Class Book. ^:^-i i — J- CopyiightN^. COPYRIGHT DEPOSnv / PABM-POULTRY SERIES No. 10. COMMON-5LN5L ^ POULTRY DOCTOR. BY JOHN H. ROBINSON, Editor of Farm-Poultry, Author of " Poultry-Craft,' First Lessons in Poultry Keeping, etc., etc. PRICE 50 CLNT5 Published by FARM-POULTRY PUBLISHING CO. Boston, Mass. 1907 ^r^^ t; rLi3KA3Y of COPeSRESS Iwu Cooie? Racelved NOV 2 !^0f CnTjynaJit Entry ■2-7 /^«7 CLA£r. 4 X;^C„ No. 60PY B. Copyrighted by FARM-POULTRY PUBLISHING CO., 1907. ^ ^ CONTENTS. Introductory and Personal - - - - S CHAPTER I. To Doctor or Not to Doctor — When to Doctor, and What to Doctor _ - _ - _ 8 CHAPTER n. Indications of Health and General Symptoms of Disease --..---13 CHAPTER in. General Rules for the Prevention of Diseases - 17 CHAPTER IV. The Symptoms of Disease - - - - - 2i CHAPTER V. A Few General Remarks on the Diseases of Poultry and Their Treatment - - - - 36 CHAPTER VI. Colds and Diseases that Begin With Colds - - 41 iv CONTLNTS. CHAPTER VII. Diseases Due to Improper Foods and Feeding - - 6i CHAPTER VIII. Some Peculiarly Subtle and Dangerous Diseases - 88 CHAPTER IX. Diseases of the Reproductive Organs - - - 104,, CHAPTER X. Diseases of the Skin - - - - - 114 CHAPTER XI. Miscellaneous Ailments ----- 125 CHAPTER XII. Accidents and Injuries ----- 136 CHAPTER XIII. Internal Parasites of Poultry - - - - 14^ CHAPTER XIV. Insects Injurious to Poultry . - - - 153 CHAPTER XV. The Vicious Habits of Fowls - - . . 162 CHAPTER XVI. Molting -------- 169 Appendix - - - - - - -173 Index -------- 174 THH COMMON-SENSE POULTRY DOCTOR. Introductory and Personal, OF BOOKS and booklets on poultry diseases there are in the English language possibly a score — not including pam- phlets or circulars distributed to advertise remedies. Besides, nearly every general work on poultry contains a chapter on poultry diseases. Of works on poultry diseases a goodly proportion are by men who may be considered specialists, professionals. They are doctors of veterinary surgery, or regular medical practitioners whose inter- est in poultry naturally led them into the investigation of poultry diseases. Why, then, another book on poultry diseases, and by an author without medical education and training.? The conditions of poultry doctoring are peculiar. The ordinary individual fowl is of such small value that a single examination or treatment by a medical practitioner would cost more than the fowl was worth. For this reason professional medical attendance on sick fowls is almost unknown. Occasionally, in case of an epidemic which completely baffles him, a poultryman calls in one o THE COMMON-5E.N5L POULTRY DOCTOR. of the few qualified practitioners who respond to such calls when their regular duties permit. In some of the states the services of experts connected with the State Experiment Stations or Agricul- tural Colleges may be secured in such emergencies. As a rule, however, every poultryman has to be his own poultry doctor, and treat his fowls according to his judgment, aided sometimes by such light as he can get from books or from other poultrymen. As a rule, the poultryman with no authority to consult, or in doubt after learning what he could from accessible sources of infor- mation, goes to the editor of a poultry paper for further advice, and, as a rule, the editor, if he can help the inquirer, is able to help him because of a little more experience with sick fowls, familiarity with the literature of the subject, and constant practice in deciphering from amateur descriptions the symptoms which enable him to identify the disease at least accurately enough to direct his correspondent where to look for information that will help him to a better knowledge of the case and its causes and the methods of treating it. So it came about that engaging in editorial work on a poultry paper I had to renew the study of poultry diseases which, as a practical poultryman, I had discontinued years before, and con- sidering them always from the non-professional point of view, from the standpoint of the practical poultryman, I appreciated, as a professional medical man probably would not, the difficulties encountered by the layman using some of the best works on poultry diseases. The work on diseases which I have myself found by far the most valuable for reference became satisfactory only after con- stant use had made me familiar with its contents. Even this work, though far more exhaustive than any other, is not complete. It contains nothing or scant information on a number of matters that are frequently the subject of inquiry, and it treats some diseases in such a way that not many using the book would discover the con- nection between a case of the disease and the treatment of it here. The smaller books are quite generally not explicit enough. In nearly all works on diseases of poultry a knowledge of the name, or at least the general character of a disease, is the first requisite in a search for information about it. This is precisely the knowl- edge that most of those consulting a book on poultry diseases go INTRODUCTORY AND PLR50NAL. 7 to it for, and the books are therefore deficient in the very feature which would make them most helpful to poultrymen using them most — that is, to beginners. In this book I have tried to develop a method of diagnosis espe- cially suited to those not familiar with the various poultry diseases. It is not the professional method, and I do not suppose that it would be of much use to a professional, but I trust the novice in the treatment of sick fowls will find it practical and helpful. It is approximately the method evolved by the peculiar conditions under which I have to advise about sick fowls, and though it has its defects and its limitations, I think that most of those not able to recognize and name diseases by their visible symptoms will find it more satisfactory than anything yet offered them. This method of diagnosis, the more complete list of diseases treated, the strictly popular style of the work, and the attention given many minor details which the professional writers have too often assumed everyone knew, are the special features which seem to me to furnish the reasons for another book on poultry diseases. Its object is to supply a connection which seems to be too often missing between those who need and those who have knowledge of the subject; and it is on such a basis that a non-professional may, with propriety, venture to treat the subject of poultry diseases. For the matter of the book I have drawn freely on the standard writers on the subject, and, in general, have followed them in statements of symptoms, treatment, etc., but occasionally have supplied a fact from personal knowledge, and I presume that com- parison would show here and there a variation from advices of such authorities as to the advisability of treating, though, on the whole, those authorities agree with the body of experienced poultry keepers in regard to the general unprofitableness of doctoring. JOHN H. ROBINSON, CHAPTER To Doctor or Not to Doctor — When to Doctor ami What to Doctor. DISEASE in the poultry yard may be considered and treated on a very different basis from disease among human beings, or even among the larger domestic animals. In a general way the common diseases are the same, or similar in causes, symptoins, and treatment, though often differing in name; but in the case of a sick or injured animal, the owner may consider whether it will pay to restore the animal to health or sound condition, while, in the case of a human being, moral obligations and the natural affections impel these directly interested in the welfare of the patient to exhaust every means to preserve life, though prolonged life may mean misery to the sufferer, and care and expense to his family or friends. In the case of a sick or injured fowl the owner may consider the profit and loss aspects of the situation, but with this difference between the fowls and larger domestic animals : The value of the fowl is generally so small that the proportion of cases it does not pay to treat is very much increased, and it is only in -exceptional instances that it pays to doctor sick fowls. Some poultrymen take the extreme ground that it pays best never to doctor sick fowls at all, but to kill them at once, and so dispose of their carcasses that the health of the flock cannot be further menaced by the disease which affected them. This position is too radical. I doubt whether anyone ever adhered to it strictly, except for a very short time. Those who claimed to do so, I have generally found killed only very sick fowls, vthough from their statements it would be inferred that tiiey kept no THE ECONOMIC RULE OF ACTION. 9 fowls not perfectly healthy. In practice they are less radical than in theory, and their practice agrees with that of most experienced and successful poultry keepers. The general rule is : — Give treatment tvhen it can be applied to a JJock con- veniently and ivith reasonable expectation of beneficial results, and treat individuals, if necessary, -when treatment is simple, easy, and needs to be administered but very feiv times. This we may term the economic rule for treatment of sick fowls, the rule to apply when the first question to consider is the financial aspect of doctoring in any particular case. If one wishes to treat sick fowls for the purpose of observing the course of a disease, its symptoms, effects of methods of treat- ment, etc., that is another matter, and one — it should be said — with which the poultryman who has to make his living from poul- try, and finds his time pretty well occupied in making it, should have as little as possible to do. The practical investigation of dis- eases of poultry by poultrymen ends when it has gone as far as necessary to show how the disease in question can best be avoided; and in the treatment of diseases that are brought to or develop in his yards a poultry keeper can generally get experience in that line as fast as he needs it, even if he limits his efforts to the treatment of cases he regards as well worth trying to save. In deciding that point, the novice is apt to err against his own immediate interests, just as he does in deciding what fowls it is worth while to keep to sell for breeding purposes. In his early experiences in poultry keeping he reserves for sale many fowls of a grade and value he soon learns it does not pay to hold, and in the same period he regards as worth an effort to save many fowls which a few years later he will unhesitatingly kill rather than be bothered treating and risk the danger of spreading disease in his flock. In the case of sick fowls, however, there is a compensating feature. Though he doctors many fowls it does not pay to treat, he is learn- ing much that is of practical use to him. He gets a practical training in the general management of fowls, learns the premoni- tory symptoms of the common diseases, gains a better appreciation of the reasons for various preventive measures about which many 10 THL COMMON-5LN5E POULTRY DOCTOR. are too careless, and gets a better understanding of the limits of safety in the matters in which extraordinary risks are sometimes warranted. On the w-hole, it may be said that the experience in treating sick fowls which the great majority of beginners acquire because they either are not convinced of the wisdom of the rule given above, or are much more lax in applying it than older poultrymen, teaches them many things better and quicker than they would learn them any other way; and looking at the matter in this light, we cannot say that their doctoring is unprofitable — provided they limit it to cases they judge promising. In virulent diseases and difficult cases that would require skillful treatment and careful nursing, it is always better to kill the fowls that are seriously affected, and devote one's whole attention to preventive treatment for the rest of the flock. A great many diseases are quite readily cured by very simple remedies, or even by the mere removal of the cause, and by appro- priate diet when taken in their early stages, but very stubborn if neglected until they are well advanced and the recuperative powers of the fowl correspondingly weakened. Too often poultry keepers neglect treatment until the condition of the fowl becomes serious, though they have known from the first that the fowls needed some attention. If one is going to treat sick fowls at all, he should make it a rule to isolate sick birds as soon as noticed, and put them where he is sure general conditions are good and favorable. Very often fowls are kept where conditions are not satisfactory, but as long as no disease develops among them, may be tolerated. While a well fowl may stand such conditions, they aggravate disease, and often make the treatment adopted partly or v.'holly ineffective. The first step, then, should be to place the sick fowls where all sanitary conditions are good, and where the faults of the permanent quarters are offset by especially good conditions in the same line. Thus, if the permanent quarters are not well exposed to the sun, see that sick fowls taken from them are given a bright sunny place. If the permanent quarters are damp, be sure that the sick fowls removed from them are put in a dry place. If \.he fowls are kept in small bare yards, put the sick fowls where they have grass run if GOOD NUR5ING M05T IMPORTANT. 11 possible. I might go on and give quite a long list of suggestions in this line. These serve to illustrate the point, and by observing this point the owner of a sick fowl will often make the best possi- ble beginning of treatment, even before he identifies the disease and is able to give the full specific treatment laid down in the books. As a matter of fact, good hygienic conditions and good nursing count for much more in the treatment of curable diseases than medicines. Without them medical treatment rarely effects a cure ; with them many cures are made without medicine, or with med- icines of no particular value in the case. It is quite common for poultrymen to mistake the character of a disease, give remedies according to their mistaken diagnosis, and because the fowl recovers, assume that the diagnosis was correct, and the treat- ment appropriate and effective, when the truth is that the fowl either would have recovered without treatment, or is restored to health by good nursing. A great many diseases can only be identified by post mortem examination of fowls that die, or are killed for that purpose. A considerable proportion of these diseases will be positively identi- fied only by expert examination, while cases that bafile the experts are by no means rare, for many cases are of irregular types, and a great deal remains to be done in the investigation of the dis- eases of poultry. These obscure cases the novice of course cannot give specific treatment, and unless one is quite sure he knows the general character of the disease, and the general line of treatment that should be followed, it is probably best to attempt no treatment whatever, merely putting the sick fowls in a comfortable place, supplying them with clean water and a light diet — if they will eat — and await developments. Otherwise the treatment given may aggravate the disease. "Reading up" on diseases, in anticipation of possible cases or outbreaks in the flock is well as far as it goes. It makes one some- what familiar with the nomenclature of the subject and with the most easily recognized symptoms. It is a good introduction to actual study and practice, but, with a case of sickness on hand, one never ougnt to rely on his recollection of what he has read in this way, but should compare the symptoms in the case with those 12 THL COMMON-SLN5E POULTRY DOCTOR. given for the disease he thinks he has recognized. A great many undertake to doctor sick fowls on a diagnosis which considered but one or a few conspicuous symptoms, and go wrong, when, if they had consulted their authorities, they would have know^n they were wrong, even if they failed to discover what they needed to know to set them right. Isolated or rare instances of disease or death which cannot be explained need give no particular uneasiness. Many of these are due to accidental causes, or to conditions peculiar to the fowls affected and not general in the flock, and investigation in the flock would lead to nothing, while investigation of the individual case, when possible, would reveal nothing pertinent to the rest of the flock. In general, therefore, it is as well to give those cases no furthei thought. But if such a case is shortly followed by another similar case the poultryman should begin to watch his fowls very closely, and to look the premises over to see if anything is wrong. Then if cases continue to come, and he is still at sea about them, he should try to get advice. CHAPTER II Indications of Health and General Symptoms of Disease. DR. SALMON has aptly referred to a definition of disease as "a life, the manifestations of which deviate more or less from the normal." Then to detect disease we must observe a devia- tion from the normal. To observe such deviation we must know what is normal. The normal condition in one's own flock may not be the general, healthy normal. Very frequently it is not. There are many flocks that, because of unsanitary conditions or poor feed- ing, usually show such general symptoms which are common to nearly all diseases, as dullness, roughness of plumage, etc., not per- haps in as marked degree as in a sick fowl, but still enough to make the usual appearance of the fowls so different from that of fowls in perfect health and condition, that the first symptoms of disease are less conspicuous, and may pass for a long time unnoticed. This explains why so many poultry keepers describe as having appeared suddenly, symptoms which, to more experienced eyes, would have been plain long before, but which they did not observe until they became too pronounced to be overlooked by anyone. In a flock of fowls in vigorous health and good condition, any variation from the normal is immediately conspicuous. In a flock that is a little off in condition and appearance all through, diseases may make a good deal of progress before their presence is suspected. A healthy fowl in good condition has a confident carriage. In the smaller and more energetic breeds this manifests itself generally in alertness, energetic movements, and bustling activity. In the larger fowls general movements are more deliberate and dignified. 14 THL COMMON-5LN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. but there is no lack of wide awakeness and business-like interest in life. In the medium sized breeds we get a mean between the activity of the light and the more serious attitude of the heavy breeds, but in them all the indications of soundness and good con- dition are easily recognized. The eye should be bright and clear. The skin of the face and comb and wattles should be smooth, pliable, and a clear red in color, bright red in males after the age of puberty is passed, and the same bright red in the females when laying. In chickens and in hens not laying, the comb is not so highly colored, but still should show a healthy red. In some game fowls, and in a few rare breeds, the comb is normally very dark, but in all the com- moner and popular breeds, the comb is a bright red, and — allowing for some lack of color in the combs of immature stock and hens that are not laying — any variation from a good red, (as a yellowish or purplish tinge), should be regarded with suspicion, and, having been noted, should be investigated. The feathers, except during molting, should be smooth, quite glossy when new, but becoming duller with age until when quite dead, just before the molt, they soil quickly and are not easily cleaned. The ordinary wear on the plumage begins to show slightly almost immediately after the molt, and there is a progres- sive deterioration of the feathers, slow at first, very rapid just before the molt, but healthy feathers have a life and quality that is absent from the plumage of fowls in poor condition, and poor plumage means something going wrong. The skin and scales of the shanks and feet should be smooth and clean looking. Any roughness, or a dry shriveled skin, means trouble, either local or as a feature of the general state of health. In yellow skinned fowls bad condition of feet is more noticeable than in others, but whatever the color of the feet, between those in good condition and those that fail even a little of good condition, the difference is very plain after having been once observed. When fowls are kept in dry places, especially on coal ashes or on alkali soils, the legs are apt to bleach badly when the skin under the feathers is a little affected. Under other conditions the con- dition of the skin of the feet generally indicates the condition of the skin of the body, and is a symptom not to be neglected. GENERAL LACK OF CONDITION. 