GIFT OF Prof. E.J.toickson A1N LlBRARY-AGRVCUt-TUKC DEFT. * JAN * THE POULTRY DOCTOR INCLUDING THE HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT AND CARE OF CHICKENS, TURKEYS, GEESE, DUCKS UNO SINGING BIRDS. ALSO A MATERIA MEDICA OF THE CHIEF REMEDIES. PHILADELPHIA: BOERICKE & TAFEL. \ v 1891. , ^ 'id Xr MAIM UHA*Y.AG*kCULTUE DCPT. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1891. BY BOERICKE & TAFEL, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C. PREFAC IN actual money value, the products of poultry rais- ing, including eggs, surpasses that of many ambitious industries and is surpassed by few, if any, in the world, be they" agricultural or manufacturing. Notwithstand- ing the great aggregate value of poultry, but little at- tention has been paid to the medical treatment of the ills of fowls, which are many, and what little they have received has too often been of such a nature that they would have been better without it. This, however, is not surprising, for as long as men are ignorant of, or deny the truth of, homoeopathy, the great and only law of cure, so long will they be incapable of formulating any system of medicine applicable to all diseases, whether of man, beast or fowl. Homoeopathy offers to poultry raisers a system of medicine for their fowls which is exceedingly efficacious, involves little labor and trifling expense. That system will be found de- tailed in this book. What imperfections may be found, must not be charged to homoeopathy, but to imperfect (J 8 5 IV PREFACE. knowledge of the diseases of fowls. If symptoms can be clearly described, homoeopathy will surely supply the remedy. To Mr. P. H. Jacobs, of Hammonton, N. J., the well- known editor of the Poultry Keeper, and an extensive breeder of fine poultry, thanks are due for assistance rendered in classifying and accurately describing many of the diseases treated in this book. CONTENTS. PAGE PREFACE, ... 3 PART I. HOMOEOPATHY AND ITS METHODS, .... 7 PAET II. SOME PRACTICAL HINTS, 16 PART III. THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES, .... 26 PART IV. MATERIA MEDIC A, ....'... 65 LIST OF REMEDIES, 80 LIST OF DISEASES, 81 INDEX, 84 " By similar things disease is produced, and by similar things administered to the sick they are healed of their diseases." Hippocrates. PART I. HOMOEOPATHY AND ITS METHODS. Similia Similibus Curantur. IT has been said with truth that all subjects which arouse men, and cause them to divide into great con- tending parties, sooner or later crystallize into a word, or a terse apothegm, which contains a great truth. For a century homoeopathy has excited keen interest and been fiercely fought. Its scope is as wide as disease and the cure thereof, yet is all crystallized in Similia Similibus Curantur. Like Cures Like. As with all great truths a child may comprehend, and a wise man study it a lifetime, and then realize that the unexplored fields are vast and the possibilities in them, for the wel- fare of man and beast, almost limitless. Homoeopathy's work will cease only when disease no longer haunts the earth. 8 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. Illustrations. " Like Cures Like," not the Same cures the Same mark well the difference. Perhaps the plainest illustra- tion of this great natural Law for Homoeopathy is as much a Law as Gravitation may be found in the well- known cure for a frosted ear, namely, rubbing it with a handful of snow. Snow is not frost, but very much like it. Like Cures Like. Cinchona, or as it is known in homoeopathy, China, if taken in large doses will produce, not chills and fever, but symptoms almost their exact counterpart; it will also cause excessive weakness, resembling that caused by loss of blood. China relieves both these symp- toms. Arnica, if taken in strong doses, will cause a sore and bruised sensation, and, as all know, when externally applied will cure bruises and concussions ; and, further- more, as all do not know, it will relieve the bad effects from a concussion, blow, or fall ; still better if taken in small doses, inwardly as well as applied outwardly. Aconite will cause, among many other symptoms, that feverish condition which all experience at the beginning of a bad cold, and Aconite taken at once will cure almost any cold. Let these few illustra- tions suffice, though the list might be extended to THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 9 enormous length. Like Cures Like: therein lies the entire secret of medicine. Skill in application is obtained by the study of the symptoms of the sick man or beast and of the Materia Medica. Materia Medica. A concise Materia Medica of the remedies prescribed in this book will be found on its last pages, and a study of this part is recommended to all who would be suc- cessful in treating the ailments of their