The Portland daily press., 1878-02-26
AGRICULTURAL.
Roupe i'm Fowls.

This most distressing disease first present.
ed itself to my knowledge in 1865, when it
broke out in flock of turkeys. Its appear
ance was first noted in August, and the vic
tim was then fine thrifty young gobbler.
Inc bird was discovered to have what ap-
peared to be small white pimple on the out
side OF the under eyelid. As it did not ap-
pear to trouble him much, no notice was TAX
en- of it at first. II then the right course had
been pursued, and the necessary remedies
had applied. much trouble and suffering
might have been avoided, but the above
named disease was to me unknown and un-
heared OF at the time. The bird was other
wise healthy and ate heartily. After a day
or so an itching sensation appeared to set 10,
Judging from the movements of the fowl, for
he almost constantly rubbed the affected
eye on the neck feathers, or irritated it by
scratching with the toe-nail. 1t was deemed
expedient to institute an examination, which
resulted In finding the small white pimple to
be an ugly sore, or eating ulcer, with roots
extending down to the nostril and throat,
which were much infamed. The appear
ance was then alarming, but was compare
lively harmless beside the formidable front
it presented few weeks later. All effort was
powerless to give relief, and the poor victim
suffered from the sheer ignorance OF his care
takers. The throat became cankered, and
the eyeball was literally eaten out before any
reliet could be given, and then only by a rare
chance OF experiment was remedy found
that would arrest the progress of the disease
Each day the mouth would become filled
with cheesey matter, and the nostrils stopped
with thick yellow water that exuded from the
sores. 1t was found necessary to keep the
sores entirely cleansed of all the discharge
matter, and some healing remedy applied,
alter which the bird would partake of daily
ration of food.
l never before, nor since, saw so affictin g
aud stubborn a ease. 1t was roup in the first
place, and have since learned that neglected
roup produces canker, the worst form and
stage the disease can present. 1t always af-
fects the head, eyes and throat in particular.
Since then l have become intimately &C.
quainted with this most distressing COM
plant, have seen the combs, wattles and
faces OF hens and cocks turn to dark purple,
with continual sneezng or cough, caused
by constant irritation in the throat. This
phase might be called catarrh, and is in re-
ality; but the cause and name of the disease
is the roup. 1t is not contagious, but fowls
submitted to the same treatment and situat-
ion would be alike affected. 1t is caused by
sudden cold. Fowls that are confined in
warm quarters are more liable to it if: SUBJ
jected 10 draft of cold air during the night
1t is draft that causes it-a draft on some
one exposed portion of the body while the
other is exempt from the exposure. A slight
crack, not more than the twelfth part of an
inch, will do much damage by admitting a
slender current OF outside air unmollfed by
the warmth within. A bird that has the
roup is not suitable to breed from, as many
of the chicks would be liable TO attacks from
1t, and if not, would otherwise be weakened,
being the progeny of diseased parents. A
bird that is diseased, no matter how fine the
points, should not be allowed to reproduce,
as weakly birds engender disease and are apt
TO TALL victims to roup, cold and carker.
The treatment OF canker should follow the
discovery Immediately. Keep all the affect
ed parts clean and apply sulphur and molas-
ses alter the removal of all the bad and cheesy
matter. This latter substance must be
cleaned away no matter if the sores bleed a
little in accomplishing it, no harm will be
done. Wash freely with soap suds and alum
water, or preparation of sugar of lead. At
ter thorough cleansing, apply the sulphur
as palliative. When roup gets so far ad.
vanced as to break out in the form of canker,
tho cure is slow and tedious. Often ugly
scars break out on the combs, and result in
deformities, leaving bad scars, but when
once cured after assuming this form it seldom
breaks out again, and the bird is afterwards
strong and healthy. 1t is the coughing,
sneezing phase that is so much to be dreaded.
Oftentimes in the latter case, the bird is at
loss for breath, and can endure no fright or
close confinement The head turns a dark
purple and the fowl faints and falls for want
OF breath. For this phase there is no cure nor
recovery. The sooner such birds are brought
to the block the better. Perhaps after all the
disease is not so new, but in our introduced
and choice breeds we observe it when it
passed unnoticed and not inquired into before.
Country Gentleman.