15 The habits of fowls also afford indications of their physical con- dition. The normal fowl is apt to be governed somewhat by its primitive instincts and natural tendencies, even when not impelled by necessity. Fowls that eat only what they get with little effort, and then remain inactive until near the next feeding time are not right or are not managed right. In such flocks digestive disorders are likely to be general. Not all — and possibly at a certain time none — of the fowls may have digestive trouble, but they have habits that develop such troubles, and therefore should be corrected. Sometimes inactivity or reluctance to forage are due to sore feet, or a beak so injured or deformed that the fowl picks up small grains with difficulty. Hence a bird that mopes or sits around should be caught and examined to find out whether any trouble of this kind exists. General lack of condition in a flock is frequently not suspected by a poultryman who sees closely little stock but his own, or who looks at it with too partial eyes. Again and again I have seen people in all seriousness call attention to the fine condition of their fowls when lack of good condition was evident all through it. As a rule, a poultry keeper whose fowls are subject to any bad con- dition, overcrowded, lack exercise, house ill ventilated, yards foul, houses damp, etc., needs to suspect that these have some effect on his fowls, and if his fowls seem all right to him, would do well to compare them with others that are kept under better conditions, and perhaps also compare notes with others. In all matters of this kind discussion sharpens the wits, and should make the judgment more accurate. And it is of the utmost importance that judgment in such matters should be correct, for while in this book on diseases we must pass the subject, as incidental, with a brief mention, to know the signs of health, and those first variations from them which indi- cate the presence of conditions favorable to development of disease, is of far greater practical value to the working poultryman than to know all about all diseases. Within limits, and as long as health continues sound, we may, in practical poultry keeping, disregard or depart from some of the rules of safety. Our warrant for doing this is the fact that the rules may be violated much or many times without the appearance of the possible bad consequences. We take 16 THL COMMON-5E.N5L POULTRY DOCTOR. risks which are justifiable or otherwise, according to our ability to control the situation, and this, in many cases, (if not in all), depends upon being able to detect the early indications of unfavor- able developments, and take steps to counteract them before they reach a serious stage. Delicacy either in diet or susceptibility to weather changes is a condition which calls for the serious consideration of the poultry keeper who finds it in his flock. There are many flocks extremely susceptible to variations in the weather, in the conditions under which they are kept, and even unfavorably affected by slight changes of diet. The number of flocks of fowls, especially those kept in close quarters, that become dependent on the perfect work- ing of the keeper's system is surprisingly large. Though there inay be no disease in such flocks, vitality is low and constitution impaired, and the stock is often reduced by outbreaks of disease which would have had little effect on more robust fowls. Delicacy in a flock calls for a more robust method of treatment. CHAPTER III. General Rules for the Prevention of Disease. THE first and most important requisite for the prevention of disease is good physical condition based on a good constitu- tion and preserved by good housing, yarding, feeding, and care- The making of a good constitution may be said to begin with the selection of vigorous healthy breeding stock. This means not simply stock that appears to be in good condition at the breeding season, but stock that has never at any time been seriously out of condition. Over and over again in the experience of thousands of poultry keepers it has been shown that the offspring of fowls appar- ently cured of a disease are peculiarly subject to that disease-, or to some kindred disease, and that such stock seems to succumb very easily to disease. It does not always happen so, but it happens so often, and the losses thus incurred are so serious, that old poultry- men are generally agreed that a fowl that has had a serious sickness is worse than useless as a breeder. Such a fowl, if possessed of special merit, might be used in a special mating, the object being to perpetuate his special points of excellence. And the offspring of such a mating, if given special care to prevent the disease the parent had, might escape it. Then by careful breeding and judicious handling tendency' to the disease might be eliminated from the stock, and so the original excellence preserved free from the original weakness, and finally introduced into the entire flock. But it is only one bird in a thousand that is good enough to be worth this trouble, and no matter how good the bird, it is a mistake for a breeder to rely upon a fowl that has had a sickness likely to 18 THE. COMMON-SLN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. alii'ect his progeny. If he breeds from such birds, it should be as stated above, in special matings, his regular matings being of fowls that had always been healthy. Above all, a breeder should avoid breeding from a flock all, or most of which had been sick, for from such breeding stock there is almost always a large proportion of weakly, stunted chicks that succumb easily to disease. The next thing to observe for the preservation of health is the natural environment — the soil and atmospheric conditions. On heavy or clayey soils, all filth diseases are much more trouble- some than elsewhere. On loose sandy, well drained soils, the dangers of filth diseases are so greatly reduced that the poultry keeper, if so disposed, may safely reduce his efforts to maintain strict cleanliness, often to the point of neglect of cleanliness, with- out serious risk. On soils of intermediate character, maintenance of safe sanitary conditions varies in its requirements with the nature of the soil. Atmospheric conditions are, as a rule, of less importance. Fowls become accustomed to a certain general atmospheric condition, or range of conditions, and endure without inconvenience conditions which, to unacclimated fowls, might be serious. The most import- ant point to observe in regard to atmospheric conditions is with unacclimated fowls. Fowls that are new to a locality, especially if brought from a very different climate, are often injured by exposui-e to weather conditions which do not hurt acclimated fowls in the least. To avoid diseases that might develop in this way, keep such fowls from exposure to the full severity of weather extremes, whether heat, wet, wand, or cold. The house problem, as it concerns health, may be made simple or difficult according to the system of housing adopted. In an open house with fresh air always abundant, what are known as the temperature diseases are reduced to the minimum, though in such houses fowls lacking in vigor are perhaps more likely to con- tract such diseases as pneumonia, than in warmer houses. In warm houses the health of the fowl depends very much upon the attention given to the ventilation, and not to constant ventila- tion through ventilators supposed to have certain desired effects, but to ventilation by adjustment of doors and windows to suit the CLEANLINL55. D1E.T, LXLRCISL. 19 daily as well as the irregular or seasonable changes of conditions. Occasional neglects of doors and windows of tight houses are fruitful causes of disease, while the general habit of keeping such houses shut tight much more than is necessary, makes the average vitality of fowls kept in them much lower than it should be. The effect of cleanliness in the house on the health of the fowls is also influenced by the type of house used. If a house is to be closed tight and kept warm so that all gases and odors are retained in it for hours and the air laden with them, droppings should be removed daily. If the house is open so that odors and gases are carried off such frequent cleanings are not necessarj'. The observations already made on soils apply in a general way to yards. In connection with the yards we have further to consider such disinfection and renovation of the soil as may be necessary, and the effects of neglect of these upon the general condition of the fowls occupying the premises. Yards used too long without renovation are often the unsuspected cause of disease, or, where no disease develops, of failure of the stock to thrive. Sanitarj^ con- ditions must be preserved in the yard as well as in the house. The diet of fowls and the method of feeding them are directly responsible for most of the digestive disorders. We cannot take that subject up in this connection, but the reader should under- stand that only by judicious and proper feeding can he avoid the common troubles of poultry that are most obscure in their symp- toms and most difficult to deal with. Methods of exercising fowls are generally intimately related to methods of feeding them. A system of feeding that discourages exercise is wrong except for chickens to be marketed early, or in fattening. Frequently a ration that is good and safe, if given to fowls that exercise freely, is a regular disease breeder for fowls that take little exercise. A most conspicuous illustration of this is found in the case of corn, which, fed under proper conditions, is a most satisfactory food, but when fed in disregard of appro- priate conditions quickly puts fowls out of condition. Overcrowding, when very bad, is likely to breed disease ; when not so bad its results are more likely to be limited to lack of thrift or productiveness. Contagious diseases are most frequently introduced into a floclc 20 THL COMMON-5EN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. with additions from outside. It is a good plan not to allow new stock to mingle with the old for at least ten days to two weeks after it is brought on the place. This rule should be followed even with stock from flocks known to be free from disease, for it often happens that disease germs, latent and harmless in one flock, become active and dangerous when stock from that flock is moved to another place. Two weeks should give ample time for develop- ment of latent disease, and if no bad symptoms appear within that time, the new stock may be put with the old. The introduction of new males during the breeding season is a risk many poultrymen take without thought, and subsequently have abundant occasion to regret. At that season the delay caused by quarantining a new bird needed for service seems intolerable, and the breeder frequently puts him into the breeding pen without much examination. From such an event many a poultryman dates a long period of trouble with parasitic or skin disease introduced with the new male, and by him rapidly communicated to all females with which he comes in contact. As far as possible the poultry keeper should depend for the pre- vention of disease on conditions which make for health rather than upon special correctives of unhealthy conditions. Those who must keep fowls in close quarters must rely much upon disinfectants and strict attention to hygienic conditions. Those who give fowls liberal yard room need give less attention to sanitation. The difference between the two systems quite closely parallels certain differences between farm and city life, between sparsely settled and densely populated areas. Give nature room and she attends to sanitation and various other matters relating to health, in her own way. Crowd beings of any kind together, and special, and some- times artificial and complex sanitary systems and requirements become necessary. CHAPTER rV. The Symptoms of Disease. SOME diseases are distinguished easily by peculiar and unmis- takable symptoms. Some general symptoms are common to a great many diseases. Some frequent symptoms are common to diseases of certain classes, and make it sometimes very difficult to distinguish between them. Of some diseases the symptoms are obscure, not especially manifested in outward appearance or in any function, and distinguishable only by post mortem examination — often only by expert examination. Occasionally a disease develops which baffles the most careful examination to determine its precise character. Diseases are not always simple and free from complications. Hence the combinations of symptoms found are sometimes very puzzling, especially to a layman with no intimate knowledge of the subject. Diseases, as they develop in the poultry yard, are rarely " typical " cases, presenting all symptoms of one disease plainly, and no others. It is perhaps more common to find one or more symptoms absent, or to find some symptoms varying greatly from the usual type, and even more closely resembling symptoms in some quite different disease. Hence, apart from the diseases having unmis- takable symptoms the diagnosis of diseases, even by men of medical training, is often inaccurate, while that of the common poultryman is apt to be wrong as often as right. However, if diagnosis is correct in half, or even less, of the cases discovered, and the disease given proper treatment at an early stage, and proper steps taken to prevent its spread through the flock, and measures adopted to prevent its recurrence, much has been gained. 22 THE COMMON-5LN5E POULTRY DOCTOR. The more common and most generally troublesome of the dis- eases showing no plain symptoms outwardly it is possible even for a novice to identify by post mortem with sufficient accuracy to enable him to give preventive and dietary treatment adapted to the situation. In this chapter I have undertaken — I. — To arrange and group the visible symptoms of the diseases of poultry in such a way that a poultryman may more systematically and carefully observe the symptoms of sick fowls ; also be able to distinguish between general and special symptoms. 2. — To briefly indicate the post mortem symptoms, especially of diseases not characterized by outward symptoms. In preparing the list of symptoms from Avhich the schedule which follows has been compiled, I have used principally Salmon's "Diseases of Poultry," supplementing it here and there from state- ments in Sanborn's "Farm-Poultry Doctor," Vale's "Manual of Poultry Diseases," Hill's " Diseases of Poultry," various articles on diseases in the poultry journals, especially those by Woods, and, occasionally, from personal observation indicating symptoms or facts which our medical authorities have overlooked. Visible Symptoms of Disease. Symptoms in the Attitude and General Condition of Fowls. The impulse or instinct of a fowl affected with a disease which makes it feel sick is to remain quiet and out of the way of the rest of the flock. This disposition manifests itself differently in differ- ent fowls and different circumstances, and is also probably some- what influenced by the degree of indisposition. Hence all fowls sick with the same disease do not act alike, and while weak?tess, dullness, drovjsiness, inactivity^ sluggishness, etc., are given as symptoms in many diseases, they are, as a rule, symptoms of no particular value in determining the character of the disease. We note, further, that as between these many terms signifying much the same things, it is practically impossible to make fine dis- tinctions. The same observer might, at different times, describe the same condition by different terms, or apply the same term to different degrees of debility. So, though we find in the descrip- tions of symptoms furnished by authorities on poultry diseases, a SYMPTOMS IN THL APPEARANCE OF FOWLS. 23 great variety of terms indicating weakness as variously manifested in the general attitude of the foAvl, and these -will be noted in the full descriptions of sj^mptoms ; they are to be regarded as of only minor importance in the diagnosis of disease. The terms used to indicate visible lack of condition, and the dis- eases with which each is identified by our authorities, are : — Dullness — symptom in bronchitis, catarrh, indigestion, gas- tritis, enteritis, constipation, worms, atrophy of the liver. Drowsiness — symptom in aspergillosis, atrophy of the liver, congestion of the lungs, leukaemia. Depression — sj'mptom in enteritis. DuMPisHNESS — symptom in canker. Sluggishness — symptom in inflammation of the liver, eczema. Stupor — symptom in atrophy of the liver, vertigo. Torpor — symptom in enteritis. Inactivity — symptom in catarrh, black rot, diarrhea, enlarge- ment of the testicles. Weakness — symptom in cholera, dropsy of the heart. Extreme Weakness — symptom in aspergillosis. General Debility — symptom in inflammation of the oviduct. General Lassitude — symptom in enteritis. Rapid Loss of Strength — symptom in peritonitis. Listlessness — symptom in dropsy. Isolation — symptom in worms, cholera. Difficult Locomotion — symptom in constipation. Stiff Walk — symptom in worms. Rough Plumage — symptom in cholera, worms, leukaemia, gas- tritis, gapes, diarrhea, constipation, aspergillosis. As everyone who has observed many sick fowls knows, this list by no means exhausts the possibilities. There is practically na limit to the variations of arrangement of such symptoms and names of diseases that will make statements easily applied to many cases. We therefore class all such symptoms as general symptom-" not peculiar to particular diseases. Such symptoms are generally the first noted by the quick observer. They indicate a diseased con- dition ; but having learned this much through them, we may dis- miss them from further consideration as more likely to confuse than to aid attempts at diagnosis. 24 THE COMMON-5LN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. Emaciation — is a symptom of more importance in determining the character of a disease, because it usually indicates the presence of one of several most difficult diseases to deal with, and is in each the most conspicuous symptom. These diseases are tuberculosis, asthenia, (" going light"), iind anaemia, (called by Salmon, leukaemia). Emaciation is also noted as a symptom in aspergillosis, inflammation of the kidneys, gastritis, enteritis, worms. Such are the diseases in which it is most frequently observed, but it may be a symptom in any disease which a fowl resists for a long time, and, of course, is also seen as a condition in many cases where a thin, emaciated fowl contracts disease. Symptoms in the Actions of Fowls. Under this head I group a class of symptoms which rarely escape the notice of even the least experienced of poultry keepers. The most conspicuous of them is convulsions, or convulsive move- ments, principally of the head and neck, though frequently affecting in a lesser degree the body as well, and occasionally of such nature that the bird entirely loses control of the limbs, and either lies helpless or with limbs moving spasmodically. Convulsive Movements of the Head and Neck — occur in cramps, gapes, and frequently in large combed birds in common colds. Movements which might appear to be convulsions are sometimes a symptom in various diseases, such, for instance, as a swallowing motion when neither food nor drink is being taken. Such movements, while to some degree similar, are not convulsive, for they are under control of the bird, and made with a purpose. A Swallowing Motion Without Convulsions — indicates accumulation of mucus in throat and windpipe, or obstruc- tion of those parts. Convulsions — are common, but not invariably a symptom in epilepsy, atrophy of the liver, vertigo, worms, enteritis, and in the last stages of peritonitis, and cholera. A Swallowing Motion Accompanied by a Writhing — espe- cially of the upper part of the body, is a symptom in crop bound. SYMPTOMS IN THE ACTIONS OF FOWLS. 25 Giddiness and Staggering — mentioned as symptoms in ver- tigo and enteritis, are features of convulsions ; while chills, also given as a symptom in enteritis, would not readily be differentiated from convulsions. The head twisted and eye turned up, while the fowl moves in a circle, is a symptom of vertigo. Contraction of the Muscles — sometimes observable in the toes, sometimes in the neck, is a symptom of rheumatism. When this symptom appears, affecting the neck, it is usually twisted and drawn back between the shoulders. Lameness and Loss of Use of the Legs — are symptoms quickly noted; both occur in succession or alternation in leg weakness and rheumatism. Lameness may also occur with, and as a result of the various symptoms of diseases of the feet, and is frequently the result of injury to the feet, legs, or back. Restlessness — indicating fever, is a symptom in peritonitis. Gaping — symptom in gapes, enteritis. Symptoms in the Appearance or Condition of Special Parts of the Fowl. Under this head we consider local symptoms, not conspicuously connected with any important function, leaving functional symp- toms to be taken up separately a little further on. Head Symptoms. In a way the appearance of the head of the fowl is a factor in such general symptoms as dullness, drowsiness, emaciation. A good observer may note something wrong in the expression of thfe eye, or appearance of the head, before the general appearance of the bird is unusual enough to attract attention. Such symptoms as those we need not consider further than in the general way. The conspicuous symptoms of the head parts, and the diseases or con- ditions they indicate are : — Of the Comb. Comb, Pale — symptom in leukaemia, (anaemia), dropsy, tuber- culosis, enteritis. In these diseases the paleness of the comb is generally very noticeable. In many others there is much less color in the comb than when the bird is in good health. 26 THE. COMMON-5LN5E. POULTRY DOCTOR. Comb, Dark, Purplish — symptom in congestion of the lungs, enteritis ; sometimes in bronchitis. A distinction must be made between the dark purplish comb seen in these diseases and the comb the tips of which turn bluish when chilled. Comb, Purple, or Tips Turning Blue, then Black— symp- tom in black rot. Scab on Comb — a dark or yellowish patch or scab which can- not readily be removed, is a symptom of ulceration of comb. This symptom must be distinguished from a simple scab, the result of an injury. Wattles Enlarged and Hard — symptom in dropsy of the wattles. Wattles Having White Points or Patches which enlarge and run together — symptom in eczema. Yellow Warts on Face and Comb — symptom in chicken- pox. Cheesy Lumps About the Eyes — symptom in roup. Eyelids Gummed and Swollen — symptom in catarrh. Jaundice — symptom in inflammation of the liver. Puffing and Swelling of the Face — symptom in roupy colds. Inflammation of Mouth — symptom in gastritis and roup. Inflamed Mucous Membranes — symptom in bronchitis. Grayish White Membranous Patches in Throat — symptom in diphtheria. Pip, scale on tongue — symptom in catarrh, roup, bronchitis, pneumonia. Feather Symptoms. Loss of Feathers from parts of the body — symptom in favus. Feathers Breaking at the surface of the skin indicates scabies. Improperly Developed Feathers — deform.ed feathers, indicate inflammation of the kidneys. Feathers are also lost, broken, or damaged by other fowls eating them, generally from the rump and neck ; and from the backs of hens in the breeding season by the wear of the feet of the males. SKIN AND FOOT SYMPTOMS. BRLATHING. 27 Skin Symptoms (of the Body). Skin Puffed With Air — symptom of emphysema. Scurfy Thickened Skin — symptom in favus. The skin of any part of the body bare of feathers, and exposed to sun and wind, turns quite a dark or bright red ; if the skin, notwithstanding its high color, seems clean and healthy, it is probably not in any way diseased, and will return to its normal color after the feathers grow on it. Tumors and Sores — generally result from injuries, though I have seen and also had reports of boil like sores on fowls which seemed to be identical with boils on the human person, and probably due to similar conditions or causes. Leg and Foot Symptoms. Thickened Skin of under side of feet — corns. Swelling on Foot — bumble foot. Abscesses on soles of feet and between toes — symptom in bumble foot. Swollen Feet and Toes — dropsy of the feet. Swollen Joints — rheumatism. Skin of Legs Dry and Rough — symptom in fish skin disease. Scales of Shanks and Toes Loose raised, with dead whitish crust forming under them — symptom of scaly leg. Visible Symptoms in Functional Operations — Breathing. Normally the function of breathing attracts no attention what- ever. Anything out of the usual in this connection is therefore an indication of something wrong. Rapid Breathing — is a symptom in gastritis. Difficult Breathing — is noted in catarrh, dropsy of the heart, congestion of the lungs. Labored Breathing — symptom in aspergillosis. To make nice distinctions between difficult and labored breath- ing is often impossible. A Whistling Sound — in breathing indicates bronchitis or defective air passages. Sneezing — is a symptom in catarrh. A peculiar croaking sneeze is often made by fowls when eating too rapidly. 