The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-02-26
Watch for ROM.

and spread, when, by proper observa'
ton, the trouble would be stopped ere
1t had obtained a good start. A few
days ago the writer OF this had oc-
casion to purchase a dozen laying
hens from a farmer. The latter was
asked if he had roup in his flock. He
was at once very indignant and re-
piled that when a fowl in his yards
fell sick the axe was the remedy. None
Of his fowls had the roup or any other
disease. So the would-be purchaser
thought he would be safe in purchas-
ing a few fowls "unsight and unseen. =
But he will never do that again.
The fowls were promptly delivered.
At night the purchaser went out to
take a look at his fowls for the first
time. What a sound greeted his ad-
vent in the poultry house. He recog-
nized its cause at once. The fowls
were all safely ranked on the roosts,
but from their midst came mingled
snorings, sneezings, cOughings and
hRlf-crOwings.
Roup, roup, roup, spoke from every
corner. He examined two Of the
worst ones. They were old hens, but
mere skin and bones. They both had
apparently had the roUn for months
and become emaciated by it, for the
roup affects the digestive organs more
often than the head. Not one of the
fowls was worth keeping. Not one
OF them would lay an egg all winter,
and 1t is doubtful if they would ever
lay. They were returned to the farm
er, who was duly indignant that his
fowls were considered SICK but insist
ed that they were in perfect health.
He evidently thought his fowls were
not sick because they dill not have the
sWelled head. The mere fact of their
mouths being full of stringy mucus
told him nothing. The fact that they
ate but little should have convinced
him that something was wrong. This
is one of the worst features Of fowls
troubled with roup; they eat but lit
tie, as their digestion is slow, due to
the tntlamed condition of the mucous
membrane. A healthy fowl will pack
the crop full of grain. Feel of their
crops when they have retired to rest
after full supper and it will be found
distended by the food. But a fowl
that is only slightly affected by roup
is not so. If the crop be felt of at
that time it will be found only a quar-
ter or half full, and frequently the
pressure of the hand induces the bird
to stretch its neck and gasp as if for
air. This probably is due to the in
famed condition of the air tube.
The farmer that had these fowls
made big show OF producing eggs for
sale at fancy prices. 1t was supposed
that he was getting many eggs, as he
kept large number of hens. Acct
dentally it was learned that he was
getting about one egg per day. The
reason his flock did not lay was doubt
less the fact that roup was widely
prevalent among them. He said that
he had left the care of his fowls to the
hired man, to whom he had given in
struct1ons to notify him when any,
thing was the matter with the hens
1t is altogether probable that the hired
man did not know. If he noticed them
at all he merely said to himself that
the birds had slight cold, not worth
reporting, of course. The rom will
eat up the profits from the best flock
OF fowls that ever lived. II must be
watched for and fought. When If an
pears 1t must be eradicated. II 10 ov-
tremely contagious and we do not he
lleVe there is any cure for it. This
year 1t seems to be more than usually
prevalent. Probably it is more IN he
reared than any other disease. If NAV
De considered more dangerous 10 the
pronts OF the poultry raiser than aven
cholera. When the latter disease
comes its makes it's presence LnoHrr,
oy Its work of death. The keener Of
once takes measures to combat If Pint
u Is not so with the roup. II creens
mo the hock and develops verv grad
lally. Most farmers do not suspect its
presence. 1t does not swell the bood
except in some cases. The fowls 49,
about and often their combs ror,oin
1Tlgnt and healthy looking for months
we have seen fowls that had If 90 haI
nat canker sores formed in tbofr
mouths and yet they did not annoor
ack, their combs showing all the in-
llcations OF health. So the farmer sna-
'ecCs noshlng' while the disease is
preaalng from fowl to fowl till oil -. 40
ntected. After awhile one or two foT
sick with diarrhea or 49, III
leaus swell up. The farmer inrTinaa
na Is told that the trouble is ronn
n9 tnat ne can cure it by using such
n9 suen means. He goes to work
na very likely reduces the sweIIad
, and thinks he has cured bis
ira very likely he writes to the f. rro
aper telling of his success in cnri l
CUP But he has not cured If rs
nay nave separated the bird from + Ite