fowls. This Materia Medica is a record of the symptoms produced by the drug taken in excessive doses by men in a state of health. The classification of diseases is, at best, but mere generalization. Take, for instance, " colds ;" a dozen people may come together, each suffering from a u cold/' yet the symptoms of no two of them be exactly alike. So with the diseases of fowls described in this book ; each one is named as well as may be, and the best known remedy prescribed, and it may be administered, as a rule, with great profit in the saving of the lives of poultry, yet an intelligent study of the symptoms of the affected fowls, and comparison of them with those of the different medicines, will greatly aid in the work. 10 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. Administration of Remedies. The easiest way of administering the medicine is to dissolve two or three dozen pellets in a clean dish of pure water, and let the fowls drink it at will. If the disease is of an epidemic nature, like Roup or Cholera, it is well to let them all at it, for, given the correct remedy, it will cure the sick and prevent those still apparently well from developing the disease. Another method and a good one, in view of the fact that chickens are nearly always ready to eat, is to dis- solve the medicine in pure water and mix the water with corn-meal or moist food, and feed it to the flock, or the individual fowl, as the case may be. Another method is to moisten a bit of white bread in the medi- cated water, by which means a few fowls may be treated without the trouble of separating them from the flock. They can be driven aside and fed. As a rule, where the ailment is confined to one, or a few, of the fowls, it is better to keep them apart from the others, where they can be treated with more care. The pellets can be given dry also, which is an excellent method, if practicable. Homoeopathic medicines may also be had in liquid form, in which case from five to ten drops in water constitute a dose. Many people pre- fer them in liquid form. THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 11 After two days, if there is no marked improvement, select some other remedy ; the chances are that the indi- cated one has not been chosen, for the true homoeo- pathic remedy acts very quickly on fowls and animals quicker, indeed, than on mankind as fowls and ani- mals do not injure their constitutions by unnatural liv- ing. When there is a marked improvement, discon- tinue the medicine, and do not resume it unless there are signs of a relapse. Too much medicine has been the bane of man and beast. How to Keep Homoeopathic Medicines. Keep them well corked. Do not let the vials stand around open. Keep the vials in a box, in some place about the house where they are not exposed to undue influences of any sort. After the pellets are taken from the vial, do not put any of them back again. Keep them protected from the sun-light. How to Procure Homoeopathic Medicines. Tha best way, of course, is to go to a homoeopathic pharmacy and buy them ; if this is not convenient, send twenty-five cents for each remedy wanted, to the ad- dress of some well-known homoeopathic pharmacy, with the name of the remedy plainly written printed, if 12 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. you doubt the legibility of your penmanship and a good sized vial will be mailed, postpaid, and securely packed. If there is a homoeopathic physician in the neighborhood, he will no doubt be glad to sell you the required remedy. Homoeopathic medicines may also be obtained from some druggists; but in such cases it must be insisted on that the vials bear the labels of a homoeopathic phar- macy they are all sealed with a metallic capsule when put up for druggists 7 trade, and have the firm's name preparing them blown on the vial. There is good reason for this caution. The two schools work under different pharmacopoeias, and the average druggist knows little or nothing of the preparation and dynam- ization of homoeopathic medicines. Another, and a very urgent, reason for this caution is that homoeopathy deals with very active poisons which, by the process of preparation, are rendered harmless for injury, unless taken in oft-repeated and long-continued doses, while still retaining all their curative powers. This leads us to the subject of Dynamization or Potentiation. It is, unfortunately, a common error to suppose that homoeopathy means small doses and nothing more. THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 13 Homoeopathy Like Cures Like says nothing about the size of the dose. In the early days, large doses were given until it was noticed that there were " aggrava- tions" drug symptoms before cure, though the cure followed. This led to a reduction of the size of the dose. In doing this the