28 THE COMMON-5LNSE. POULTRY DOCTOR. Head Discharges. Watery Discharge from Nostrils — symptom in catarrhal cold, catarrh. Fermenting Sour, Watery Discharge from the Nose and Mouth — symptom sometimes in crop bound. Mucus Discharge from Nostrils and Mouth — occasional symptom in gapes. Fetid Discharge from Nostrils (having the " roup smell," a peculiar nauseating odor which, once observed, is ever afterward easily distinguished) — symptom in roup, con- tagious catarrh, sometimes in diphtheria. Frothy Discharge from the Mouth — symptom in enteritis. Bloody Mucus from Mouth — symptom in congestion of the lungs. Belching Gas — symptom of catarrh of the crop. Water Escaping from the Crop Through the Mouth — when fowl is held head down is not a symptom of disease unless the discharged fluid is sour or foul, when it indicates a bad condition of the crop. Appetite. Irregular Appetite — indicates overfeeding, indigestion, or, (not infrequently), food poorly prepared or of poor quality. Lack of Appetite — is given as a symptom in worms, constipa- tion, catarrh, bronchitis, and enteritis. Loss OF Appetite — is given as a symptom in aspergillosis, black rot, diarrhea, enteritis, gastritis, inflammation of the kidneys, leukaemia, peritonitis, inflammation of the liver. Whether lack of appetite means poor appetite, and loss of appetite no appetite, is not clear. Probably the distinction is not always carefully observed. Appetite symptoms would not be expected to be uniform in the same disease, for fowls, like people, vary much in regard to the appetite in sickness. Considered by themselves, appetite symptoms are of little, if any, use in determining the character of most of the diseases mentioned in connection with them. Abnormal Appetite — fowls frequently display abnormal appe- tites, eat voraciously of food from which they apparently APPETITE, CROP AND BOWEL SYMPTOMS. 29 extract little nourishment, or take excessive quantities of such food accessories as grit. Such phenomena indicate diseased condition in the digestive tract, but our authori- ties have little to say about them. They are probably properly described as extreme symptoms of indigestion. Intense Thirst — is mentioned as a symptom in gastritis, aspergillosis, enteritis, cholera, but will be observed in many other diseases. In any case of disease accompanied by a fever, or feverish conditions, marked thirst is likely to be found. The Crop. The Crop Distended and Hard — is "crop bound." The crop bound condition may be due to obstruction of the crop, or to disease of the crop or digestive tract, preventing the regular passage of food through the system. Crop Bound is a symptom in catarrh of the crop, sometimes in diarrhea, and in cholera. When the Crop is Prominent and Hangs Loosely — the fowl is said to have " slack crop." Vent Discharges. Diarrhea is a symptom in a great many diseases. It may have no special significance, or it may, by certain peculiar- ities, be of great assistance in identifying a disease. The following forms of diarrhea have been described : — Simple Diarrhea — itself a form of disease — symptom, excre- ment soft, yellowish, whitish, or greenish. Many people call every case of disease in which there is diarrhea with greenish excrement " cholera," and many reported cures of cholera are merely cures of simple diarrhea. Simple diarrhea has been observed as a symptom in cases of worms, tuberculosis, and in black head in turkeys. Bloody Diarrhea — symptom in enteritis, appendicitis. Diarrhea with Dark Excrement Turning to Yellow — symptom in black rot. Greenish Diarrhea with Solid Excrement — symptom in early stages of bacterial enteritis. Greenish Diarrhea with Excrement Dark and Liquid — symptom in later stages of bacterial enteritis. 30 THE COMMON-5LN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. Diarrhea with Yellow Urates (the white part of the excre- ment of birds) — symptom in cholera. Salmon says that while yellow urates do not invariably indicate cholera, because the urates are frequently tinted from other dis- orders, they afford a valuable indication. It is to be inferred from his statement that while yellow urates occur in other diseases, they invariably occur in cholera in the early stages ; hence, if urates are not yellow it may be con- cluded that the disease is not cholera unless we have : Diarrhea WITH Greenish or Deep Green Urates — a symp- tom of the later stages of cholera ; or Diarrhea in Which White Urates are Passed m Very Large Quantities, the excrement consisting almost entirely of urates mixed with colorless mucus. Such a diarrhea has been observed as a very early symptom in several cases of cholera. This diarrhea gradually chang- ing, the urates becoming deep yellow, and finally green. Constipation — occurs in fowls far less often than diarrhea, and often passes unnoticed when it does occur, unless very bad. Painful and ineffective efforts to evacuate the bowel are the symptom of constipation. Frequently the affected fowl cries with pain. Constipation — is a symptom in indigestion, (dyspepsia), gas- tritis, peritonitis. Other Bowel Discharges. A Thin Watery Discharge — soon becoming white and offen- sive, frequent passage of small quantities of excrement, the membrane of the bowel much inflamed, with the inflamma- tion often extending to skin around the vent, are symptoms in vent gleet. This should not be confounded with a simple whitish diarrhea. Symptoms Associated with Laying. Unsuccessful Efforts to Pass Egg, the egg being some- times partially extruded ; sometimes not at all — symptom of egg bound. Egg Lodged Loosely in Abdominal Cavity — symptom of rupture of the oviduct. P05T MORTEM SYMPTOMS. 31 Abnormal Laying, continued production of abnormal eggs, — symptom of inflammation of oviduct. Protrusion at the Vent — in laying hens a symptom of pro- lapsus of the oviduct ; occurs occasionally in fowls under other circumstances, is then protrusion of the bowel. Sudden Deaths — symptom of rupture of the heart, apoplexy, choking. Symptoms Discovered by a Post flortem Exam^ ination. Importance of Noting Inward Symptoms. Some diseases readily identified by outward symptoms have only those outward symptoms ; others have also peculiar internal symp- toms. A few diseases can be identified only by post mortem exam- ination. When a disease is presumed to have been correctly diagnosed by the outward symptoms a post mortem would be made only to clear up any lingering doubts one might have as to the correctness of his conclusions. When the outward symptoms noted seem insufficient for diagnosis the poultryman who wants to know what was wrong generally " opens" the body of the fowl and examines the internal organs. Some of the most common diseases are readily identified in this way by anyone, but there are many cases beyond the skill of the layman to identify, and, as has already been said, some that the experts have to give up. Generally, how- ever, in case of a common disease anyone can learn enough of the condition of the fowl, and of the parts affected, to know to what class of causes the trouble is probably due, to what class of disease it belongs, and what general course is best to pursue with fowls affected by or exposed to it; and this, after all, is the principal thing. If one is not familiar with the appearance of the organs of a healthy fowl he should, when making a post mortem examination of a fowl that had died of a disease the character of which he wishes to discover, kill and examine a fowl apparently in perfect condition, that, comparing them part by part, he may more cer- tainly arrive at the facts. More, a poultry keeper who does not know what the internal organs of a healthy fowl look like, should lose no time acquiring that knowledge, but take advantage of 32 THE COMMON-SLN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. the first opportunity to examine them, and as fowls or chicks from his yards are killed, ought to observe the condition of the internal organs of the fowl, just as day by day he notes outward symptoms, for in this way one will often discover the presence in his flock of a disease without marked outward symptoms in time to adopt effectual preventive measures when, if the disease continued unsuspected until several deaths from it had occurred, many more members of the flock might be past saving. How to Make a Post Mortem Examination of a Fowl. In the case of a healthy fowl to be used for the table after having served as a subject for examination, the way the fowl is intended to be cooked might be allowed to determine the method of making examination. If a fowl is to be cut up before cooking, it is a simple matter to remove Avings and legs, and then by separating the breast and back leave the organs exposed, but undisturbed, and the examiner can remove and inspect them as he wishes. If the carcass is to be drawn in the usual way, it is not so easy to make a satisfac- tory observation of the internal organs, as they cannot be observed in position, but still one can learn a good deal of their appearance and condition if they are removed carefully. If the examination of the healthy carcass is desired to contribute as much as possible to the acquisition of skill in the examination and treatment of diseased fowls, it is well to make it in the same ■way that the post mortem would be made on a dead fowl. It is obvious that the "butcher" methods of examination mentioned above are very crude methods from a surgical point of view. One of the best directions I have seen for making a post mortem exam- ination of a fowl was given in an English poultry paper recently. It is :— " Take the dead bird and lay it on a wooden table, or on a piece of strong board, breast uppennost. Spread out the wings and the legs, putting a small nail through the joint of each wing and through the center of each foot. It is not necessary for the bird to be entirely plucked ; it will be enough to pluck the breast, and when this has been done pinch up the skin at the point of the breast bone, and cut it straight through from the vent to the crop. Having done this, draw the skin back on both sides, so as to leave LIVER SYMPTOMS. 33 the flesh fullj exposed, and then with a sharp knife cut through the flesh on both sides of the breast bone, and with a strong, blunt pointed pair of scissors, cut out the center of the breast bone entirely, taking particular care in doing so not to injure the heart, as a flow of blood from tne neart will interfere with subsequent operations. When this has been done the principal organs will be seen fuUj exposed." Liver Symptoms. Liver troubles are by far the most frequent of diseases requiring a post mortem for identification. Perhaps the most common con- dition of the diseased liver is : Liver Enlarged, gorged with blood, tender, easily torn or crushed — indicates inflammation or congestion of the liver. Liver Shrunken, with granulated surface — atrophy or wast- ing of the liver. Liver Shrunken, hardened, marbled, or spotted with j'ellow or gray patches — fatty degeneration of liver. Liver Somewhat Enlarged, dark colored, surface sprinkled with minute grayish spots — symptom in leukaemia. Liver Greatly Enlarged, softened, very dark, or dark green, gall abundant — symptom in cholera. Liver (in Turkeys) Spotted, with whitish or yellowish or brownish patches — symptom in blackhead. Sometimes the same condition or symptom is discovered in the liver and other organs, or certain conditions of other organs occur with certain liver symptoms. Abscesses in liver, lungs, kidneys, and spleen are sym.ptoms in aspergillosis. Liver Enlarged and distended with blood, spleen enlarged and pale, intestines, particularly the cjeca, red and contain- ing much mucus — symptom in enteritis. Whitish or Yellowish nodules or tubercles in liver, spleen, and peritoneum — symptom in tuberculosis. Bile, Black, Thick and Hard — symptom sometimes found in biliary repletion (jaundice). Bile Coloring Organs adjoining gall bladder — symptom in biliary repletion (jaundice). 34 THE COMMON-5LN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. Special symptoms in the kidneys are neither so frequent nor so conspicuous. Kidneys Much Enlarged, grayish colored and hard — symp- tom in inflammation of the kidneys. Kidneys Gorged with Blood — symptom in cholera. In the lungs symptoms of several bad diseases are found. To test the condition of the lungs put a piece of one in water ; a healthy lung will float, a diseased one will sink. Lungs Dark, full of blood, and hard — symptom in pneumonia. Lungs Containing Cheesy Nodules — symptom in tuber- culosis. Yellowish or Whitish Nodules in internal organs, espe- cially the organs of respiration — symptom in aspergillosis. In cases of sudden death the symptoms that explain the trouble are likely to be found in the heart. Heart Uneven Lobed, large on one side and small on the other — symptom of failure or rupture of the heart, (syn- cope), hypertrophy. Heart Sac Distended with liquid with false membrane adhering to heart and heart sac — dropsy of the heart sac. Internal Surface of Heart Reddened and deposits of clotted lymph adhering to it — inflammation of the internal membrane of the heart. Internal Hemorrhages — rupture of heart or blood vessels. Intestinal Walls Thickened and Ulcerated — symptom in tuberculosis. Nodules Whitish, Yellowish, or Brownish in Intestinal Walls — symptom in nodular tseniasis. Lining of Abdominal Cavity Inflamed deep red in color — peritonitis. Yellowish or Reddish Yellow LiqyiD in Abdominal Cavity — peritonitis. Worms in Intestines — Worms are most frequently found in the intestines, though they infest other internal parts. Sometimes conditions produced by worms resemble symp- toms of tuberculosis. Worms in Windpipe, or trachea — gapes. SYMPTOMS IN ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION. 35 Mite Like Powder, whitish or yellowish in color, on surface of air sacs — air sac mite. The condition of the ovaries of the female, and testicles of the male often reveal the reason for the failure of the hen to lay, or for the laying of abnormal eggs, and for sterileness in males. Ovaries Small with Ova (Eggs) Very Small — is a natural condition in a hen not laying or about to lay. Discovered in a hen which failed to lay naturally, it indicates atrophy of the ovaries. Tumors of the Ovary are quite common. Ova Brownish or Black, easily crusted and containing a putrid liquid — gangrene of the ovary. Corresponding with these diseases of the female organs of repro- duction, we have in the male organs : Atrophied and Enlarged Testicles, and sometimes tumor- ous or cancerous growths. Any deviation from normal condition of these organs will furnish an explanation for sterility, or low fertility. CHAPTER V. A Few General Remarks on the Diseases of Poultry and Their Treatment. IT HELPS to a better understanding of the diseases of poultry, and their prevention and cure, to know that most of the dis- eases of poultry have their counterparts in cause, character, and effects in human diseases. This fact is not generally appreciated as it should be. Many people are wont to regard themselves and their fowls as so far apart in the scale of development that there can be little in common between them. A physician once wrote me asking what to do for a constipated fowl. I replied : " Give the same dose you would a two year old child." By return mail I received a letter to this effect : " Thank you for the suggestion. It never occurred to me that the diseases of fowls and human beings were essentially alike, and should be treated the same, but when you stop to think of it, there is no reason why they should not be. I don't think I'll need to trouble you again about treating diseases." The similarity of diseases in fowls and men is less clear than it might be because of the differences in names of diseases, because it has been customary to group many poultry diseases under a general name, and because it is only recently that poultry diseases have been carefully investigated, and the different forms of disease affect- ing the same parts differentiated. Structural and other peculiari- ties of fowls account for slightly different manifestations of symp- toms, and also for a few diseases that are peculiar to fowls ; but, on the whole, any disease discovered in the poultry yard has its counterpart among human diseases, is produced by like causes, and requires much the same treatment to effect a cure. PRINCIPAL CAU5L5 OF DI5LA5E.. 37 Chapter II. treated briefly the general causes of disease, with special reference to the prevention of disease. In various chapters following this the development of numerous diseases from a common cause will be traced in connection with the categorical presentation of causes, symptoms, and treatment. In this chapter I wish, as preliriinary to the treatment of each disease, or group of diseases, as a special topic, to bring together in a short classifi- cation some of the most common causes of disease and the diseases which develop from them, the purpose of this grouping being to afford the reader a bird's eye view of the subject, and enable him to see more clearly the relations between various diseases, and their connection with common causes. With rare exceptions, cases of disease occurring in a flock of poultry will be promptly traced by a qualified investigator to one or more of these prime causes of disease : I.— Colds. 2. — Improper feeding. 3. — Improper conditions. 4. — Contagion. Beginning from colds we have a group of diseases affecting mostly the organs of respiration. Most of these it has long been customary to designate by one common term — roup. From colds also develop catarrhal conditions of the digestive organs, which are probably the real, though unsuspected cause of many cases of digestive disorders occurring where no fault can be found with the feeding. To colds, and conditions which cause colds, are traced such dis- eases as catarrh, bronchitis, congestion of the lungs, pneumonia. To colds, and conditions which cause colds, operating with con- tagion, are traced such diseases as diphtheritic roup, tuberculosis. To improper feeding, or improper feeding and improper con- ditions, or either or both of these, and contagion, are traced nearly all the commoner diseases affecting the crop, stomach, liver, and some of those affecting the intestines. Often a derangement of one organ or function becomes responsible for derangement of other organs or functions. In fact, disorder in one organ or function, if it continues, is not likely to be long confined to that one locality, for the organs of the body are mutually dependent upon each other, 38 THE COMMON-SLNSL POULTRY DOCTOR. and derangement of one affects others, and also reacts upon the system in general. Contagion as the sole cause, or as prime cause, with colds, or conditions which cause colds and reduce vitality; improper feeding, and improper conditions, as contributing causes, is responsible for a long list of troubles : — Parasites of the skin and of internal organs — for lice, mites, worms; for skin diseases, venereal dis- eases, scaly legs ; for chicken pox, tuberculosis, cholera, diph- theria, contagious catarrh, enteritis, etc. As we find that a case of disease is rarely simple, regular, and typical, so we find many cases of disease resulting from combina- tions of causes, each of which alone might produce the disease, and would produce it in some fowls, while other fowls might succumb only to the combined effects of several causes, all tending to pro- duce that disease. It is important to keep this in mind when referring to advices about diseases, for the first step in the treatment or prevention of further spread of many diseases is to remove the cause, or causesj,, and one of the most common causes of failure in the treatment of diseases which should yield readily to treatment, is to remove one cause, but leave others to continue their effects, and neutralize the effects of treatment given. Suppose a disease is known to be correctly diagnosed, the symp- toms being unmistakable. Suppose there are two or three possible causes for this disease, and that all of them happen to be present. Suppose that — as is very often the case — the poultry keeper assumes that the cause which is most conspicuous to him is the cause in this case, removes it, gives the prescribed treatment, and fails to see improvement. He may be right about the cause. That is a matter it would be difficult or impossible to either prove or disprove. But whether the other causes had anything to do with producing the disease or not, after it has developed they may tend especially to aggravate it, and prevent recovery. Bearing this in mind the reader should carefully note every pos- sible cause of the disease he has to deal with, decide whether or not it is present; observe whether any part of the treatment recom- mended applies to it, and see that every requirement is met in the treatment as he gives it. RLMLDIL5 TO KE.EP ON HAND. 39 The Importance of Being Prepared. The effective treatment of cases it pays to treat will often depend much on the promptness with which they are taken in hand. It is not too much to say that promptness and thoroughness are the most important factors in the treatment of the majority of cases. What counts most is doing the things that need to be done to give nature a chance, and doing them without delay. In many cases a few applications or the regular use of a simple remedy in the early stages are well worth while, when, if the case is neglected until it develops to a serious stage, treatment would be troublesome, com- paratively expensive, and results doubtful. If one is going to doctor sick fowls, he should be prompt always, and in every situation where a mild disease might quickly develop into a more serious one, should be very prompt to treat it. Such promptness depends on being able to get the remedies required without delay, and unless a poultry keeper is so situated that he can get the things he may want in such an emergency at short notice, it is a good plan for him to keep on hand a few of the articles or preparations most likely to be needed. For those who wish to do this I give here such a list. It will be noted that a considerable number of the articles specified are articles kept in almost every household. Hence the number of things to procure especially for treatment of poultry is quite small. Vaseline (veterinary vaseline Carbolic acid. preferred). Peroxide hydrogen. Lard. Boric acid. Glycerine. Bicarbonate soda ( baking soda). Castor oil. Subnitrate of bismuth. Sweet oil. Sulphate of iron. Olive oil. Tincture bryonia. Kerosene oil. Tincture spongia. Linseed oil (raw). Tincture aconite. Turpentine. Salicylic acid. Alcohol. Quinine. Camphor (spirits of). Epsom salts. Creolin. Calomel. Sulpho-naphthol. Chloro-naphtholeum. 