Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-01-06
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Chicken or Fowl Cholera.

Chicken or Fowl Cholera.
!" Al few years ago inquiries about
y chicken cholera came only from
the Southern and Western States. Of
late 1--WE have had them from the
Eastern States, including New Eng
land. When domestic animals die off
Suddenly, by a rapidly fatal disease, it
is the custom to call it " cholera"
This was the case with the so-called
shog-cholera, which has been shown to
he complication of diseases, readily
tFaceable to neglect and bad manage
ment. From what we have heard Of
chicken cholera it appears to be a
protest against improper feeding and
housing, rather than any well-detined
disease, such as roup, etc. Fowls are
often in poor condition on account of
the vermin they are obliged to support.
or they may be in impaired health from
continuous feeding on corn alone.
When in this weakened state sudden
change in the weather may induce
diarrhea or a cold. which attacks the
flock so generally that the disease
appears to be epidemic. And being
generally and rapidly fatal it is called
"cholera," and the owner of such
flock at once writes us for a remedy
for "chicken cholera" A recent letter,
from friend in Massachusetts, is the
type of many others received of late.
This informed us that some of the
fowls would leave the rest of the flock,
go off and NOPE by themselves. refuse
to eat, and, as a general thing, those
so affected soon died. The writer as
sumed this to be cholera. Our reply
was essentially as follows: Separate at
once. the sick birds from the well. If
the poultry-house has not recently
been put in order, remove all the fowls
until it can be fumigated, by burning
sulphur, and then whitewashed in
every part of the interior with lime
wash, to each pailful of which half
pound of crude carbolic acid has been
added. Mix some lard and kerosene,
and with a rag or swab rub all the
roosts. Throw out all the old straw
from the nest boxes, and grease with
the lard and kerosene the insides of
fine road dust, or finely-sifted coal
ashes, mixing some flowers of sulphur
with the dust. Empty and thoroughly
wash the water vessels or drinking
fountains. When the fowls are re-
turned to the house, alter their feed.
Corn, which is often the only food,
should be given but once a day, and
preferably at night. Give boiled po-
tatoes and meal mashed together; wheat
screenings and an occasional feed of
oats, barley or rye. Above all, have
fresh vegetables. Cabbages which have
been boiled, or cabbage stumps, should
be placed where the birds can help
themselves; if these are not at hand,
give the outer leaves of good
cabbages, rutabagas, mangels or
other roots, not forgetting fresh
scraps from the kitchen Lastly, add
some preparation of iron to the drink
ing water. This may be the tincture
of the chloride OF iron, always kept
at the drug stores, but an equally use
full, and much cheaper form of iron, is
that known in England as douglas
Mixture" Place in a stone jug one
gallon of water, add four ounces of
sulphate of iron ('copperas") and half
an ounce Of sulphuric acid (oil of
vitrioD. When the sulphate of iron
is dissolved the mixture is ready for
use. A teaspoonful of this is be added
to each pint of the drinking water
The tincture of chloride of iron, men,
toned because it may be had at once,
may be added to the water in sufficient
quantity to give it a distinct taste AS
to the sicllly fowls, keep them apart,
giving warmer quarters in cold
weather. Furnish variety of food,
including warm mashed potatoes, with
a dash of Cayenne pepper, and also
iron in the water Some have advised
doses of calomel or blue pill, but we
doubt if anything beyond good nursing
and the changes of diet we have adj
vised will be of much serviee.-Ameri-
caR AgTiculturist.