drugs were minutely subdi- vided, and then the wonderful discovery was made that small doses reduced to atoms while mingled with milk sugar or alcohol were far more potent for cure than when administered in a cruder state. They had been potentized, i.e., made more powerful in disease, and, at the same time, rendered comparatively harmless for evil if taken by mistake, by means of the small dose. That this theory of potentiation is correct can easily be demonstrated by the fact that men have swallowed leaden bullets or shot and experienced no bad results, while every one knows that if the same quantity of lead, reduced to the finest powder, were to be swallowed, the most terrible consequences would ensue. The Truth of Homoeopathy. The crucial test of every scheme of medicine is its result with the sick. In this respect homoeopathy leads all competitors ; indeed, truly viewed, it has no com- petitors, for it is the great Natural Law of Cure, while 14 THE POULTKY DOCTOK. others are but man's experiments, ever shifting and changing ; taken up as wonders and then dropped as useless. Pleuro-pneumonia in cattle is pronounced in- curable by the dominant school, and the government orders all the afflicted animals to be slaughtered, yet homosopathy could save nearly every case, as has been repeatedly demonstrated. Homoeopaths have secured many a fine bargain in horses, buying an animal, pro- nounced incurable by some old school veterinarian, and curing him. The large horse-car companies in almost every city have adopted homoeopathic treatment. We will close this branch of our subject by giving the statistics of an epidemic of comparatively recent date, to illustrate the differences between the two schools. During the epidemic of yellow fever in the southern States in 1878, the allopaths treated 96,187 cases, of which 12,296 died ; a death rate of 23.5. At the same time the homoeopathic practitioners treated 3914 cases of the same disease, of which 261 died ; a death rate of 6.6. In many of the southern States, by means of unjust medical legislation, the allopaths have obtained sole control, and they refuse to permit homoeopaths to practice. This accounts for the great disparity in the numbers treated. Medical legislation is a subject of vital importance to THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 15 the people, and they should see to it that no medical monopoly is granted. These laws, on their face, look very plausible, and claim to " protect the public," but even " quacks " could not have made a worse showing than that of the " regular " profession in the epidemic of 1878. PART II, SOME PRACTICAL HINTS. THERE are a good many books on the general man- agement of poultry. All of them contain some good matter and, also, much that is impractical and even useless, or worse. The most of them seem to take it for granted that every poultry raiser can devote a great deal of his time to the care of his fowls. They seem to be constantly addressing men who make poultry raising their sole business-, whereas the number who do so com- pared with those to whom it is merely an incidental part of farm life, are as one to many thousands. It is to the larger class that this book is addressed, and our aim is to give here only such hints as may be easily acted upon. Those who follow poultry raising as a business, perhaps know more on the subject of the care of fowls than the book writers do, but many of them have much to learn in the treatment of the diseases of poultry. THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 17 Where poultry is allowed the run of the farm during the warm months the question of feeding is settled by the fowls themselves, but when winter comes they must be fed. When this time arrives those fows will thrive best that are given some variety in their food. Do not give them the same stuff day after day, but vary it if possible. Hens, like horses and men, are the better for a change of diet. Especially give them at times some- thing green, throw in a head of cabbage and let them revel on it. Another point that involves little trouble and no ex- pense is to see that they are provided with clean water often renewed. Water that is unfit for a human being is not good for hens. A little common sense comes into good play here ; the horse, cow, dog and hen eat and drink what they can get; if their food and drink does not suit them, no complaint is heard ; they do not grumble or raise a disturbance as man does, but follow St. Paul's advice, and eat what is set before them. Their only protest against unfit food and drink is to sicken and die without a complaint. Did you never notice how eagerly a caged bird hops over and drinks when his water cup is filled ? He evidently appreciates it as much as a man would who was given a glass of fresh water in place of