40 THE, COMMON-5LN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. With the articles in this list available from stock kept for other purposes, or on hand in small supply, the poultry keeper is pre- pared to treat fully nine-tenths of the cases of disease that may develop in his poultry yard, and prepared, I think, to treat all urgent cases in which treatment is likely to be profitable. If one prefers to do so he may equip himself with a case of poultry remedies as put up by different dealers in poultry supplies, or with the special remedies advertised for special diseases, or classes of diseases, or may keep these on hand as well as the common articles mentioned in the above list. Having decided for what condition or disease he will treat, one may use a "specific" or proprietary remedy rather than follow the prescriptions given in this book, if he prefers to do so. Most of them I suppose con- tain the same medicinal properties as the remedies given by the authorities. Some I know are compounded after formulas fur- nished by physicians familiar with the diseases of poultry. A few are put up and sold by physicians who are also poultrymen. CHAPTER VI Colds and Diseases that Begin with Colds. IT HAS been customary for a great many years to group nearly all the diseases which might be considered under the heading of this chapter together under the common name roup. All these diseases were not called everywhere alike "roup," but each one of them was called " roup " by a great many people, and many applied the term "roup" to a number of different diseases, making no discrimination between different diseases exhibiting head and mouth symptoms. In recent years there has come a tendency to make proper dis- criminations, and though the divisions and classifications of dis- eases by authorities differ somewhat, the situation in this respect is much improved, the chief drawback at present being the lack of familiarity among poultrymen with the nomenclature used. A number of diseases have no common name, and the descriptive technical names given them not meaning anything in particular to the average layman, he is generally not disposed to familiarize him- self with them and make the corresponding distinctions between forms of disease. At present I find most poultry keepers calling both contagious catarrh, (to which the authorities seem agreed to limit the term "roup"), and diphtheritic roup or diphtheria roup; quite at a loss what to call or what to do with the diseases of this group, not characterized by a foul odor, and so often imagining a " mysterious disease," when they have nothing worse to deal with than a common cold. 42 THL COMMON-SLNSL POULTRY DOCTOR. The Common Developments of Colds in Fowls. These are : — 1. — Common colds, called simple catarrhal colds. 2. — Bronchitis, or croup. 3. — Contagious catarrh — roup. 4. — Influenza. 5. — Diphtheria, or diphtheritic roup. 6. — Congestion of the lungs. 7. — Pneumonia. 8. — Conjunctivitis. The conditions which cause colds are, in a general way, causes ot these diseases. To put it another way, if the poultry keeper allows his flock to be exposed to conditions which cause colds he creates or increases the risk of introducing into his flock any or all of the above named diseases. Some of them are contagious, hence may occasionally be introduced into a flock where without contagion they would not be likely to appear; but most of them develop either directly from cold producing conditions or gradually from neglected colds. Common Colds. Symptoms. — The symptoms of simple catarrhal colds are watery or frothy eyes, eyelids gummed together, face under the eyes puffed or swollen, sneezing, running at the nose. Not all occur in every case. Frequently but one is noticeable. At first, and for some time in many mild cases, the general con- dition of the fowl seems little affected, the appetite is good, and the bird active. If the cold continues, the bird becomes sluggish, mopes, loses appetite, the plumage is rough. If neglected, the case may develop quickly into some of the more serious complaints mentioned above. It may become chronic in a mild form. Under favorable conditions it may disappear without treatment. Causes of Colds. — If we regard a cold as the simplest form of "temperature disease," I think we get a better appreciation of the causes of colds. A " temperature disease " may be described as the result of wrong temperature conditions. Many people look always for the causes of a cold in themselves to such matters as cold room.s or conveyances, insufficient clothing, exposure to cold winds or EFFECTS OF WRONG TEMPERATURES. 43 rains, and if thej cannot find a connection between their cold and such causes, are at a loss to know how thej got it. So among poultry keepers, if the fowls catch cold, most look for the cause to low temperature conditions, and if none such can be connected with a case, many will conclude that it is something else than a cold, for the fowls were not exposed to conditions which might give them colds. Wrong temperature does not necessarily mean low temperature. A house may be too warm as well as too cold. Or, the temperature in the house or out doors may vary to a degree disturbing to the physical condition of the fowls. Or the difference between the tem- perature in the house and outside temperature may be so great that the fowls, going from the house in the morning, are injured by the change. Besides the disturbing influence of bad temperature conditions on the outer surface of the body, wrong temperature conditions may have serious effects on vital functions, and these may be either direct, as when a raw damp atmosphere irritates the nasal passages, and starts an inflammation there which may rapidly extend ; or indirect, as when lack of circulation of air causes the fowls to breathe vitiated air for hours when on the roost, and poisons the fowls, reducing their vitality, and making them more susceptible to outward disturbing influences. These two illustrations do not, of course, cover all possible results of the effects of wrong tempera- tures internally. They do, I think, show the most common effects, and these effects I have found oftenest when the poultry keeper is trying to keep his fowls warm. I cannot here go into a discussion of the relative merits of housing systems. For that, readers who need it to convince them of the difficulties of making tight houses work as in theory they are intended to work, are referred to files of Farm-Poultry for 1902 — 5, or to the lesson which will treat of the subject in the series for 1906. I will only say here that during the late summer and early fall the requests for treatment of fowls or chicks that have colds that come to me have been for years almost without exception from people who were keeping too many fowls in a house, or keeping the house closed too much ; while the correspondence about colds later in the fall and winter comes largely from people 44 THE. COMMON-SLNSL POULTRY DOCTOR. whose poultry houses are damp though warmly built, kept tightly closed except on warmest days and parts of days, and so the fowls much of the time breathe air that is chilly and foul, when the house is warmed up quickly by the sun have a rapid change to hot foul air, and the temperature conditions, as they affect the fowls, both outwardly and inwardly, are often bad curing the greater part of every twenty-four hours. I have put special emphasis on the causes just discussed because they are so generally unsuspected, because often in subjecting his fowls to conditions which produce these causes of colds the poultry keeper thinks he is doing the best and all that can be done to pre- vent colds. Having thus called special attention to a class of causes of colds which otherwise the reader might think uncommon, and not give enough consideration when looking for the causes of colds in his flock, I give here a list of causes of colds, with some illustrations which may make the situation plainer in a case under consideration : — Causes of Colds. I. — Exposure to Cold, Dampness, and Cold Winds. Exposure in such cases means continued exposure, or exposure after cold, dampness, or wind begins to make the fowl uncomfort- able. On the same basis we may place inadequate provisions for neutralizing the effects of temporary exposure. The degree of exposure w^hich fowls can stand without suffering varies just as with men. The condition of the fowl is also a factor. A fowl may take cold easily at one time under circum- stances which at another time would not have such effect. Within limits, exposure is beneficial provided suitable conditions are made for counteracting any bad effects from exposure. Thus fowls of all kinds, even small chickens, are better for a little while in the cold outdoor air in winter if, when cold, they have a place to go from it where they will soon become warm again either by the warmth of the place or by exercise ; but if, when cold, they can go only to a place where the heat is insufficient to restore bodily heat quickly, and where there is no inducement to exercise, they are likely to take cold because of exposure. Fowls may run on the snow, or on a thawing day in winter or spring paddle about in icy water and be none the worse for it, if LXP05URE TO DRAFTS. CROWDING. 45 they have opportunity to go when they wish to a floor well covered with leaves, broken straw, or other warm litter in which their feet quickly become dry and warm, when, if they had to wait for their feet to become dry and warm on a hard earth or board floor, their feet might remain cold so long, or dry so slowly, that meantime they would take cold. Fowls may run about in cold raw winds and be none the worse for it — as long as they seem satisfied and comfortable; but when they begin to be distressed by the wind, they are in a condition which, if it continues, may quickly develop a cold or something worse. 2. — Exposure to Drafts. Exposure to drafts usually causes at first a gumming of the lids of one eye, or a slight pufling of one side of the face. In most cases such a symptom indicates a strong current of air, possibly a very small one, striking the head of the fowl continuously for some hours. Into a warm house such a current of air may come through a very small opening when the atmosphere outside is much cooler. When the temperature inside and out is nearly the same there can be little movement of air through small openings, hence no draft of any consequence. If only one side of the head is affected, investigation is likely to show that the fowl roosts where such a draft would be likely to strike the affected side of the head from the side. If both sides of the head are affected alike the draft is more likely to go under, over, or about the fowl, though under such con- ditions only one side may be affected. Exposure to considerable drafts or currents of air surrounding the bird is likely to produce general symptoms of cold simultaneously with such local symp- toms as may develop. 3- — Crowding in the Houses, and Improper Ventilation. The effects of breathing bad air under these conditions were considered on page 43, The more conspicuous results of crowding and lack of ventilation are seen when fowls, leaving an over- crowded and overheated house for the cooler outer air in the morn- ing, immediately develop all the pronounced symptoms of bad colds, watery eyes, and running nostrils, sneezing, ruflfled plumage, inactivity, and lack of appetite. 46 THE. COMMON-SLNSL POULTRY DOCTOR. 4. — Closing Houses Too Much at Night in the Fall. Whatever maj be said of the advisability of using open houses after real winter weather sets in, no good argument can be made for closing doors and windows before water would freeze in the house in the fall, or keeping them closed under similar conditions in the spring. The house should be so constructed that there will be a general movement of the air all through it, the roosts being placed, not in a dead air recess or box, but at one side of the room, where the atmosphere will partake to some degree of the general motion of air in the house, but not with the full force of its motion. What I mean is more easily illustrated by a water example. If you pour water into a pail, the water falling in the center of the pail, there is a very rapid motion of the water at that point, a much less rapid motion elsewhere. In a stream there is a rapid motion of the current out in midstream generally, while along the banks the movement of water is much slower unless the winding of the river here and there sends the current from the center toward one bank or the other. Now the air may blow directly into a chicken house and on the hens on the roosts, but if the wall back of them is tight enough to prevent any free passage of air through it, and the space in which the roosts are is low enough and narrow enough, the air entering strikes a cushion of air which is displaced by it slowly and without creating currents injurious to the fowls. In the ordinary poultry house, four to six feet high at the rear wall, with pens twelve to sixteen feet wide and ten or twelve feet deep, if the roosts are along the rear wall the entire front may be open, and no wind that will blow in is likely to hurt the fowls on the roosts. If roosts are at one side of the pen, the front wall tight to a point between one and two feet beyond the front roost will prevent a movement of air injurious to the fowls, though all the rest of the front is open. For two years I have used from early April to the latter part of November, a two pen house facing nearly south, with a door in the middle of the north wall. This door is rarely shut day or night during the period mentioned. The roosts extend along the rear wall, and are pro- tected by a partition on either side of the door projecting three to four feet into the pen. Any northerly wind may blow through with full force, but I have not had a single case of cold in the house. TRE.ATME.NTS FOR COLDS. 47 5. — Sudden Changes of Temperature. With a poultry house built facing the south, and built as low and with rear and end walls and roof as tight as is customary no special precautions need be taken against any but extreme or radical changes of temperature. In acting on this advice the reader should consider that changes of weather conditions to cold or bad after a long period of warm, dry, fine weather, may be relatively extreme, though not actually as severe as changes which under other cir- cumstances might little affect the fowls. Fowls get accustomed to changing temperatures — perhaps not as completely as to high or low average temperatures, but still it may be noticed that fowls somewhat exposed to weather changes are much less unfavorably affected by them than those too carefully shielded from inclemen- cies of the weather. Extreme changes of temperature may, as a rule, be anticipated long enough beforehand to enable the poultry keeper to take such steps as are needful to counteract their effects. Feeding heavily of heating food is one of the best ways of meeting a sudden drop in temperature, and if fowls are susceptible to cold they may also be shut in their houses before the temperature falls. Then the air inside being warm, and the cold air excluded, the temperature in the house falls more slowly, and the fowls adjust themselves better to the change. Treatments for Colds. In many mild cases of colds the removal of the cause is all that is necessary, especially in warm weather and with vigorous, healthy stock. With the same general conditions, less rugged stock might profitably be given a tonic, condition powder, or stimulant. As far as possible, it is advisable to give flock rather than individual treatment. Seasoning the food highly with red pepper is beneficial generally in cases of colds. The red pepper pods chopped into small bits and fed either separately or in a mash, are also good — better, I think, than the ground pepper. Onions are good in colds, and the red pepper pods used as sug- gested above, and onions in the mash, or raw, are both considered 48 THE COMMON-SLN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. good for the prevention of colds. Such preventives it is most desirable to use when conditions productive of colds prevail, as, for instance, long periods of changeable weather. Raw onions, unless fed in very small quantities, will flavor both the meat and eggs of fowls, but I have never noticed any taste after feeding cooked onions; nor did I ever have a customer complain of onion flavor when I was feeding cooked onions. A remedy for colds used by many poultrymen is : — "A table- spoonful of clear lard, half a tablespoonful each of ginger, cayenne pepper, and mustard ; mix well together and add flour till the whole is of the consistency of dough, roll into slugs about the size of the little finger." A batch of these slugs may be made up, dried so that they will not stick together, then put in a covered can or box, or in a bottle. They will keep for several years. They may be administered by putting down the fowl's throat, or simply placed before the fowl. If its appetite is good it is quite sure to eat several pieces as large as large beans. Creolin may be given in the drinking water — a teaspoonful to a three gallon bucket of water. Another good simple remedy is hard soap. Take a piece of common hard soap and dissolve in water to the consistencj' of soft boap. Give this in the drinking water, a tablespoonful to a gallon of water, giving no clear water while this treatment is used. The dissolved soap can be kept in a bottle or jug to use as needed. Woods recommends this flock treatment for colds : Drop twenty drops spirits of camphor on a little sugar, and dissolve the whole in a pint of drinking water. When a cold becomes serious, stronger medicines are needed, and usually it is best to give local treatment to the parts of the head showing symptoms. The mouth and nostrils should be cleansed, and applications made to reduce any puffing or swelling of the face which may appear. Any of the following washes may be used : — Weak alum water. Carbolized water — 2 per cent solution, that is, i part carbolic acid to 50 parts water. Sulphate of copper — a teaspoonful to a quart of water. Hydrogen dioxide and water, equal parts. BRONCHITIS. OR CROUP. 49 For external application to the face and eyes, any of the above may be used, but the following have more continuous effects : Pure lard. Carbolated vaseline. Creolin, i part; vaseline, 50 parts. Turpentine, i part ; glycerine, 6 parts. For internal treatment in serious colds, Salmon recommends this : — " Gentian root, 4 drams ; ginger, 4 drams ; sulphate of iron, 2 drams; hyposulphate of sodium, i dram; salicylate of sodium, i dram. Pulverize and mix. Give three or four grains a dav for a medium sized fowl. Woods recommends a mixture of ten drops each tincture aconite, tincture bryonia, and tincture spongia in an ounce of alcohol. Give in the drinking water — ateaspoonful of the mixture to a quart of water. Bronchitis, or Croup. What Woods calls croup appears to be the disease our other authorities call bronchitis. Sanborn makes a distinction between the acute and chronic forms of bronchitis ; the latter is, I believe, substantially the same thing as whooping cough in human beings. Symptoms. — A case of bronchitis usually presents with the general symptoms of a bad cold a peculiar symptom which almost invariably identifies it. This symptom is a rattling or whistling sound when breathing. Unnatural breathing like this not accom- panied by cold symptoms is sometimes chronic in fowls. Such cases usually result from bronchial troubles which leave the wind- pipe in bad condition, or, perhaps from an accident — as in swallow- ing something too large for the throat. In these cases the fowl seems otherwise all right, but the noise it makes in breathing is very irritating to most people. In acute bronchitis or croup, we find "rattling in the throat," with symptoms of severe colds, and in the chronic form there may be the rattling in breathing and coughing up of mucus, the birds between the spasms of coughing appearing very well. My reasons for supposing that many cases exhibiting symptoms that in a general way resemble symptoms of bronchitis are cases of whooping cough, are these : A number of times correspondents have reported cases supposed to be bronchitis which did not seem to respond to any of the treatments for bron- 50 THL COMMON-SLN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. chitis. The fowls had occasional paroxysms of coughing which sometimes exhausted them for the time, but most would quickly regain vitality and seem all right until the next attack of coughing. Then, all at once, it would be noticed that coughing had ceased and the bird was permanently well again. Exact notice was rarely taken of the period of the disease, but it seemed to have about the same duration as whooping cough, and in general to present the same features. If my surmise is correct, this form of " bronchitis " is not serious. The difficulty, however, is to distinguish between it and other forms in the early stages, and the best way to do would seem to be to assume in the beginning that the disease is or may become acute, and treat as for acute bronchitis. Then if the case becomes chronic, separate affected birds, and give warm quarters and good care, without special medical treatment. Causes. — Any of the causes of colds may develop bronchitis. The disease is also sometimes developed by the irritation of dust and gases or vapors. Sanborn mentions the use of airslaked lime in poultry houses as a cause of bronchitis. Treatments. — For early stages : — I. — One drop tincture of aconite every hour for five hours, then one in three hours. Keep the bird in warm moist air; feed hot mash at least half bran. (Sanborn). 