made by the world's greatest
poultry artist, Franklane L. Sewell. Among the contributoi's of original
and copyrighted articles treating on the Barred Rocks are the follow-
ing: A. C. Hawkins, E. B. Thompson, Bradley Bros., William Ellery
Bright, C. H. Latham, P. W. Richardson, Theo. Hewes, F. W. Hitch-
cock, W. S. Russell, C. A. Emry, S. S. Noble, and many others. Every
line in the book is written by a well known breeder. Price, 50c.

WYANDOTTES— Silver, Golden, White and Buff.

This book was issued December 1, 1899, and is the handsomest and
most complete book ever published on this popular American breed. It
consists of 64 large pages, 9x12 inches, with a beautiful color-plate
frontispiece showing a pair of prize-winning White Wyandottes; also
original Hewes charts, showing proper lacing of the Silver and Golden
Wyandottes in every section; also full-page illustrations of Silver,
Golden and Buff Wyandottes, represented in pairs, drawn expressly for
this book by the great poultry artist, Franklane L. Sewell. The num-
erous contributors to this book include America's foremost breeders of
the different varieties of Wyandottes. Price, 50c.

RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES. 77

THE LEGHORNS— All Varieties.

This is a breed book, consisting of 64 pages, 9x12 inches, and is in
line with the books on the Barred Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes
described herewith. It is the first book issued that is devoted exclus-
ively to the Leghorns. It contains original, copyrighted Hewes charts,
showing standard Leghorn shape, also correct striping for Brown Leg-
horns, both Single and Rose Comb. Its full-page charts were executed
by Franklane L. Sewell, under directions of Theodore Hewes,
judge and breeder. The book contains full-page illustrations of the
different varieties of Leghorns, and is contributed to by over thirty of
the country's foremost Leghorn breeders. Every line in the book is
new and original. In this book, the same as in the books on Plymouth
Rocks and Wyandottes, Mr. Hewes gives detailed instructions for scor-
ing, including discounts for defects, etc. Price, 50c.

POULTRY HOUSES AND FIXTURES.

This book consists of 32 pages, 9x12 inches in size, and con-
tains the latest designs of practical poultry buildings for the city lot,
the .village acre or the farm; also several complete and convenient
houses for the fancier and complete plans for extensive poultry farms.
It also contains illustrations and descriptions of a large number of time-
saving, labor-saving poultry devices, including handy perches, safety
nest boxes, etc., etc. Price, 25c.

THE BANTAM FOWL.

This book is the first complete and fully illustrated Bantam Book
ever published in this country. The editor, T. F. McGrew, judge and
breeder, of New York City, has spent many months of time collecting and
writing the matter for it, and over sixty original copyrighted illustra-
tions have been made expressly for this book. Any person who is inter-
ested in Bantams, either as pets or for profit, will want a copy of "The
^Bantam Fowl." Price, 50c

CONTENTS.

Air Foul and Filthy Quarters 9

Air Puff, or Empiliyisemia 72

Ailments ; Sprling 31

Apoplexy 55, 67

Atrophy 34

Balancing Grain and Vegetable;;-! 13

Black-Rot 52

Bones; Broken 70

Bowel Trouble 63

Break-down £0

Broken Bones '. 70

Broken Shanks 26

Bronchitis '. ; 42

Brood; Too Many C'hicks in a 9

Brooder Chicks ; Tuberculosis iu 32

Bumble Foot 25

Bumble Foot ; High Roosts Cause 11

Canker 16, 65

Catarrh 17

Chicken-Pox 54

Chicks in a Brood ; Too Many 9

Chicks ; Tuberculosis in Brood'er 32

Cholera 38, 62, 69

Cold and Heat 8

Colds 62, 71

Colds in Fowls; How to Avoiid 71

Oomibs; The 50, 53

Comb; White 51

Condiments in Excess Are Harmful 12

Constipation .34, 62, 63, 69

Consumption 46, 69

Cramps 26

Crop-bound 28

Crop; Enlarged 29

Crop ; Infla ramation of the 29

Crowding; Overheating from •. 9

Diarrhea 18, 68

Diet ; Exclusively Grain 14

Diptherli'a 15

Disease Breeder ; Impure Water a 7

Douglas Mixture 73

Drafts and Imperfect Venitilatiou 9

Droppings-iboards 11

CONTENTS. 79

Dropsy 4i

Dropsy of Feet 24

Dysentery 41, 68

Eating Feathers 73

Eczema 54

Egg-bound 35

Egg-Passage ; Inflammation of 36

Eggs; Soft-Shelled 37

Emphysema or Air Puff 72

Emulsion for Lice ; Kerosene 73

Enlarged Crop 29

Exercise; Right Amount of 10

Exposure in Shipping 13

Exposure ; Protection from 10

Eyes Watery 66

Feather-Eating 73

Feeding; Care Required in 10

Feet; Dropsy of 24

Filthy or Wet Quarters 7, 9

Fish Skin Disease 24

Food; Too Little and Too Much 15

Foot ; Bumble 25

Foul Air and Filthy Quarters 9

Frost Bite , 53

Fungoid 51

Gapes 57, 67

Gastritis 30

Grain and Vegetables; Balancing 13

Grain Diet Exclusively 14

Grit; Necessity of 7

Heat and Odd 8

Hepiatitas or Inflamm.ation 50

Impure Water a Disease Breeder 7

Inbreeding and Its Limits .■ 5

Indigestion 30, 60, 62, 71

Inflammation or Hepatitas 50

Inflammation of Egg Passage 36

Inflammation of tihe Crop 29

Injuries 53, 70

Kerosene Emulsion for Lice 73

Legs; Scaly 23

Leg Weakness 25, 69, 72

Lice 11, 66, 73

Limber Neck 72

Liver ; The 33, 49

Lungs; The ...42

Mites 66, 73

80 CONTENTS.

Molting 70, 73

Neck; Limber 72

Overheating from Crowding 9

Paralj^sis 67

Peritoniitis 35

Pip 22, 63

Pneumonia 44

Poison; Safeguards Against 13

Pox; Cliicken 54

Quiarters ; Filthy or Wet 7, 9

Resin for Colds ; Smoking 71

Rheumatism 27, 69

Rot; Black 52

Roundiworm ; The 56

Roup 19, 21, 65

Scaly Legs 23

Shade from Sun; Lack of i 10

Shanks; Broken 26

Skin Diseiase 24

Sleepiness 66

Soft-Shelled Eggs 37

Spring Ailments 31

Staggers 67

Sunshine 12

Sun ; Lack of Shade from 10

Symptoms 61

Tapeworm 57, 70

Torn Side 70

Tuberculosis 47

Tuberculosis in Brooder CMcks 32

Vaseline for Colds 71

Vegetables ; Balancing Grain and 13

Ventilation ; Drafts and Imperfect 9

Water a Disease Breeder; Impure 7

Watery Eyes 66

Weakness; Leg 25, 69, 72

Wet Quarters; Filthy or 7

White Comb 51

Worms 56, 57, 68, 70

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