The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-03-18
/ Sure Cure for Gapes In Chickens.


With the exception of the fatal chick
en- cholera. there is no disease so disast-
rous to the interests of the rearer of chick
ems as the 'gapes, pOpulaaly so called.
This disease. common to so many gali-
naceous birds, IT'S the domestic fowl,
turkeys, partTidges, pheasants. etc, is
owing to the presence of round worm
(FdSicOld TrdchedliS) in the windpipe.
The general form of this internal para
site is a bright red, wayy. cylindrical
worm. one end forked with two unequal
branches, at the other end tapering to
tail. The whole length is about one
inch. The smaller branch terminates
in a sucker, by means of which the an
imal maintains its position in the
trachea of the young bird, while the
other branch, the real continuation of
the body. terminates i'll the mouth.
These worms, when existing in the
windpipe of the young chicken in con-
siderable numbers, produce first infiam-
nation from their irritation, and if not
removed, increasing in size, soon cause
death from SuffOcatiOn.
The parasite doubtless finds an en-
trance into the bird with its food or
drink, most probably with the latter.
In the case of strong birds it is thrown
off by the efforts of the birds, ard it is
only in the young and debiliitated birds
that it proves fatal.
We believe that death is almost inva-
riably produced by sgffOcation. This
being the case. the treatment is the
same that we would employ in the case
OF any choking animal, brute or human.
Remove the worms and do it quickly.
The best way in which to accomplish
this is to have a prepared feather.
Take a stout wing feather about eight
or ten inches long; pull all the vanes
from both sides to within an inch of the
tapering extremity; and the remaining
vanes trim off until they are not more
than one sixteenth Of an inch long, being
careful not to cut the end Of the feather,
thus making sharp point which may
produce n fatal wound of the lungs.
Having prepared the feather, we are
now ready for the operation upon the
bird. The earlier this is performed,
the greater vii, be the prospect of sue
cess and indeed we can tTuthfulIv Sav
that it is successful III almost one hum
dred per cent. of all the cases operated
upon. The bird is taken gently by the
body. the wings being held down to pre-
vent struggling, and the legs drawn
down and held between the knees of the
operator, who is seated in a good light.
When the birds legs have been firmly
closed between the knees. the left hand
of the operator is slipped up to the head
of the bird and the beak opened. when.
if the light is good. at the back of the
mouth or pharynN. two passages will be
seen. the one the WsODbdglsS leading to
the crop, and the windpipe leading to
the lungs. The wiEdpipe is recognized
by its anterior position, its rings, its
transparency, and finally by the rapid
closure of the upper end, the CLOTHS,
whenever the feather is brought near.
Having now determined the location of
the wIddpiPe with certainty, take the
feather and lubricate it with oil. and
with the right hand slowly pass the
small end down the throat until it is
just above the opening of the windpipe,
which viii for Il minute be closed but
1t viii soon again open then qUi ckly
push the feather down as far as it will
go without using any force twiTi il
around between the finger and thumb a
few times and Withdraw it. 1t is possi-
ble that few worms may adhere to the
end Of the feather. and some may be
seen within the mouth. But it is not
necessary to remove them all in this
way. They have been broken loose
from their attachments and after a
moments rest, with a few refreshing
inspirations, the gTatitied bird cOmmen-
ces a series of sneeZiIg operations, the
result of which Is to cast out the re-
manning PARISHES. and the cure is effect
ed. 1t is not necessary to often repeat
the operation on the same bird. and the
disease, like those of children, seldom is
repeated.
Some persons remove the worm with
a lOOped hOrsehair; this is simply a
waste of time Others recommend
EPSON salts, wine or cayenne pepper to
be mixed with their food but our ex-
perience has been that all Will fail ex-
cept removal withthe feather. TURKEYS
affected with the gapes are to be treated
as young chickens but if they are per-
mitted to run wild in the fields, the di-
sease is unknown among them, and only
appears when they are confined or reared
under chicken hen, This cure is sim
pie, and Tepays steady and practical ap-
plicatiOn.-NdtiOnnI Baptist