some that had stood in his bedroom 2 18 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. over night. The same rule applies to all animals. In this matter, "directions" are not needed, but only a little common sense flavored with humanity. Another parallel between man and hen : In the human family the mortality is greatest in infancy, and so it is in the hen family. Some mortality in both fami- lies is unavoidable, but much in both may be avoided by a little extra care. To be trite, prevention is better than cure. At the very dawn of its existence the young chick mostly needs warmth. If this warmth be com- bined with moisture the death-rate must rise; therefore Dame Partlett an<i her brood should be caged in some place protected from the wet ground and the rain, and the dame will provide the warmth. Furthermore, keep the cage clean. It is not much trouble, and it pays. Who has not seen a cage with its floor an inch thick with dirt and the whole sodden by having the pan of water spilled over it ! Better let them run than be caged with such a mess. Another point but it involves a little care; who has not seen a hen with her chicks trailed out behind her making their way through the wet grass of early morning ! Each little fuzzy beggar is draggled up to his neck and looks, and is, no doubt, thoroughly miserable. The hen ought to have better sense, but she hasn't. If she and her brood could be kept confined THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 19 until the grass were dry it would be better for the little ones. Mr. Judd, in his book on poultry, makes some good points on the feeding of very young chickens. He very strenuously objects to the common Indian, or corn, meal dough that constitutes the sole food of so many young chicks. It is tumbled out to them, and if not all eaten allowed to stand until it is eaten ; it usually sours, the chicks, perforce, must eat it, as nothing else is provided, and then they sicken and die. Mr. Judd says : " For the first morning meal I give all my young stock boiled potatoes mashed up fine and mixed with an equal quan- tity of Indian meal and shorts. I find nothing so good and acceptable as this food, and I use only small and unmarketable potatoes ; they prove more profitable than anything else I can employ." This food is followed with fine cracked corn. But whatever is fed to the young chicks the gist of the matter is, do not feed them anything that has turned stale or sour. There is death in such a mess, and it is economy to throw it away. We know that wild and domestic animals require salt, and from this it would seem right to assume that fowls require it too, though the want appears not so pressing in their case. It is said that fowls who eat their own feathers cease to do so when given salt. How 20 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. salt should be given them is an open question. In salt- ing food the danger is in excess. Too much salt for man or beast will result in sickness, and very bad sickness at that. Salt in large quantities seems to be fatal to poultry, but may safely be used to season the food. What the wash-bowl or bath-tub is to man, a dust pile, dust-box or dust in some shape is to the hen. It doesn't look like a very cleanly way of performing the toilet, but it is her way, and chicken raisers will do well to see that the dust-bath is provided in some shape. It is supposed that this bath is a means of ridding the feathers of lice ; mixing a little insect powder with the dust will aid in this. Some authorities prefer fine sand to dust. If the hens will use it, sand seems better than dust. Fine ashes are also recommended. Let the chickens get at corn-stalks in winter, occa- sionally ; it helps in the assimilation of food. Scalded clover hay, however, is better and furnishes an excel- lent substitute for green food, but it must be finely chopped. Onions chopped up are eagerly eaten by fowls, and are excellent for their health, especially if their eyes are not in good condition. Dried tobacco leaves in the nest of a setting hen keeps THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 21 it clear of vermin, and adds greatly to her comfort and that of her young when hatched. Chickens fatten best when given a full feed just before going to roost, and the first thing in the morn- ing. A dry floor may be obtained by digging out the earth and replacing it a foot deep with sand. A hen's laying capacity reaches its highest point in her second year, and then begins to decline. In reserving cocks for breeding purposes, keep those that are the most active and vigorous. There should be at least one cock to eight hens ; one drake to four or five ducks; one gobbler to ten turkey hens, and one gander to two geese. Do not let fowls inbreed too long or the result will be loss of eggs and deterioration of the flock. Where poultry is allowed the run of a farm there is no danger of over-feeding, but there is with yarded poultry which gets no exercise ; these especially require variety. One great secret of successful turkey raising is regu- lar feeding during the fall and winter in one place. This makes them tame and prevents that tendency to wander off in summer and breed, which is innate in the turkey. 