2. — Salmon recommends the inhalation of steam or vapor from boiling water containing hops, or a small quantity of carbolic acid or creolin. Give with the food two grains of black antimony twice a day, the food to be soft and cooling — stale bread or a mixture of bran and middlings moistened with milk. For drink he suggests a little flax seed steeped in hot water, or honey or gum arable added to the drinking water. 3. — Woods prescribes the aconite, bryonia, and spongia mixture mentioned on page 49, for mild cases of croup. For More Severe Cases. 4. — For a case which in its early stages looks like a severe case, Salmon advises giving ten drops spirits of turpentine in a tea- spoonful of castor oil, repeating the dose after five or six hours, but not continuing it after signs of purging appear. For very difficult ROUP, CONTAGIOUS CATARRH. 51 respiration he advises giving from three to six drops of either the sjrup or the wine of ipecac. 5. — For cases that do not respond to the treatment given at No. 4, Woods gives a one one-thousandth of a grain of arsenite of anti- mony night and morning until a stage of marked improvement is reached, and for patients in danger of suffocating, recommends inhalations of steam from boiling water, and bathing the throat with cold water. 6. — For chronic cases Sanborn recommends " Dumas Anti- malarial" pills, made of strychnine, iron, and quinine, to be given one pill each night and morning for -weeks. Both of the remedies in Nos. 5 and 6 are hard to get ; few drug stores keep them. Both treatments are to be continued for quite a long time, and necessitate individual handling of each fowl affected twice daily. This excludes them from one economic rule for the treatment of disease. Roup — Contagious Catarrh. Symptoms. — Common colds are not contagious, though they may be general throughout a flock, because the conditions which give one fowl- a cold are likely to give many colds. There is a more virulent form of disease with catarrhal symptoms which is contagious. In it the symptoms of common colds are generally much aggravated, and the discharge from the head has the peculiar offensive odor known among poultrymen as " the roup smell." One familiar with this odor may often detect the disease through it before any other symptom is noted. With the development of the disease the discharge from the head becomes thick, sometimes obstructing breathing through the nostrils. Then, the fowl breath- ing through the mouth, the tongue and mouth become dry, and on the tip of the tongue forms the scale which many call " the pip," and think a distinct disease. The thick yellow discharge may collect in the passages of the head, and especially in the sockets of the eyeballs, in such quantities as to force the eyeball out of place and permanently destroy the eye, even if the fowl recovers from the disease. The discharge dries in crusts on the beak and about the nostrils, soils the feathers of the fowl wherever it comes in contact with them, particularly on the wing where the head touches 52 THL COMMON-SLNSE POULTRY DOCTOR. it as the bird rests at night. The comb and wattles generally become a dark angrj looking red. The bird is feverish, and if it can see is likely to stand near the water pan drinking frequently and polluting the water, and through it spreading the contagion to its mates. The period of development varies. Woods says that in acute cases the disease develops in from two to five days after infection. A great many cases are mild, though the roup smell is present in their earliest stages, and some take a mild chronic form and run for a long time. It is these mild cases that cause most of the trouble with roup. The fowls having them, though not seemingly very sick themselves, carry the contagion about, and wherever they may be outbreaks of roup will appear at frequent intervals. Cause. — Authorities are agreed that this form of roup, to which it is more and more the practice to restrict the use of the term *' roup," is caused by a specific germ, but as to whether the germ is peculiar to the disease, they are not agreed. Some think it is; others think that the same germ causes diphtheria or diphtheritic roup, the difference between the two being a difference in develop- ment in different fowls under different circumstances. However that may be, the tendency is to treat them as distinct, and to call the form of roup with diphtheritic symptoms simply diphtheria. The catarrhal roup contagion is spread mostly through food and drink. In fact it is so generally spread by fowls eating and drink- ing together that practically no other way need be considered. Fowls having symptoms of roup must not be allowed to eat and drink with well fowls. When separated for this purpose other ways (if there are such) of communicating the disease cannot operate. Treatment. — Treatment of pronounced cases of roup is unprofit- able. The risk of retaining the disease in the yards in fowls apparently cured is too great, and the time necessary to give to the treatment of bad cases is generally worth more than the value of the fowls saved. The best thing to do when roup is discovered in a flock is to kill and burn or bury deep every bird which seems sick, and separate at once from the flock every bird showing any symptoms of cold, and treat as for bad colds,— the extent of the treatment being deter- INFLUENZA. DIPHTHERITIC ROUP. S^ mined by the symptoms in each case. Many birds will require nothing more than one of the general remedies given for colds. Some may need a few individual treatments, washing the mouth and throat, and anointing the face and the comb about the nostrils. The cure of bad cases of roup depends more on frequent individual treatments and on good nursing (including forcing nourishing food into the crop if the sick fowl cannot or will not partake of food itself). I have cured many very bad cases, but quit treating them years ago, because I found that as long as I cured roup I had more roup to cure. Influenza. So far as I have seen, Woods is the only writer who has described this disease, others making no distinction between it and roup, diphtheria, and severe colds. Woods describes it as "epizootic," or " grippe" — " a contagious germ disease often closely associated with roup," but in his opinion quite distinct from either roup or diphtheria. I judge from his description of symptoms and state- ments of causes that he would give this name to many cases of disease which some poultrymen have been accustomed to call " dis- temper," and consider either a form of roup or a chronic cold from which roup might develop. The symptoms he gives appear also to be identical with symptoms produced when several causes of colds operate simultaneously; as, for instance, when fowls are subjected to wrong or changeable temperature and bad hygienic conditions. I have often had correspondents report cases with these symptoms from overcrowded flocks with the first hot weather of summer, or from newly purchased stock shortly after its arrival. Briefly stated, the symptoms are of a sudden and severe cold, with high fever, generally diarrhea, and extreme debility. In very severe cases death may ensue within a few hours after the fowl is observed to be sick. Usually the bad cases linger for a day or two, while those that recover run for a week or ten days. Treatment the same as for bad colds. Diphtheria — Diphtheritic Roup. Symptoms. — The brief description of the symptoms and course of this disease given by Dr. Woods in an article on " Roup and Roupy Colds," published in Farm-Poultry, Oct. 15, 1902, is the most satisfactory I have seen, and I quote it here entire : — 54 THL COMMON-SENSL POULTRY DOCTOR. "It is sometimes difficult to tell just when roup leaves off and diphtheria begins, the two are often so intimately associated. Diphtheria or diphtheritic roup is a contagious germ disease. It may or may not have the ' roup smell.' " A fowl in apparent good health becomes suddenly ill, loses appetite, and appears dumpish. Eyes and nose may or may not show a frothy or glairy discharge in the early stages of the disease. Fowl is hot, comb is hot and deep red, and later becomes pale and drooping. May be cough with sharp ' pip ' sound, or may be diffi- cult breathing and lividness of face and comb. Examination of the throat shows much redness and inflammation, with small pearly or wash leather colored patches on the back part of the throat or about the cleft of the palate. These patches increase rapidly in size, and have a tendency to run together. The mem- brane may grow rapidly, filling the mouth and throat, and causing death from suffocation. The membrane is apparently a part with the mucous membrane of the throat, and any attempt to remove it will result in bleeding. (If the membrane does come away easily, and does not have a bleeding surface, the disease is not diphtheria). The fowl shows signs of great weakness from constitutional poison- ing. The membrane may extend into the windpipe and cause death from suffocation, or it may extend to the mucous membrane of the nasal passages and to the eyes, causing swollen head. The breath always has a very fetid odor. This is a decidedly differ- ent odor from the ' roup smell.' Roup may have any or all of these symptoms common to diphtheria, but does not have the following sequelae which belong to diphtheria: Paralysis of the heart may appear at any stage of diphtheria, and cause death. Cases which have apparently recovered may develop paralysis of the throat, which prevents swallowing. The fowl may lose the use of the legs or wings. The paralysis is not necessarily permanent. One attack of diphtheria predisposes to another, and a fowl should not be considered well until at least six months have elapsed since the last symptoms were observed, with no recurrence of symptoms." Treatment.— Treatment of diphtheria is more difficult and less often successful than treatment of roup (contagious catarrh). Only individual treatment will answer, and the treatment of a few cases would take up a considerable part of a man's timje while continued. TREATMENTS FOR DIPHTHERIA. 55 While urgently advising readers not to "doctor" cases of diph- theria, but to kill and properly dispose of the bodies, I give the treat- ments prescribed by Woods and Salmon, the first being a verbatim quotation from the article mentioned above, and the second an abstract of the longer statement in Salmon's " Diseases of Poultry." (Woods) — " Cleanse the mouth and throat frequently with a solu- tion of creolin (one teaspoonful in half a glass, four fluid ounces, of water). In cases where there is a thick tough membrane the swab (a bit of absorbent cotton twisted about the end of a tooth- pick) may be moistened with straight creolin and then held for a few minutes against the membrane, and moved gently over it. Don't drop any straight creolin into the windpipe unless you want to kill the patient. For internal medicine give a one one-hundredth of a grain tablet biniodide of mercury (or same strength pro- toiodide of mercury) four times daily until the membrane begins to disappear, and then gradually reduce the dose to one tablet daily. Continue the remedy for at least a week after the throat clears up. During convalescence the bird will need a tonic. Give five drop doses of Fellows' compound syrup of hypophosphites made into a pill with bread crumbs, three times daily." Dr. Salmon mentions a number of treatments for diphtheria in fowls : — I, — Apply a two per cent solution of either creolin or pure car- bolic acid in water to the diphtheritic spots three times a day, inject- ing a little of the solution into the nostrils ,• remove the diphtheritic membranes as soon as it can be done without bleeding, and continue the application of the remedy. 2. — Apply tincture of iodine to diseased spots in the mouth, and a solution of salicylic acid (i grain in an ounce of water) to the eyes. 3, — Apply boric acid, 15 grains to an ounce of water, to eyes, nostrils, and mouth as often as convenient. 4. — Remove membranes, apply boric acid solution, then cover affected parts with flowers of sulphur. 5. — Dissolve 35 grains of potassium and 2 grains salicylic acid in one ounce of water, and add one ounce of glycerine. Apply to the diphtheritic spots two or three times a day, and also give internally a teaspoonful to a fowl. 56 THF, COMMON-5EN5E. POULTRY DOCTOR. 6. — One grain each cayenne pepper, sulphate of quinine, sulphate of iron ; mix and make into pills with a small quantity of sjrup. Give the fowl at one dose. 7. — Mix 45 grains sulphate of iron and i dram finely pulverized carbonate of soda with syrup or honey to give proper consistency. Divide into fifty pills. As these last two prescriptions are especially recommended for the chronic or undeveloped form of diphtheria, I presume that the dose should be repeated at intervals, but no specific instructions on that point are given, perhaps because the poultry keeper must in each case use his judgment about continuing treatment, giving it until improvement is noticed. Having given these treatments for those who will try to doctor diphtheria in fowls, I would again urge upon the reader, as the better policy, never to try to treat a case of diphtheria, but to kill every fowl in an affected flock which shows any symptoms of the disease, for fowls apparently cured are likely to have other attacks, and the risks of the disease are too great to take chances with it. Congestion of the Lungs. This disease causes a great many of the sudden deaths and deaths after very short sickness which puzzle poultry keepers. It develops oftenest in young stock, particularly in chicks reared in brooders. Any stock exposed to severe changes of temperature is liable to it, and, of course, the more delicate fowls, and fowls out of condition, as when molting, are especially liable to take it when exposed to sudden changes or rigorous weather. Symptoms. — Difficult and rapid breathing, comb dark red or bluish, bird appears to be in a semi-comatose condition, bloody mucus may discharge from the mouth. A post mortem examina- tion of the lungs will show them full of blood and very dark in color. Causes. — Exposure to cold, chilling. Salmon says it also occurs in overfed birds, especially cage birds. The first causes given are those poultrymen should look for first when seeking to ascertain the cause of a case of sickness supposed to be congestion of the lungs. Overfeeding with fowls is more likely to develop other dis- orders before congestion of the lungs. CONGL5TION OF THL LUNG5, PNEUMONIA. 57 Treatment. — The course of the disease is so rapid that no treat- ment is likely to be successful, and the poultry keeper's attention should be directed rather to the prevention of further cases. The conditions which develop one or more cases of congestion of the lungs in a flock are likely to reduce the vitality of many others in the flock. Preventive treatment should look out first for the com- fort of the fowls, then see that they have an abundant, varied, rich, and mildly stimulating ration. Many cases of congestion of the lungs occurring among brooder chicks indicates something wrong with the brooding, either in the brooders or in the management. Sometimes the trouble is bad in the late winter and early spring, disappears almost or altogether in warm spring and early summer, and reappears with extreme hot w^eather. If one is losing many brooder chicks it is well to have some of those that die examined to discover the condition of the lungs, and if the fault is with the brooding it must be remedied. Otherwise the poultry keeper might as well quit hatching. Pneumonia. Dr. Salmon is, I think, the only one of the popular writers on poultry diseases who has made a distinction between pneumonia and congestion of the lungs. The others include both in pneu- monia. Pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs, Salmon describes as an alteration of the lungs one step beyond congestion. Says he : " If a bird affected with congestion of the lungs does not die or recover within a few hours the disease may develop into pneu- monia. In this disease there is not only a distention of the blood vessels, as with congestion, but there is thrown out from these vessels a liquid which fills the air cells, and, by coagulating, forms a semi-solid gelatinous substance that excludes the air and renders the lungs useless for respiration." Symptoms. — Ordinary observation would note rvo difference between outward symptoms of pneumonia and congestion of the lungs. Causes. — The authorities who make no distinction between con- gestion of the lungs and pneumonia, give the causes for pneu- monia substantially as they have been given in this book for con- gestion of the lungs. Sanborn states that the belief grows that the 58 THE COMMON-SLN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. disease is contagious. Salmon, in stating the causes, makes the matter plain. He sajs it is supposed that to produce pneumonia there must be with the causes that produce congestion of the lungs the agency of a germ, a species of bacteria, harmless when the lung is in normal condition, but harmful when conditions which cause congestion are present. Treatment. — Few fowls are worth the treatment required to effect a cure, and a cure is so uncertain that it is rarely worth while to attempt to treat pneumonia. In this, as in all hopeless cases, or cases unprofitable to treat, the poultry keeper, having made up his mind on that point, should promptly put the fowl out of its misery. Treatments prescribed are : — I. — "Keep the bird in a room of about 70 degrees, with steam from boiling water if possible. Give every six hours one grain phenacetin, and one grain sulpho-carbolate of zinc, mixed with bread crumbs enough to make a pill. Feed on raw egg and milk. Do not give quinine or spirits. Tincture aconite in the drinking water, or one drop every two hours in the egg and milk, will help control the hard breathing. If successful in saving the bird, build up its strength with tonics such as nux vomica or quinine." (San- born). 2. — " The bird should be immediately housed and kept »varm. Counter irritation must be applied over the region of the lungs by wetting the skin under the feathers on the back with tincture of iodine. Stimulants should be administered three or four times a day — two drops of spirits of camphor and ten drops of brandy in a teaspoonful of warm milk. Soft, nutritious diet, especially chopped beef, is necessary. Beaten egg and port wine is also use- ful. Three or four spots of chlorodyne may be given in a teaspoon- ful of linseed tea to relieve the more distressing symptoms ; and ultimately, if the case progresses favorably, mineral tonics and cod liver oil are favorable in establishing convalescence." (Hill). 3. — "Place bird in a warm room and cover with a piece of blanket, leaving the head uncovered that it may have plenty of air. Give linseed tea frequently in small quantities. To make this tea: Pour a pint of boiling water on an ounce of flaxseed, and keep hot, but not boiling, for two hours. Strain to remove the seeds. The liquid may then be used as a drink, or medicines may SORL LYL5 — CAUSE AND TRLATMLNT. 59 be given in it. Dissolve enough nitrate of potash in the drink to give the bird about one grain three times a day. If the bird is fail- ing and becomes sleepy, with comb turning dark, mix fifteen drops of tincture of digitalis with one ounce of water, and give ten drops of the mixture every two hours. To give medicine use a medicine dropper, and be careful to avoid getting it into the air passages. When the bird begins to improve, give a grain of quinine, or ten drops of cod liver oil twice a day." (Salmon). Conjunctivitis — Sore Eyes. After colds or mild cases of roup, (and sometimes from other causes), the eyes of fowls may be diseased. When the trouble follows colds or roup it is usually regarded as a symptom of the original trouble, which continues though the fowl is otherwise improved, and is often allowed to go on for some time without the special treatment it requires. When it develops from other causes it is often supposed to be roup, and treatment for that is given. Many cases recover without treatment, and many cases of eye trouble due to other causes, given a roup treatment recover, and the poultry keeper thinks he has cured a case of roup, and finding some after effects, especially in breeding, not as serious as is usual with true roup, is apt to be more careless about roup than is advis- able. It is, as a rule, only when roup remedies fail that the stranger to this disease begins to make inquiries about it. The authorities on diseases are in part to blame for this, for of them all Woods has been the only one to give it appropriate notice. Symptoms. — Gumming of eyelids, and mucus discharge from the eyes. Where there is a discharge of pus from the eyes in flam ma- ation of the cornea may develop. This is called keratitis. Woods says that if noticed early a small opaque white spot may be seen over the pupil. Whether the lids are gummed or not, the fowl keeps its eyes closed, the light being painful. Severe inflammation and ulceration may destroy the sight. Causes. — Causes of colds, roup, diphtheria, irritating dust in the eyes, injuries to eyes. Treatment. (Woods). — For simple conjunctivitis, give ten or fifteen drops tincture of euphrasia in a pint of drinking water. Bathe the eyes with mild solutions as used for colds, or anoint with 60 THE COMMON-5E.NSL POULTRY DOCTOR. two per cent creoHn mixture with lard or vaseline. For purulent cases give ten to fifteen drops tincture of Pulsatilla in the drinking water, and both wash and anoint the eyes w^ith the solutions and ointment mentioned. For keratitis : — Bathe eyes with cool water and a little hydrogen dioxide ; then anoint the inner part of the lids with an ointment made of ten grains finely powdered iodoform in an ounce of vase- line. Cleanse the nostrils, and dust the nose and cleft of palate with the following powder : Equal parts of pulverized camphor, boracic acid, and subnitrate of bismuth well mixed. CHAPTER VII Diseases Due to Improper Foods and Feeding. THE diseases discussed in this chapter probably cause more losses and more unproductiveness among adult fowls than all other classes of diseases. Some of the most common of them have no conspicuous symptoms, and the condition of the fowl may not even be suspected by an unsuspicious or ordinarily observant poultryman until revealed by post mortem examination of fowls to find a cause for death. Among young chickens losses due to improper temperature for broo.der chicks, and to exposure for chicks being reared by natural methods, may be more numerous, but losses from bad feeding are often heavy in the first few months, and in a great many instances the combination of wrong temperature and bad feeding causes heavy losses when neither cause alone is bad enough to have very serious effects. The bad effects of an improper food, or of good food fed under improper conditions, may be instantaneous and marked, or they may develop so slowly and obscurely that no outward symptom warns the feeder that he is going wrong. Old poultrymen are fre- quently found who have fed wrong for years, had the same trouble come from it every year, and yet could not be convinced that the fault was in their method of feeding, because they could not see the connection of cause and result. Digestive disorders may be due to other things than the food, or the way of feeding. Worms, by obstructing the digestive processes, may develop diseased conditions of one or more of the organs of 62 THL COMMON-5LNSL POULTRY DOCTOR. digestion. Contagious germ diseases attacking the intestines have somewhat the same effect. Hence if the food and feeding condi- tions are bejond criticism, and still something has plainly gone wrong somewhere in the digestive system of the fowl, (and espe- cially if several or many fowls are affected), the poultry keeper should look for symptoms of worms and contagious germ diseases. In a general way we may divide diseases due to improper foods and feeding into two classes : — I. — Diseases produced by taking into the system things which are themselves injurious. 