22 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. During " fly-time " a flock of turkeys will easily live on insects, such as grasshoppers, etc., and are, therefore, valuable in two senses, but it is not well to raise them unless they can have a wide range. When confined they easily " eat their heads off." Ducks do not eat more, if fed regularly, than other fowls of their size, and will be marketable at four months age, and the large breeds may be made to attain five pounds when ten or twelve weeks old ; neither do they require a pond or stream, but may be raised where chickens can be raised ; they require plenty of good drinking water and some pasturage. A stream or pond of water, of course, is an advantage. Poultry does well under woman's care, and is very profitable. A lady writes that in one year, after having furnished her own table with nearly a hundred fowls, and with all the eggs needed, she was enabled to sell considerably over one hundred dollars worth of eggs and fowls. The cash outlay bringing in this return was about twenty-five dollars. Chickens ought to have a house for winter, even if it consists merely of a few boards nailed together, a mere shanty, lined with paper. The cost of such a shed will be slight, but it will pay. Barren, sandy patches about the farm can be profit- THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 23 ably employed as poultry ranges. Fowls are freer from disease on a sandy soil and will fertilize it to a consider- able extent. If possible, don't have any green, slimy pools of water about. They are bad for man and hen. Give fowls and animals all the light possible. Light and pure air are health givers. Darkness and disease are allies. Plough or spade the poultry yard at times ; it keeps the earth clean and tends to promote the health of the fowls. " Chicken powders " and advertised compounds pro- raise all sorts of wonder working. Little or nothing is known of them. If " stimulating," remember that stimulants act on animals as on men feel good for a while and then not. Good food is all a fowl needs in health and the indicated homoeopathic remedy in disease. Whether charcoal, asafoetida, Cayenne pepper, etc., are good to " promote health," is a very wide, open question. Some believe in them we don't. PART ill. THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES. Preliminary Remarks. THERE are no colleges established for the study of the diseases of poultry, and there are no graduated poultry physicians, and, outside of homoeopathy, there is little, if any, belief in the efficacy of medicine in treat- ing the ills of feathered creation. Indeed, an eminent authority on poultry rather drearily remarks : " It is almost useless, and rarely ever worth while, to treat sick poultry." This is true if no treatment, but what, for the sake of distinction, may be termed allopathic, is known, but it is not true if homoeopathy be employed. In the latter case, the labor involved is next to nothing, the expense very slight, while the treatment is highly effective, as has been demonstrated in thousands of cases, and this most markedly so in epidemic diseases which carry off entire flocks. One of the greatest difficulties to overcome in writ- THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 25 ing a work on the ills of poultry is in naming the the diseases. A careful comparison of the few treatises published heretofore on the subject, reveals the fact that a disease that in one place bears one name, takes on another in another part of the country. Fortunately, however, this fact, which would prove so disastrous under other systems of medicine, is but of slight moment in homoeopathy, for it treats diseases, not ac- cording to their names, but according to their symp- toms, and a little knowledge of the action of the various remedies will enable any one to treat a sick fowl intel- ligently and quite independently of the name of the disease. Homoeopathic remedies may be classified into groups or families ; the individuals of which differ yet have many traits in common. In the following pages the remedy chiefly indicated by the disease is first given, but it may not be the correct one in all cases, and the others named afterwards may then be administered in their order. Those having homoeopathic " family medicine cases " (and every family living in the country should have one) may use the medicines in them. The same medi- cine applies equally to fowls or human beings; there is no difference in the preparation of medicines for " veter- 26 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. inary " purposes from those used in treating human ailments. The number found following the name of the remedy on the vial, as " Arsenicum 6," refers to the potency. Minerals, like arsenic, are usually sold in the sixth potency and others in the third. Apoplexy. This disease, as with men, is caused by over-feeding, and occurs with all classes of poultry when in a very fat condition. The bird afflicted staggers and falls ; its breath comes heavy and short, and somewhat resembles snoring; eyes protruding, staring and generally highly bloodshot. It is frequent to find apoplectic birds dead under the roost, when they were apparently in excellent health. Open the bird's rnouth and give it half a dozen pellets of Belladonna. - Other remedies are Aconite, Nux vomica and Pulsatilla. Nux vomica may even be better than Aconite. Asthma. Canary and other singing birds are often troubled with asthma. The breathing is easily heard, and espe- cially after the exertion of flying. Corallium rubrum, a half dozen pellets dissolved in the water-cup effects a THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 27 speedy cure. Spongia is also indicated ; also Ipecac, in case of too much flesh, and Bryonia in asthmatic panting of old age. A little plantain seed is said to aid recovery in obstinate cases. This disease is often mistaken for roup. Bone-wen. This disease has always been deemed incurable, but where homoeopathy is employed a cure is possible, if not probable. Isolate the afflicted fowl and dissolve six pellets of Hepar sulphuris in its water dish every day for a week, unless marked improvement sets in sooner. If at the end of the week no change is noticeable change the medicine to Silicea, same dose each day. Other remedies are Nitric acid, Calcarea carb. and Sulphur. When changing remedy it may be well to give the last named for one day before following with the new remedy. Black-rot. In this disease the comb turns a blackish color, legs may swell and emaciation accompanies. Bad food and unhealthy surroundings seem to be the cause ; remedy these and give Thuja. The true remedy for this disease is problematical, depending on the cause of the disease. Nux vomica may be called for and Podophyllum, if 28 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. the seat of the derangement be the stomach or liver respectively. Broken Bones. When bones are broken in fowls one can readily see at a glance what is the trouble if it be a leg bone. With other bones a break can be detected by examination only, when a swelling will appear over the broken bone which is evidently painful to the touch. These usually heal themselves if the fowl is kept quiet. A compound fracture is beyond the skill of most people, but a simple break is not. Bring the broken parts gently but firmly together, bind with linen bandages and hold in place by a couple of appropriate sized splints. Moisten the linen frequently with a lotion of one part tincture of Symphytum mixed with five parts water. How long the treatment is to continue must depend on the condi- tion of the fracture, and that, the one having charge of the case alone, can decide. After the operation give the patient one dose of Aconite, say three pellets in the mouth and at the expiration of a week put six pellets of Hepar Sulph. in the water for one day only. Bumble Foot. This is caused by the foot getting hurt in some way, bruised, or possibly a sliver run in it. It is often the THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 29 result of high roosts, the feet being injured when jump- ing therefrom, especially if the bird is heavy. The hurt part swells, becomes inflamed, pus forms, which in time grows hard and cheesy-like. The treatment is to wash the hurt clean, see that no foreign substance remains in it, then bathe in a lotion of one part Calendula tincture to five parts water, and bind up the foot as neatly as possible and keep bandage wet with the lotion ; or, in place of binding the foot anoint it with Calendula cerate, or lotion, and keep the fowl on clean straw. After operation give Hepar sulph. if hurt has not " gathered ; " if it has, give Silicea. During the few days necessary for healing, the fowl should be kept caged in a clean place. Chicken-pox. Some writers designate this disease " small-pox." It is known by blotches on the comb and neck and pus- tules under the wings and feathers generally, while the fowls seem weak and melancholy. Homoeopathically treated it is not dangerous. The disease is contagious, and the sick should be separated from the well, though if the flock is pretty generally attacked let the treatment extend