2. — Diseases produced by the inability of the system to utilize proper food materials either because improperly served, or because the organs are weak. In a general way these divisions correspond to the division pre- viously indicated according to prominence of symptoms, injurious articles producing plain symptoms, usually very quickly, while dis- eases of the other kind develop slowly, and rarely present any noticeable symptoms. In a general way it may also be said that fowls at liberty are more likely to contract the more acute digestive troubles, while the chronic forms are more commonly found among fowls kept in confinement. These general differences are indicated that the reader may know what kinds of digestive disorders his method of poultry keeping makes it most necessary to guard against. Fowls at liberty, particularly in towns where they have access to all sorts of refuse, are especially subject to diseases of the crop, stom- ach, and intestines, resulting from eating filthy, putrid, poisonous, or irritant substances. Fowls at liberty on farms, as most farm fowls are, may occasionally get such substances, but the farmer is more likely to take proper care of them than is the city resident who has no animals of his own to be injured, and is indifferent as to what may happen to stock belonging to his neighbor. Fowls in confinement are most subject to indigestion and liver troubles. Diseases of the Crop. Symptoms and Causes. — The crop may be regarded as the first stomach of the fowl. Into it the food passes first, and in it is retained for a time while being softened and made fit for further digestive processes. Any serious interference with the functions of CAUSE, OF " CROP BOUND." 63 the crop is likely to cause the retention of food in it, and to produce the condition which poultrjmen call " crop bound." This crop bound condition may be due to any one of several causes : 1. — The crop may contain indigestible material — most frequently long hay — which the fowl can neither pass through to remainder of the digestive tract, nor expel through the mouth. 2. — The crop may be so crowded with digestible material that its walls are incapable of the action necessary to force the food onward. 3. — The passage from the crop may be obstructed. 4. — Enlarged, pendulous, or slack crop. 5. — Inflammation of the walls of the crop may occur either from irritating substances taken into it, or from food retained too long in it. This latter condition is often a result of disease further down the digestive tract, an obstruction in or failure to act of any part of the system necessarily react- ing on the other parts. Impaction of the Crop. It is sometimes a question in my mind whether anything but metal should be called indigestible for a fowl with robust digestive power. We say that the dry hay the fowl may take into the crop causes impaction, but the fact is that it is only in occasional instances that it does cause impaction. Far oftener the fowl eats dry hay or corn fodder till its crop is bulging, and is never seen to be at all the worse for it. I have seen this so often, that though an occasional case of impacted crop might properly be attributed directly to the overloading of the crop, the occurrence of a number of such cases in a flock at about the same time, would suggest that the real cause was indigestion, or weak digestion. I have repeat- edly given fowls which all their lives had been handled to make and keep digestive organs in first class condition all other condi- tions for developing cases of impacted crops, but have never been able to get a case that way. Impacted crop occurs oftenest when hens get out on the ground in the spring, and eat the dead grass to the distention of the crop, but may occur at any time as indicated in the categorical list of causes. Some people tell me that their fowls will become crop 64 THL COMMON-5LN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. bound at any time on any dry litter they may use in the scratching floors. When this happens the trouble is unquestionably due to indigestion, or to an abnormal appetite produced by indigestion or malnutrition. Where a crop bound condition develops it should be treated in the individual case, and if it is to any extent epidemic general measures should be taken to correct errors in feeding, and to improve digestion. Treatment. — " Cause the bird to swallow a tablespoon ful of castor oil ; then knead carefully the hard mass. If successful in softening it, hold the hen head downward and try to push the sub- stance along and out of the mouth. If swelled grain is the cause of the trouble, you will probably be successful ; but if matted hay or cornstalk makes up the mass, you will have to open the crop. " If someone can hold the bird for you it will make the operation easier. Pluck out a few feathers and then cut through the skin over the crop a line about one inch long. This cut should be in the medium line of the body. Then make an incision three-fourths of an inch long through the crop. The distention of the crop will cause the opening to gape, and the mass will be in plain sight. With toothpicks, blunt pointed scissors, tweezers, or similar tools, take out the contents of the crop. This done, run the finger into the crop and make sure that there is nothing remaining to obstruct the outlet to the organ. When sure all is right, take three or four stitches in the opening in the crop, making each stitch by itself, and tying a knot that will not slip. Then do the same thing to the cut in the skin. For stitches use white silk (or if nothing better can be obtained) common cotton thread, number sixty. Keep the bird by itself for a week, feeding soft food." — (Farm-Poultry Doctor J. While the above treatment may be followed as given, these few additional suggestions by Salmon (Diseases of Poultry) may profit- ably be applied. Instead of castor oil sweet oil may be used, administering a small quantity at first and other small quantities as they seem to be needed to assist the process of softening the con- tents of the crop by kneading. In making the cut to open the crop make it rather high on the crop, that the pressure of food on it while healing may be as light as possible. LNLARGLD, OR PLNDULOUS CROP. 65 After removing the contents of the crop, wash the wound with a solution of carbolic acid, five drops to one ounce of water. After the operation give no food, and only a little water to which a grain or two of salicjlic acid has been added, for twenty-four hours. Then give milk only for two or three days, after which gradually change to mush and more solid food. The operation is not a difficult one, and is usually successful if the operator is careful, and at all deft with his fingers and in the manipulation of the knife, but if bunglingly and carelessly per- formed, or if the fowl is neglected or fed hard food after the opera- tion the cuts may not heal properly. Enlarged Crop. Symptoms. — The crop sometimes becomes very much enlarged and prominent, but hanging loosely, not bulging and hard, as in impaction of the crop. This form of permanent enlargement and displacement is called enlarged crop, slack crop, or pendulous crop. It may exist with little inconvenience and detriment to the fowl. Causes. — Sanborn says that this condition of the crop results from irregular feeding; that the fowls having had no food, or an insufficient supply for a day or two, overload the crop at the first opportunity. This may be the cause in a great many cases, yet it can hardly be the sole cause, for cases of slack crop are not infre- quently found in fowls that have been well and regularly fed. Hence it seems to me that Sanborn's statement requires some explanation and addition to make it cover the causes. If a fowl is fed heavily, and from any cause (as indigestion) the crop remains full and distended too long, though this condition may in time be relieved in the natural way without interference of the keeper, the effect on the crop is the same as if the overloading had occurred because of irregular feeding. If this condition is repeated several times the walls of the crop become in some degree permanently distended, and if the fowls are fed heavily without much exercise the tendency is to steadily exaggerate this condition. Again, simply as a result of heavy feeding without sufficient intervals between meals, and without sufficient exercise some fowls develop at the same time a ** baggy " crop and a " baggy " abdomen. 66 THL COMMON-SLN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. Treatment. — Onlj in case of a very valuable bird is treatment worth while. Sanborn advises operating as for impaction, making cuts three times as long, clean out the crop, then cut out of the most enlarged part of the crop a piece of skin from one to two inches wide and about two inches long, shaped like a diamond or a pair of ( ). Sew edges together with silk, and give after treatment as in crop bound cases. Inflammation or Catarrh of the Crop. This is a disease which rarely develops independently, for the causes which produce it will almost invariably develop diseased ■conditions in other parts of the digestive tract at the same time. It occurs quite regularly with gastritis. Symptoms. — The crop is distended with food, liquid or gas ; is not hard, but fluctuating to the touch. There is belching of gas, efforts to vomit, and the crop contents may have an offensive smell. The fowl is alternately restless and dull, the breathing spasmodic. It loses appetite and strength. Causes. — Eating indigestible or irritant substances. This covers <]uite a long list from foods containing indigestible particles, or foods so damaged that a slow irritation is set up, to foreign and poisonous substances which quickly produce acute inflammation. The irritating effects of foods are more marked in young chickens than in adult fowls, and generally appear much more readily in fowls that take little exercise than in those that are active and vigorous. When highly irritating or poisonous substances are taken into the system the difference in results is not marked, though a vigorous healthy fowl does seem better able to overcome their effects. The foods and substances specially mentioned as causing inflammation of the crop are : Decomposed meats and putrid foods of any kind, unslaked lime, paint skins, rat poison, excessive use of condiments and spices, milled by-products con- taining too large proportions of hulls or other indigestible fibrous particles. Salmon notes that it may result from the presence of worms in the crop, and that it occurs as a complication with thrush, diphtheria, and cholera. As has been stated, it also occurs fre- quently with gastritis. CATARRH OF THL CROP — TRLATMLNT5. 67 Treatment. — If the cause of inflammation is known, it will help in determining the course of treatment. '^If unslaked lime has been taken, give for drink vinegar water. " If phosphorus has been taken, given magnesia. " If lead* (paint) has been eaten, give six drops diluted sulphuric acid in three tablespoonfuls warm water. "In all these cases try to empty the crop by holding the head downward and working the contents of the crop out through the mouth. If crop is nearly empty give warm water to furnish some- thing to work upon. After the crop is empty give for drink flax- seed tea, and feed lightly for several days." (" Farm-Poultry Doctor "). The general treatment recommended by Salmon, ("Diseases of Poultry"), is — after emptying crop : " Give two grains subnitrate of bismuth and one-half grain bicarbonate of soda in a teaspoonful of water. Keep the bird without food for eighteen or twenty hours, then feed sparingly of soft, easily digested food. If one-half grain of quinine is given morning and night for two or three days recovery is hastened." Salmon also mentions salicylic acid as prescribed by some authorities to be given after the crop is empty. Dissolve one grain in one ounce of water, and give two or three teaspoonfuls as a dose. " Mucilaginous or albuminous fluids, such as barley water, milk, isinglass, or a thin solution of gum should be freely administered alter the first evacuation of the crop. Should phosphorus have been taken, magnesia should be given, followed by turpentine mixed in cream. Oil being a solvent of phosphorus, must on no account be administered. " Crude or unslaked lime is an irritant poison to fowls, pro- ducing inflammation of the throat, gullet, crop, gizzard, and intes- tines. Oil should at once be administered, followed by full and frequent doses of mucilaginous or albuminous fluids." (" Diseases of Poultry." Hill). *Such earth paints as Venetian red and the various mineral browns are not injurious to fowls. Venetian red is said to have some medicinal value. 68 THL COMMON-SEN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. Qastritis — Inflammation of the Stomach. In fowls the stomach proper is a small organ, appearing more like an enlargement of the aesophagus just before it reaches the gizzard, than like a separate organ. Ordinarily it is difficult or impossible to make a distinction by outward symptoms between inflammation of the crop and inflammation of both crop and stomach. In the comparatively rare cases in which there appears to be gastritis or inflammation of the stomach alone, the disease is not likely to be identified with any degree of certainty except as a result of discovery of a cause for it. Symptoms. — In general the same as for inflammation of the crop, (which see). In simple gastritis, the stomach alone being affected, the distention of the crop might not be especially notice- able, though there were some gas passing through it. Constipation is a frequent symptom in gastritis. Causes. — In general the same as for inflammation of the crop, (which see). Treatment. — " Remove cause if possible to discover it. Give rice water for drink, soft mash made with the water in which clover hay has been cooked. Arsenite of copper, one-fourth grain to each quart of the rice water (drink) will do for medicinal treat- ment." (" Farm-Poultry Doctor"). " If the disease is identified in its early stages, seek for its cause and endeavor to overcome it by removing the cause. Change the ration and give more easily digested food with some meat. Feed regularly, often, and a small quantity at a time. Give some cooked food with barley water or milk for drink, or put twenty grains of bicarbonate of soda to a quart of drinking water. In severe cases give two grains of subnitrate of bismuth three times a day in a teaspoonful of water. Counteract constipation with epsom salts (twenty grains) or castor oil (one teaspoonful) once a day as long as may be necessary." ("Diseases of Poultry." Salmon). " Nourishment in the shape of soft, cooked, and mucilaginous food. Medicinally, a little salad oil, to overcome constipation, also injection of some per rectum. A grain each of opium and calomel occasionally. For drinking purposes, lime water and milk, and barley water." (" Diseases of Poultry." Hill). DI5LA5L5 OF THL LIVLR. 69 The reader should note that in two of these treatments great stress is put on the finding and removal of the cause. With fowls at liberty, especially in towns, it is often hard to find the cause, and unless one can find some cause for gastritis and inflammation of the crop at home, or in the house, if the fowls have the run of his own premises, he should confine them where he is sure that they can get nothing but what he wants them to have, and see to it that he gives them nothing that would produce or aggravate the diseased conditions he is trying to correct. From the correspondence and conversations I have had with poultrymen whose fowls had acute trouble, which from their descriptions seemed to be inflammation of either crop or stomach, or both, I find that many attempt to correct the trouble by the medicinal treatment without giving due attention to diet, and without either removing the cause or isolating the fowls from any possible cause. It should be noted, also, that one treatment suggests a complete change of food. The object of this is to secure the removal of any possible cause of trouble in the food. Diseases of the Liver. The annual losses of poultry due to liver trouble in various forms are numerous. These diseases seem to occur chiefly among adult fowls, and to be most prevalent in the latter part of the winter and through the spring. The reasons for their frequency then are easily found. The common forms of liver trouble result from improper feeding and lack of exercise. These causes operate most extensively during the winter, and they usually operate slowly, and the symptoms of liver troubles are generally obscure and not recognized until a post mortem of fowls dying without special out- ward symptoms shows a diseased condition of the liver. Hence liver trouble may become general and reach advanced stages in a flock before their presence is suspected. Meantime, the conditions which cause them may be continued, the owner of a flock not infre- quently supposing that the absence of sickness in it contradicts the teachings of those who advise methods designed to preserve health, while as a matter of fact many of his fowls are in a quite advanced stage of some liver complaint. 70 THE COMMON-5LNSE. POULTRY DOCTOR. The more common forms of liver complaints are not contagious, but as all the fowls in a flock or in a large stock are equally subject to the conditions producing the disease, the keeper, not unnaturally, may at first attribute deaths from liver trouble to some mysterious and rapidly fatal epidemic. While the developments of liver trouble resulting from improper feeding and lack of exercise are not contagious, even though they may appear as an epidemic, some of these same forms of liver trouble occur also in contagious diseases affecting other organs Salmon mentions cholera, tuberculosis, aspergillosis, and the black- head of turkeys as the contagious diseases most frequently produc- ing liver troubles as complications. The liver, he says, is particu- larly subject to the attacks of the parasites which cause these and some other diseases. In what degree an absolutely healthy liver may be less vulnerable to attacks of these parasites, does not appear. Perhaps it could not be demonstrated, but on general principles and from the fact that the measures recommended to prevent these diseases are to a considerable extent the ordinary rules for the preservation of health, I think we may say that while correct feeding and sanitary conditions and good health do not furnish immunity from any contagious disease, they do in general greatly reduce both the numbers affected and the seriousness of the attacks. Congestion of the Liver. Symptoms. — There are no special external symptoms. Sanborn mentions as early symptoms : Rovigh plumage ; watery diarrhea, first brownish, then yellow; lack of appetite and indisposition to move. The comb may be purplish at first, becoming dark, and then quite black. Hill says that there is sometimes a slight enlargement and heat at the bottom of the breast bone. Causes. — There have been variously stated by different author- ities, no one furnishing a complete list. Salmon mentions as causes : — Lack of exercise and overfeeding; tainted or moldy food ; or poisonous substances ; effects of con- tagious diseases ; obstruction of circulation of the blood by disease of the heart and lungs. Sanborn, after mentioning the overfeeding of fat producing foods and excessive use of spices and stimulants as general causes of TRLATMENT5 FOR CONGESTION OF THE LIVER. 71 liver troubles, says that congestion of the liver may be caused by any disease of crop, gizzard, or bowels, that obstructs the circula- tion of the blood. Disease of the egg passage he mentions as fre- quently accompanied by congestion of the liver. Feeding '^ egg foods " to hens in close confinement has a tendency to produce this condition, as also have the feeding of too large proportion of corn, or corn meal or potatoes. Hill says that the disease is especially liable to occur among fowls confined in a hot locality or houses and fed stimulating food. Vale, who for many years has made a specialty of post mortem examinations for English poultrymen, gives as causes, — a chill, a close unsanitary house, unsuitable food, too free use of condiments, and invasion by disease germs. The last he considers the most common cause of congestion of the liver, a conclusion in which the other authorities do not seem to coincide, and which does not apparently hold good for cases as currently' reported to me by corre- spondents. By far the larger proportion of cases of liver trouble coming to my notice are accounted for by bad feeding conditions. A post mortem examination of a fowl affected with congestion of the liver shows that organ enlarged, full of blood, tender and easily torn. Treatments. — In a disease like this in which there are no pro- nounced external symptoms to positively identify it, treatment must generally be tentative. It would probably be given intelli- gently only when one or more fowls having died of liver trouble, examination of the bodies showed what was wrong — and when other fowls of the flock showed similar symptoms of indisposition the natural inference would be that the cause was the same, and treatment would be given for congestion of the liver. Also in a case where the general symptoms indicated occurred and some of the causes of liver trouble were known to be present, it would be a good guess that the trouble was with the liver, and treatment for congestion of the liver would be the most promising line of treat- ment to follow. A number of treatments are recommended : " A teaspoonful of castor oil, or one-half teaspoonful sulphate of magnesia, dissolved in water, given once a day, combined with a diet of cut clover in winter, or cooping out on grass in summer^ will be helpful." (Sanborn). 