to all. The treatment consists in dissolving from one to three dozen pellets of Arsenicum, according as a few or many are afflicted, in the drinking water. Con- 30 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. tinue for three days. If no improvement is noticed change the remedy to Rhus tox. Renew the medicine each day, using fresh pure water. Also indicated, Bella- donna with hot fever. Silicea if pustules " break." Chip. "Chip" or "chipping" derives its name from the peculiar cry or sound made by the bird, and it is prin- cipally attributed to lack of warmth, or exposure to cold draughts (sometimes from the top ventilator). It is confined chiefly, if not entirely, to young chickens, and is caused by wet weather, the light down on the little fel- lows getting wet and having no chance to dry. It is very fatal if not taken in time. Chickens afflicted with " chip" seek refuge in solitary places where they are de- tected by the regular and plaintive cry, and generally re- main there until they die; they exhibit tenderness on being touched, and perceptible fever, although they tremble violently as though cold. If possible they should be given dry shelter and warmth. A number of remedies are indicated in this disease, so many, indeed, that it is difficult to decide which to give the preference. It is best, perhaps, to begin with Veratrum, as that remedy " has external chill with internal heat," a most distressing feeling. A dozen or more pellets dissolved THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 31 in the drinking water, or, if they will not drink, dip a little white bread in the water and let them eat it if they will. Among the other remedies are Arsenicum, Acon- ite, Dulcamara and Colchicum, the last named being preferred by some authorities. Give the selected remedy twenty hours trial, and if there is no improvement, change to one of the others named. Cholera. It was frequently observed at the times and places when cholera was epidemic among human beings that chickens, turkeys, geese and farmyard fowls generally, became in many instances similarly affected. At the present day the word " cholera " is applied to an epi- demic which while varying somewhat in different parts of the country is always accompanied by a violent diarrhoea, and is very fatal. Some of the characteristics of this disease are : Sad looks, lost appetite, weakness, staggering, thirst, hanging heads; in more advanced stages a tough mucus trickled from the bills, which hang so low as to touch the ground, the comb becomes shrunken and of a bluish color, while the diarrhoea is violent and almost liquid, yellowish or greenish, frothy ; as the end approaches the eyes close. Being an epidemic it is well to treat the entire flock, though if the sick can 32 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. be isolated so much the better. European writers highly commend Veratrum alb., both as curative and as pre- venting the spread of the disease. Dissolve anywhere from two dozen pellets to half the vial (according to size of flock) in water given the fowls to drink, or take part of the water and moisten their food with it. Arsenicum is also quite as valuable in cholera; the symptoms of both remedies bear great resemblance, Arsenicum being indicated in the second stage where there is great pros- tration. Arsenicum iod. (iodide of arsenic) has by clinical experience proved effective, as the following experience reported by Dr. Robert Boocock in the North American Journal of Homoeopathy shows : " Chicken Cholera. I can fully endorse the curative power of Iodide of Arsenic in certain forms of humid asthma, having been successful in a few cases. I want to speak of this medi- cine as a means of curing the summer complaints we often meet during the hot weather. Two years ago I lost almost all my chickens by chicken cholera. Last summer a new lot of hens and chickens began to die off by the same disease, and I thought it a good chance to try Arsenicum iod. 3. I mixed about two pounds of meal with two drachms of the remedy, and left the mixture in the chicken house for them to take at will. It cured THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 33 every case. I had a good lot of it left to throw away. In severe cases of cholera infantum it promptly cured when all our usual remedies failed." Parched corn, or parched cracked corn, almost to coffee-color, is an excellent food for flocks during cholera season not exclusively but as a part of the food. Constipation. This complaint may afflict any of the feathered creatures and is easily recognized. The fowl is restless and cannot evacuate, although making frequent effort ; if any stool does pass, it is small in quantity and very hard and dry. The cause of the trouble lies in long- continued feeding on dry and heating food, such