72 THL COMMON-SLN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. " Give sulphate of magnesium, or sulphate of sodium in a purga- tive dose (20 grains to a dram), and follow with sulphate of mag- nesium 10 grains, bicarbonate of sodium 2 grains, repeated daily for a Aveek." (Salmon). " Ten grains each of sulphate of magnesia and bicarbonate of soda daily until four or five doses have been given ; afterwards a little powdered gentian should be mixed with the food, and a little introhydrochloric acid mixed in the drinking water." (Hill). General Treatment for Flocks Having Numerous Cases of Congestion OF the Liver. — In this country by far the greater part of the liver troubles among fowls seem to have their beginning in warm winter weather. All through our northern states fowls have to be confined to their houses much of the winter. When the snow is deep the only opportunity they have to get out is when the keeper shovels off a little space for them near the house. Even this little is often neglected, and it is quite the common thing for fowls not to get out of their houses for four, five, or even six months at a time. Not only are they closely confined, but the poultryman •endeavoring to make the most of his equipment usually overcrowds them. Added to this is another error : The winter ration, adapted to cold winter weather, is too often given just the same through all kinds of changes, when there are many periods of from a day or two to as many weeks, when the ration should be less heating and stimulating. If due attention is given to adapting the diet to the temperature, there need be little trouble from the other unfavorable conditions ; but if all three unfavorable conditions operate at the same time a iew cases of liver trouble will be likely to appear at any time, and are almost certain to develop toward the end of the winter. Just as soon as it is suspected that there is liver trouble in the flock one or more indisposed birds should be killed and examined If examina- tion confirms the suspicion prompt measures should be taken to counteract bad tendencies. These should look first to good diet. Make the mash, if mash is used, light and bulky; feed green and vegetable foods liberally; compel exercise in scratching for food. Then get the fowls out a little every day, and if sanitary conditions in the house are at all objectionable correct them. INFLAMMATION OF THL LIVER. 73 When the conditions to which a flock has been subjected are such that a number of bad cases of liver trouble develop, it cannot be expected that corrective measures v^^ill arrest development and restore to health in every case. On the contrary, a few cases may develop in spite of remedial measures, and the fowls exposed to the disease are likely to give a much larger proportion of cases of sick- ness of various kinds afterwards than fowls that as a flock had always been healthy. This being the case, it is generally good policy to dispose of a flock that has been through such an experi- ence as this as soon as it can be done to advantage, and replace with always healthy stock. Inflammation of the Liver. Inflammation of the liver is an advanced stage of congestion of the liver. Symptoms. — There are none that are regularly associated with this disease and peculiar to it. Vale says it is impossible for the most scientific observer to diagnose either inflammation or conges- tion of the liver with positive certainty. The symptoms are much the same, and outwardly are the common general symptoms of dis- ease. Hill says there is sometimes enlargement of the abdomen and tenderness on external pressure, sometimes a jaundiced or yellow hue of the skin, and, not infrequently, lameness in the right leg. Causes. — Same as in congestion of the liver. Treatment. — Rarely successful. The disease is sometimes rapidly fatal, again assumes a chronic form, and the fowl quickly wastes away. Only in case of a valuable specimen is it worth while to attempt treatment. Even in such cases, if the fowl does not promptly respond to treatment, it is as well to discontinue it and put the bird out of misery. Some of the medical treatments recommended are : — " Half a grain each of calomel and opium, repeated in six hours, and followed by ten grain doses of tartrate of potash morning and night." Hill. ' ** About twenty grains of sal ammoniac in a wineglassful of rather warm water twice a day." Vale. " Begin with one-half to one grain calomel, followed with twenty 74 THE. COMMON-SLNSE POULTRY DOCTOR. grains of epsom salts and two grains bicarbonate of soda after twelve hours. Napthol or benzonapthol may be given twice a day in one grain doses to disinfect the intestinal canal." Salmon. " A teaspoonful of sulphate of magnesia dissolved in water at night, and the next morning one-half teaspoonful of castor oil. Tincture nux vomica, one-fourth teaspoonful to a pint of water, to be kept constantly within reach for drink." Sanborn. Diet as recommended under " General Treatment, " on page 72. How TO Distinguish Practically Between Liver Troubles. The practical question which comes up in the mind of the reader in connection with these two diseases and becomes more insistent as he learns of the other liver troubles which are, like them, obscure in their symptoms, and not to be identified with certainty during the life of the fowl is : — How am I to know when to apply one treat- ment, and w'hen another advised as more appropriate to another form of disease ? The answ^er to the question is that medical treatment for such dis- eases must be mostly by guess. As between the two forms of dis- ease already considered, the poultry keeper would have to be guided, if he concluded to give medicines in the treatment of those he attempted to doctor, by what he discovered in examination of such birds as died or might be killed for examination, and somewhat by the length of the sickness of a fowl. It does not appear from any of the authorities at hand that a post mortem of a fowl having inflammation of the liver shows symptoms plainly different from those described for congestion. There is no mention of an appear- ance of the organ peculiar to this stage of the disease. Apparently the only way to differentiate between them is, when liver diseases develop in a flock, and that fact has been established, to treat fowls which show signs of ailing for congestion first, and then if no improvement is made rnd the disease seems to pass into a chronic form, to treat for inflammation. This suggestion is for those who insist on treatment ; the more practical Avay is to give the whole flock the general treatment recommended on page 72, and kill all ailing fow-ls that do not soon improve with such treatment. The following developments of liver trouble are recognizable only after post mortem examination, and can be given specific treatment HYPERTROPHY AND ATROPHY OF THL LIVER. 75 only on the assumption that if fowls that die or are killed uniformly show the same condition other fowls becoming sick should be given the treatment appropriate to that form of liver trouble. Enlargement or Hypertrophy of the Liver. This is a condition of overdevelopment or abnormal growth of the liver. It is very common in old fowls, and may develop in any fowls well fed and given little opportunity to exercise. It does not appear to be essentially different from the condition of the liver produced when, principally in some foreign countries, fowls are fed to produce excessive development of the liver, the liver so enlarged being esteemed a great delicacy. Naturally those who grow these livers contend that there is quite a difference in the con- dition of the liver artificially enlarged by design, and that which has attained unnatural proportions without any intent on the part of anj^one to produce such condition. However that may be, the enlarged liver considered as an organ with functions to perform in the assimilation of food is an abnormal organ, not in condition to perform its functions normally, and so diseased, according to the definition of disease mentioned at the beginning of Chapter 11. ; and further usefulness of the fowl depends on a restoration of normal conditions. Symptoms. — There are no special external symptoms. Sanborn says fowls in this condition sit on the ground most of the time, and refuse to go to roost — symptoms, however, which occur very often in other cases. Treatment. — General correction of habits, with diet as in other liver troubles. Sanborn suggests giving as drink a half teaspoon- ful powdered muriate of ammonia to each quart of water. Atrophy or Wasting of the Liver. This disease, and that next described, are somewhat alike in symptoms. Ordinarily no practical purpose would be served by making the distinction between them. They may be regarded by the poultryman as different developments from the same general causes, which he cannot identify during the life of the fowl, and which it is to his advantage to identify after death, only as they 76 THL COMMON.5EN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. may furnish evidence of long continued mismanagement, and lead him to adopt better methods of feeding and caring for his fowls. Symptoms. — There are no special external symptoms. An examination of the fowl after death shows the liver shrunken and somewhat granular, and sometimes of a jellowish cast. With the decay of the liver tissue Salmon tells us there is sometimes a partial development of new tissue, but not to a degree that restores the organ to its functions. Causes. — In the statement of causes we find some authorities differ, though as all treatments of the topic are very brief, such differences are readily accounted for without assuming these author- ities to be at variance. Each probably mentions the cause which most impressed him. Salmon thinks it a common development from chronic inflammation of the liver, but mentions as causes given by others, compression, due to an excess of abdominal fat, and infection. Sanborn and Hill give most prominence to lack of nutrition, both stating that they have observed the disease in fowls that were given an insufficient supply of food, or a ration lacking in some requisite. Treatment. — The general treatment for liver troubles. San- born advises with this the generous feeding of green cut bone and ^' Fowler's solution of arsenic," a teaspoonful in each quart of drinking water, the water to be fresh daily. Salmon suggests the same treatment as for inflammation of the liver. Fatty Degeneration of the Liver. Salmon, alone, of the authorities I have used makes special mention of this disease. From my own correspondence I judge it to be quite as common as the foregoing. Inquiries frequently describe the symptoms of it so plainly that there is no mistaking it. Symptoms. — No special external symptoms. A post mortem shows the liver shrunken, hard, with yellowish or grayish streaks or spots. Salmon says a microscopic examination often shows the liver tissue partially destroyed and replaced by fat. The condition of the liver in this disease is sometimes so like the condition in tuberculosis as to render positive identification difficult. Causes. — The general causes of liver troubles. Treatment. — The general treatment given on page 72. INTESTINAL TROUBLES. 77 Jaundice, Biliary Repletion. This is another disease discussed only by Salmon, who quotes from Megnin concerning it. A number of cases have been described to me where it appeared in connection with other forms of liver trouble. Symptoms. — None externally, except that sometimes the comb and wattles are yellowish, — a symptom which may occur in other forms of liver trouble. A post mortem examination shows the bile so abundant that it abnormally distends the gall sac, and may pene- trate the adjoining organs, discoloring them for some distance, and causing poisoning and death. Causes. — Chronic, mild congestion of the liver, or continuous feeding of rations containing too great an excess of starch or fat. Treatment. — Change to a diet, including a great variety. Megnin recommends a purgative dose of aloes, 1-2 to i grain. Diseases of the Intestines. While improper foods and feeding are the most common causes of intestinal disorders, there are other causes which may produce various kinds of intestinal troubles either in the same forms or in forms so like as not to be clearly differentiated by the lay poultry doctor. In this chapter we will take up only the developments of intestinal derangement in which improper foods and feeding are the sole or principal causes, leaving the contagious intestinal dis- eases to be treated in the chapters devoted to contagious diseases, and internal parasites. In discussing this class of diseases it is sometimes a puzzle to make a comparison of the views of different authorities, for there is probably no other class of diseases in regard to which there are such differences of opinion leading to divisions of the subject which make accurate comparisons impossible. The divisions of the subject which I have made are doubtless open to criticism from a professional standpoint, and may be in some respects inconsistent, but my experience in advising treatment for different forms of diarrhea indicates such a division of the subject as I have made as the one which is most likely to help poultrymen to apply in each case the line of treatment best adapted to it. 78 THL COMMON-5LN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. Diarrhea, Simple Diarrhea. This is a very common trouble. In many fowls it is constitu- tional and chronic, and continues in mild form all through the life of the fowl, never perhaps dangerous, but nearly always in some degree detrimental. Few fowls do not have more or less diarrhea. Many cases recover quickly, and without treatment. At the same time diarrhea is a symptom in many dangerous diseases, and for this reason, and because the general debility and local sus- ceptibility which result from a chronic diarrhea make fowls less able to resist disease, right conditions of the bowels should be maintained. Symptoms. — A mild diarrhea shows no symptoms that attract notice but the condition of the excrement. Normally the droppings of fowls are rather dry, retain the shape in which they are voided, and may readily be removed, leaving the spot on which they had fallen either slightly stained, or not at all. From droppings boards on which land plaster, dry earth, sifted coal ashes, or other absorb- ent of the kind has been sprinkled, the droppings, if of the normal consistency and character, may readily be brushed or scraped, leav- ing no trace whatever, and only very slightly soiling broom, hoe, or shovel. Without marked departure from the normal droppings may be wet — watery — with a tendency to flatten on the surface on which they rest. On boards they moisten the surface for some distance around them. On an earth floor or a surface well covered with dust or other absorbent, the moisture from them will cause a con- siderable amount of the absorbent to adhere to the droppings, the excess of water in them is readily taken up by any absorbent present. This condition of the droppings is constitutional with some fowls, and characteristic of some methods of feeding. It is perhaps most appropriately described as " looseness." It is not diarrhea, though fowls having it are probably more susceptible to intestinal diseases than others. It may continue for a long time, and even throughout the life of the fowl apparently without being detrimental to its health or productiveness. When such stock is used for breeding, however, an unusual amount of bowel trouble is likely to occur in chicks produced from it. Mere looseness of the bowels is not accompanied by any offensive odor. 5IMPLL DIARRHEA. 79 When the excrement becomes soft and pasty or liquid in con- sistency and whitish, yellowish, greenish or brownish in color, and has a more or less marked offensive odor, the condition is properly described as diarrhea. The evacuations in diarrhea are often of such consistency that the water in them is not readily taken up by absor1)ent§ with which they come in contact, and they are decidedly nasty, not only adhering to utensils used in removing them, and making ordinary cleaning difficult, but soiling the feathers of the fowls and sticking to roosts, nests, and feed troughs. Causes. — Diarrhea may come from any cause that affects the digestive organs. As may be noted in reading over this book, diarrhea occurs as a symptom in a very large proportion of the dis- eases of poultry. The immediate cause of diarrhea occurring inde- pendently is generally improper feeding. Sometimes the effects are almost instantaneous, and continue hardly longer than the time required for the disturbing substance to pass throtfgh the system. Again the diarrhea develops s4owly, and though it may be corrected without medical treatment, by simply correcting the diet it requires some time after correct conditions are established before the diar- rhea completely disappears. Unfavorable temperature conditions developing colds which seem to affect the bowels rather than the head, throat, and lungs — the parts most susceptible to such conditions — cause diarrhea much oftener than is generally supposed. In such cases the excrement is apt to show a preponderance of watery or frothy mucus which adheres to the feathers about the vent, and is intensely irritating to the skin. Diarrhea from bad temperature conditions may occur though the food and method of using it are beyond criticism, but in the greater number of instances it seems to be a case of a cold settling in the weakest organs, and the development of diarrhea merely hastened as a result of it, or diarrhea produced by a combi- nation of causes, when the operation of a single cause had not created any disturbance. Young chickens are much more susceptible to diarrhea than adult fowls. This is especially noted in the effects of wrong temperatures on brooder chicks, — the temperature conditions being so difficult to control. Young chickens are almost invariably more easily affected by improper feeding than are adult fowls. This is in part because 80 THE COMMON-5LN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. the organs are more delicate and sensitive, and in part because they are so much smaller, and therefore more seriouslj irritated by the foreign substances often given with the food. Treatment. — Cases of simple diarrhea, due to improper feeding and chronic looseness of the bowels, are most satisfactorily treated by correcting the diet. Ordinarily no other treatment will be necessary. The error in feeding must be found and eliminated in the one class of cases. In the other, a system of feeding adapted to the peculiar constitutional characteristics of the fowls must be followed — usually " dry feeding," that is, giving all grain food, including mill stuffs, dry. With some fowls it is only necessary to continue the dry feeding until the looseness has disappeared entirely, when they may gradually be put back on the ordinary diet, and the looseness will not reappear. In other cages looseness can only be avoided by constant dry feeding. When fowls having a chronic looseness of the bowels are useji for breeding, they should be " dry fed" for some months prior to the breeding season, and all through it. By this means care being taken to avoid other causes of bowel trouble in the chicks, the tendency is much reduced in a single season, and I have known cases where it seemed to have been overcome within a year. When catarrhal discharges indicate colds, treatment seldom needs to go beyond keeping the fowls dry, warm, and comfortable, and giving suitable food. Nearly all cases of simple diarrhea yield readily to simple treatments if given before the trouble has been allowed to develop into something worse. If for any reason a sick fowl seems slow to respond to dietary and hygienic treatment try one of the following treatments : — " A teaspoonful of sweet oil every four hours, and feed with crust of bread scalded with boiling milk." Vale. *' One teaspoonful castor oil, followed in an hour with five grains Dover's powder." Sanborn. " A teaspoonful of castoi oil, followed by 5 grains of rhubarb, 10 grains of carbonate of soda, or a grain of opium." Hill. " Chlorodyne, 3 to 6 drops in a dessert spoonful of water or port wine." Hill. '* For severe cases, a pill containing i grain each tannic acid and opium." Hill. INFLAMMATION OF THL BOWELS. 81 Severe Diarrhea — Enteritis — Dysentery. The lack of harmony among authorities on poultry diseases as ta the distinctions to be made between diarrhea, severe diarrhea, enteritis, and dysentery, becomes apparent on the most casual com- parison of the different discussions of bowel complaints. But the more one seeks to find the truth in a reconciliation of their differ- ences, the more likely is he to come to the conclusion that their disagreements can make little practical difference to the poultryman treating diseases or studying conditions of disease in his flocks. The differences which might be confusing cease to be seriously troublesome as soon as we come to an appreciation of two facts : — ( I ) that in the main the authorities differ on names and classifica- tions rather than on essential facts; (2) that in most cases it is practically impossible to distinguish during the life of the fowl >etween some of the different forms of acute bowel trouble. We may consider these acute forms of bowel trouble as resulting from a variety of causes which may be roughly grouped in three classes : — I. — Inflammation of the bowels developing from simple diarrhea. 2. — Inflammation of the bowels resulting from poisonous or mechanically irritant substances. 3. — Inflammation of the bowels due to the presence of parasitic germs and spores. Whatever the cause of the disease, the general symptoms are much the same. Perhaps the only features that afford any indica- tion of the probable cause of a particular case of inflammation of the intestines are the rapidity of development of the disease and the color of the diarrheal discharges — and these are very unreliable guides. The practical method of proceeding in cases of serious, bowel trouble is to apply the general treatment needed to allay the inflammation of the intestines and keep up the strength of the fowl,, and at the same time seek to discover the cause. Having found the cause, special treatment appropriate to the case may be given if necessary, but in any event, steps should be taken to make it inoperative. To find the cause of an outbreak of dysentery or enteritis, is one of the most puzzling things in the treatment of poultry diseases. S2 THL COMMON-5LN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. Before describing symptoms and treating more particularly of causes I will try to give briefly a statement of the ideas of author- ities on bowel complaints, which I hope may help readers to avoid the confusion of mind concerning them which has been an unfortu- nate result of the disagreements of the doctors, and of carelessness in the use of names. The term, "enteritis," has for some years been growing in com- mon usage. A decade ago it was quite unfamiliar in this country. (Speaking only of its use among poultry men). A severe diarrhea accompanied by bloody discharges was more likely to be called dysentery, or bloody dysentery, or bloody flux. A severe diarrhea with greenish discharges was commonly called cholera. Under some circumstances it would probably be impossible for anyone but a specialist to positively distinguish between cholera and some forms of enteritis. But the ordinary poultryman is usually safe in assuming that symptoms which might indicate cholera are not cholera unless developed in connection with the temperature and climatic conditions favorable to the specific germ which causes cholera. These are extreme heat, and a considerable degree of humidity. In any of the more temperate and cooler sections of the country cases of genuine chicken cholera are almost unknown. In warmer sections they occur probably with some frequency, but still are not nearly so prevalent as is commonly supposed. In the northern and western parts of this country one may feel quite safe in diagnosing a disease as enteritis rather than cholera, unless it occurs during or following a period of very hot and quite damp weather. Under such circumstances there would be some uncertainty, but still with the chances against the disease being cholera. Hence in the great majority of cases in which aggravated diarrhea occurs as a symptom it is safe to assume that the trouble is not cholera, which is due to a specific germ, but enteritis, which may be caused by any one or by a combination of several of many causes, and which, generally considered, is a far less deadly and dangerous disease. It is important for the poultry keeper who suspects he has cholera to understand what is the prob- ability of his surmise being correct, because the general attitude toward cholera is one of helplessness, while with enteritis one may reasonably assume that he has a better chance to check the malady, GA5TRO-INTE5TINAL TROUBLES. 83 and at any rate should appreciate that it is due to a cause which must be found and properly treated in connection with the treat- ment of the disease. The dictionary definitions, presumed to have been furnished by authorities on the use of medical terms, make a distinction between dysentery and enteritis. Dysentery they indicate as properly applicable to inflammation of the large intestine ; enteritis to inflammation of the small intestine. Even the definitions which indicate such a distinction do not observe it. Dysentery as a poultry disease is mentioned by only one of my authorities on poultry diseases, and described only in an incidental and unsatis- factory way. Another considers enteritis not as a disease but as a symptom of a disease, which is too fine a distinction for laymen, and apparently, also, for some other medical men. Salmon presents the most consistent arrangement and differentia- tion of enteric, or intestinal troubles. The name enteritis means literally inflammation of the intestine. Every case of inflammation of the intestines he considers as some form of enteritis. Gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach, and enteritis, or inflammation of the intestine, frequently occur in conjunction. Perhaps neither condition could become chronic without inducing the other. As it is practically impossible to say from the symptoms of a living bird whether inflammation is limited to one part of the digestive tract, or extends to others, this authority describes simple diarrhea as (in its simplest form or early stage) gastro-intestinal catarrh, and (in more advanced stage) gastro-enteritis. These terms would probably cover all cases of diarrhea due to ordinary causes — that is, to errors in feeding, to poor quality of food, and to tempera- ture. He notes as the distinguishing feature of post mortem exam- ination of such cases that in cases that are merely catarrhal only superficial changes are found in the parts affected, while in gastritis and enteritis the inflammation goes deeper, reddening and thicken- ing the parts. Acute enteritis, due to poisoning, he calls toxic- gastro-enteritis. Enteritis due to bacteria, of which several are described, he calls bacterial enteritis. Enteritis caused by protozoa (of which two species are noted as producing the disease in poul- try), he calls psoro-spermic enteritis. With this explanation of terms and their use the reader may go 84 THL COMMON-5LN5L POULTRY DOCTOR. back to the simple statements : that enteritis is inflammation of the intestines ; that it is commonly associated with a like condition of other parts of the digestive tract ; that there are numerous causes for it ; that the general symptoms are the same for all forms of the disease ; that the general treatment suitable for one form will be measurably suitable for any form, and may therefore be begun at once as soon as the general character of the disease is discovered ; that the different forms of the disease require appropriate special medical or sanitary treatment ; and that therefore it is essential that the cause and precise nature of the trouble be ascertained if the disease is to be eradicated. Symptoms of Enteritis. The first symptoms of enteritis are the general symptoms of weakness and dullness which are seen in most severe diseases. Accompanying these we often see the reluctance to move, and evi- dent painfulness of movement caused by the pain due to the inflamed condition of the abdomen. The inflammation may be so great that the high temperature of the bowels is noticeable to the touch of the hand placed upon the abdomen of the fowl. There is usually severe diarrhea; sometimes diarrhea and constipation alter- nating. The evacuations may show any or all of the color condi- tions commonly observed in cases of severe diarrhea, watery, mixed watery and solid, whitish, greenish, bluish green, brown, red, bloody. Particular colors or conditions may represent the degree to which different organs are affected, or indicate to an experienced eye the progress of the disease, but to the layman they have no special significance. Causes of Enteritis. These have already been mentioned as comprising three general classes. Of the first class, — developments from simple diarrhea it is not necessary to say more than has been said under causes of simple diarrhea, and the references to causes made under the head we are now considering. Poisoning, — toxic-ingastro-enteritis, — occurs oftenest in flocks of fowls having their liberty in towns, but is likely to occur in any flock having access to places where articles poisonous to them are left. In addition to the list of substances mentioned as causing catarrh of the crop (p. 66) other common substances of a poison- CONTAGIOUS BOWLL DI5LASL5. 85 ous or acutely irritating character are salt, concentrated Ije, nitrate of soda, (used as fertilizer) arsenic, (in Paris green) copper, (in spraying solutions) and ergot of rye are mentioned. Hill also cites the use of severe purgatives as a common cause of irritation of the intestines. Bacterial enteritis is propagated by contagion and develops most freely under filthy conditions, and (of course) in hot, wet weather when all the evils of filth are most apparent. Psorospermic enter- itis Salmon regards as very different from bacterial, both in char- acter and symptoms, but I think it doubtful whether a layman could observe the differences and differentiate the treatments intelli- gently. The only marked difference in the symptoms described is in the color of the excrement, and this — though perhaps useful to a professional — seems a most uncertain and unreliable guide to ordinary people. Besides these differences are possibly individual differences, or due to complications, for I have had correspondents describing the symptoms of different fowls sick at the same time, and apparently from the same cause, give descriptions of diarrheal conditions which in one corresponded closely with Salmon's description for bacterial, and in another with his description for psorospermic enteritis. These fsorosferms are minute parasites, supposed to be taken into the system with the food and drink. They produce white patches or points in the walls of the intestines which resemble tuberculous growths, and may be mistaken for them. These parasites infest the ground on which affected fowls run. Treatments for Enteritic Inflammation. Under this head I give the several treatments recommended by different authorities, indicating with each the term applied to the form of the disease for which it is especially recommended. My object in doing this is twofold : First a variety of remedies gen- erally applicable to troubles of this kind is given, and in emer- gencies the available one, though not perhaps the best, may be used pending a more exact diagnosis of the trouble, or the procur- ing of the remedy judged most appropriate. Second, by indicat- ing the precise term applied by each authority quoted to the form for which his remedy is given. I hope to avoid possible misrepre- sentations which might occur were I to undertake to harmonize the use of terms. 86 THE COMMON-5LNSL POULTRY DOCTOR. For Severe Diarrhea. (Salmon). A tablespoonful of olive oil, followed with 1-8 grain powdered opium and 2 grains subnitrate of bismuth every four hours. If diarrhea continues after subject seems to be recovering, check with laudanum, 5 to 10 drops, or give 10 drops of a mixture of equal parts laudanum and tincture of catechu ; or in mild cases add one or two drams of sulphate of iron to the pint of drinking water. For Dysentery. (Sanborn). " Ten grains sulphate of magnesia, followed in three hours by five grains of Dover's powder. If dysentery continues, two grains of Dover's powder may be given night and morning, but treatment in these cases is not often successful." For Enteritis. (Hill). Give salad oil to remove irritating matter. Follow this with mucilaginous liquids, such as tepid barley water, arrowroot, milk, and isinglass. Keep the bird on an ample and very soft bed. When convalescing give chlorate of potash in the drinking water, or administer a five grain dose. Feed boiled barley and rice with warm milk and bread for at least a fortnight. For Enteritis. (Salmon). " To soothe the bowel give a little sweet oil every three hours, and feed sparingly with raw egg and crust of bread scalded with boiling milk. In cases where the patient is frequently straining, increase the dose of oil, and add to it two or three drops of chlorodyne." — Vale. For Bacterial Enteritis. (Salmon). Scrupulous cleanliness should be observed about houses and yards. Give only clean water and sound sweet food. Disinfect by saturating floor and woodwork of buildings with five per cent solution of carbolic acid, followed by whitewash. Scald drinking vessels and feed troughs with boiling water. Continue cleaning and disinfection at intervals as long as disease exists. For medical treatment use one of the following : — Subnitrate of bismuth, 3 grains ; powdered cinnamon or cloves, I grain ; powdered willow charcoal, 3 grains. Give twice a day mixed with food or made into pills with flour and water. Subnitrate of bismuth, 3 grains ; bicarbonate of soda, i grain ; TREATMENTS FOR ENTERITIS. 87 powdered cinchona bark, 2 grains ; mix and give three times a day in a paste made with rice flour. When diarrhea is arrested, bis- muth and soda are no longer needed. Give as a tonic : Powdered fennel, anis, coriander, and cinchona — each 30 grains; powdered gentian and ginger each one dram ; powdered sulphate of iron, 15 grains. Mix and give in the feed so that each fowl will get 2 to 14. grains twice a day. For Psorospermic Enteritis. (Salmon). Clean up and disinfect as for bacterial enteritis. Hyposulphite of soda, 5 grains; quinine (sulphate) i grain; subnitrate of bis- muth, 2 grains; give two or three times a day to adult fowls, in less proportion to young chicks ; or, a mixture of equal part& powdered fennel, anis, coriander, gentian, ginger, and aloes may be given in doses of about five grains for adults mixed with soft food. If disinfection and changes of ground are not successful, dispose of all fowls, plough up the ground, and after a time start with new stock. CHAPTER VIII ^ome Peculiarly Subtle and Dangerous Diseases. IN THIS chapter I have grouped together several of the most serious diseases, difficult of identification by outward symp- toms, which do not seem to me to be appropriately included in any other chapter. They are mostly contagious germ diseases of infrequent occurrence in comparison with some of those we have been considering, hard to identify with certainty, and likely to quite wipe out flocks in which they obtain a footing. In infec- tious origin and malignant character diphtheritic roup might well be included in the group, and the contagious forms of enteritis present, in a considerable degree, the characteristic features of the xliseases here considered, but those two were so closely associated with other diseases that I think the general reader will get a better appreciation of their nature, and the best methods of dealing with them, by studying them in the connections in which they have been presented. Diphtheritic roup presents plainly — sometimes with offensive prominence — symptoms the poultry keeper may positively identify by his senses of sight and smell. In enteritis the difficulty is not «o much in identifying the disease as in finding the cause of the particular outbreak of it under consideration. But most of the ■diseases considered here develop obscurely, and originate in causes not so readily avoided by observance of common precautions in u: liungs, congestion of, 26, 42, 66. Lung symptoms, 34. Minim, a, 151. Mite, air sac, 36,173. Mites, 154. Molting, 168. Moping, 15. :jV ^ 176 INDLX. Mouth discbarges, 28. Mouth, inflammation of, 26, 134, Mouth, water running from, 28. Mucus discharge, 28. Muscles, contraction of, 25. Mustard, 48. Neck, convulsive movements of, 24, 25. Nodular taeniasis, 34, 173. Nodules in liver, 33. Nodulesin lungs, 34. Nostrils, discharges from, 28,42. Nursing, 11. Obscure symptoms, 21. Onions for colds, 47. Open houses, 18. Ovarian symptoms, 35. Ovary, diseases of, 106. Overcrowding, 19. Overfeeding, 28. Oviduct, diseases of. 107. Oviduct, rupture of, 30. Pale comb, 25. Patches in throat. 26. Pepper, red, 47. Peritonitis, 24, 28, 30, 34, 145. Pip, 26, 134. Plumage, effects of age and wear on, 14. Plumage, rough, 23. Pneumonia, 18, 26. 34, 42, 57, Poisoning, 66, 84, 144. Porous shells. 111. Post mortems, 31. Prevention of disease, first rule, 17. Prolapsus of oviduct, 109. Protrusion at vent, 31. Puffed skin, 27. Puffing of face, 26. Purgatives in constipation, 130. Purplish comb, 14,26. Rapid breathing, 27. Rattling in throat, 49. Red mites, 168. Red pepper, 47. Remedies, common, 39. Rheumatism, 25, 27, 134. Rosebugs, 160. Roup, 26, 37,42, 51. Roup smell, 54. Rule for prevention of disease, first, 17. Rule for treating sick fowls, 9. Rupture of heart, 31, 34. Rupture of oviduct, 30, 110. Salmon's definition of disease, 13. Scabies, 26, 118. Scab on comb, 26. Scaly leg, 27,118. Scurf, 118. Scurfy skin, 27. Seasoning food, 47. Skin, appearance in health, 14. Skin diseases, 114. Skin symptoms, 27. Smell, the roup, 54. Sneezing, 27, 42. Snow, fowls on, 44. Soap for colds, 48. Soft shelled eggs. 111. Soil conditions, 18. Sore eyes, f'9. Sore head, 115. Sores, i!7. Spongia, 49. Spotted liver, 33. Stimulants, 47. Stomach, Inflamniatioii of. C8. Strains, 144. Strangling, 143. Stupor, 23. Sudden appearance of symptdnis, 13.. Sudden deaths, 31. Sulphate of copper, 48. Swallowing moiioii, 24. Swelling of face, 26. Swollen eyelids, 26. Swollen feet. 27. Symptoms appearing sudden! v, 13. Symptoms common to uiauy disrioe. What We Say to Sell the Book. When we first offered this book to the public a few years ago, we described it as "the moat com- plete, concise and convenient work of its kind published ; — a guide book for beginners, a text book for learners, a reference book for working poultrymen and women." Today it is all this, and more. It is everywhere recognized as the standard work on practical poultry keeping, and a book which it is necessary for the intelligent, progressive poultry keeper to have. Publishing such a book to sell at the price which the cost of getting it up required for a first edition, was a good deal of an experiment, for the book had to be sold in competition with hurriedly written pamplilets or hasty compilations advertised as exhaustive volumes, and sold at a small fraction of the price of Poultet-Csaft. But the volume of sales has steadily increased as the people found out that, though high-priced, as poultry books go, it was worth the money. Now, with the costly first edition all sold, and the reputation of the book such that it costs us less to sell it than at the outset, we are in a position to offer PouLTRY-CftAyT at a popular price, and with the issue of the second edition the price is cut to J1.50 per copy, postage prepaid, making it the best value ever offered buyers of poultry hooks. We do not think it necessary to dilate on the merits of the book, but wish here to briefly em- phasize a few points : — It gives the gist of poultry knowledge in plain language for people who waunt plain facts, pi-actical ideas and trustworthy opinions. It tells what to do, why to do it, and how to do it. It covers its subject thoroughly, and its systematic arrangement and full index enable one to lefer in an instant to any topic. It is the liand book of poultry culture for busy people. What They Say Who Have Read the Book. "'It is clear, concise, and intensely practical." "I find it exactly answers my inquiries, and does so in a clear, concise way." "It is clearly, fully, and yet briefly written, and treats of conditions and facte as they are." "There is no padding or filling. With everything essential it contains nothing superfluous." "Such a wealth of concise information we have never before seen gathered in a single volume." "it would be hard to think of any object of interest which has not beau considered in these pages." "The advice is practical, and the style ia so good that on*' ^-- -« + .. v,.ad it through at one sitting." We could go on with such quotations almost indefinitely, but why repeat ? Readers unanimously indorse the claims made for it by the publishers, .\lready in the few years it has i>een before the public it has helped hundreds to decide right how, when and where to go into poultry keeping ; has taught thovisands better methods of poultry keeping : and lias come to be generally recognized as a trustworthy authority on poultry culture. ^old on Approval. F*rioe $U50, po,st paid* special Offer FARM-POULTRY PUBLlSSilNO CO., Boston, Mass, The regular price of Poultry-Craft is $1.50. For $1.75 we Will ffive you a copy of this book and One Year's subsscriptiou to Farm-Poultry semi-monthly. 'Wi^M^m Nothing on Earth WILL Make Hens Lay LIKE CHY*n to newly hatched chickens it iiukurM their health Mod makee theiu strong. Persist in its use and the pul- l«t« will lay early and throusth the winter, when M« high. Inraloable for molting hena. It Is a Scientifically Prepared Food Digestive. ▲btolutely pare and highly concentrated ; mixed with •ay kind of food it will cause perfect assimilation, and nmlt in healthy Mrds producing abundaaoe of ^gs. It was the pioneer of all advertised poultrytonios; there are many imitations, but Sheridan's Powder h»M never had an equal. In large cans costs less than a tenth o{ a oent a day. If yoa can't find it send to us* Single pack 25 ofc«.; fiTe |1. Large two-lb. oaa $IM ; six euM $5. Kxp. paid. Sample "B«st Pout-rmT P-tw«" fr»a- I. S. J0HN8{»I & CO., M2 Summer St., Boston, Mass. The Common-Sense (X Poultry Doctor. BY JOHN H. R0BIN50N, Editor ot Farm-Poultry, Author of "Poultry-Craft," ''First Lessons in Poultry Keeping," etc., eic. Price 50 Cents Published by FARM-POULTRY PUBLISHING COMPANY, Boston, Mass. TKe Successful POULTRY PAPER becomes such through the belief of a whole lot of people, that it will give them the kind of information they need to make them successful poultry keepers. FARM - POULTRY SEMI-MONTHLY is a shining example of what constitutes a "Successful Poultry Paper." Established in 1889, it has been and is an unfailing, practical, helpful aid to the utility as well as the fancy poultry keepers all over the country. Through its enterprise in securing original matter and illustrations, its tireless energy in digging deep into all matters which promise to yield results of value to its readers ; its quick approval and support of ways and means shown to be good, and its promptness to condemn fads and unpractical schemes, which would prove detrimental to the poultry interests, Farm-Poui,Try has come to be regarded as a safe, sure guide for poultry keepers who seek success, and through its careful, con- servative conduct, has established an enviable reputation for reliability. Special attention is called to our practice of printing "show reports" in full, whether winners are our advertisers and subscribers or not. "Will not such a paper as we have described be helpful to YOU ? PubUshed TWICE A MONTH (twenty-four times a. yew) for ONLY FIFTY CENTS. SAAtPLB COPY SENT FREE ON REQUEST FARM-POULTRY PUB. CO., Boston, Mass. :£«i=