as bar- ley, oats, rye, hemp seed, etc., together with impure water and lack of any green food. It occurs chiefly among fowls confined in coops or narrow yards. It may be also the result of cold. Nux vomica, half a dozen pellets to the fowl, dissolved in its drinking water, or mixed with food, will usually remove the complaint if caused by the food. Bryonia, if result- ing from cold or other causes. A change of food, or,, rather, giving the fowl something green in addition, is also required. But the medicine is necessary to give thorough relief, for the mere giving of green stuff may 3 34 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. only result in altering the character of the disease with- out eradicating it. Opium is another remedy for con- stipation, indicated when there is no urging. Contusions. If a fowl gets a severe blow or hurt in which no bones are broken, bathe the hurt with a lotion of one part Arnica tincture to twenty parts water, and put a few drops of the water in the fowl's mouth. Arnica should never be applied to man or beast undiluted. It acts better when diluted. Consumption. This disease in fowls seems to be pretty much the same as in human beings bad heredity or resulting from a cold which is allowed to run on without care. There is a cough, the fowl seems to eat well, yet grows emaciated. " Incurable " is the general verdict, a ver- dict which no believer in homoaopathy should admit to be true, even though he cannot, with his present knowl- edge, name the proper remedy. This consumption of the lungs must be distinguished from the " consump- tion " spoken of under " Marasmus." In both there is a wasting away, but the seat of the trouble is differ- ent. This is a disease that is sometimes classed in the THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 35 Roup family of ailments. Remedies can but be sug- gested : Hepar sulph. and Spongia on alternate days may cure, or Calcarea carb., given alone. Core. Core consists of the formation of an excrescence in the gullet or alvine passage. It is generally brownish- yellow in color, but varies in this respect. Arsenicum, Mercurius and Silicea are the three remedies mostly indicated. The disease is difficult to detect owing to its situation. Coryza or Catarrh. This is not at all an uncommon complaint, and it causes considerable losses, being also one of the difficul- ties sometimes classed as Roup. With pigeons it often occurs during moulting, and is contagious, and some- times plays havoc in the pigeon roost. Pigeons suffer- ing from coryza keep their bills open, and a yellow- looking mucus may be seen in the nostrils ; the mouth also looks yellow. If the disease is noticed in time, remove the infected bird, but if a number are affected, it is better to treat the whole lot. Mercurius viv. will generally cure ; a dozen pellets dissolved in clean drink- ing water, or the water used in mixing soft food. Con- tinue until cured, or if no improvement is noticeable in 36 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. a few days, change the remedy to Acidum sulph., in same way. In hens, coryza is generally caused by catching cold in continuous wet weather, or by very sudden changes in the weather. It is characterized by an increased discharge from the nostrils and sneezing. At times it is epidemic. Arsenicum will usually give prompt relief. A dozen or more pellets dissolved in the drink- ing water, or in half a tumbler of water, and then this mixed with meal or used to moisten bread. Arseni- cum failing, give Mercurius viv. Should the dis- charge thicken and the eyes seem affected, give, in same manner, Euphrasia. Should the coryza occur from dry, cold winds, Aconite is the remedy. Coryza is particularly dangerous with turkeys. The turkey seems uneasy, trembles, an acrid, slimy dis- charge comes from the nostrils and the eyes grow dim. If possible, separate the sick turkey from the well ones, and administer to it Acidum sulph. or Mercurius viv. As with pigeons, the disease seems to attack the turkeys during moulting time. H. Fisher, V. S. of Berlin, reports the complete and satisfactory cure of a valuable parrot who was suffering from a bad coryza or catarrh. The bird ate little and breathed with a rasping sound, and was evidently suf- THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 37 fering from a bad cold. Dulcamara and Hepar sulph., in alternation twice a day soon removed the trouble. Hepar sulphur is the best remedy when there has been partial relief from other remedies but not complete cure. Gelsemium is an excellent remedy for catarrh in- curred during warm, moist, relaxing weather. Catarrh or coryza in fowls must be distinguished from roup, as a common bad " cold " is distinguished from croup or diphtheria in human beings. The dis- charge from the nostrils of fowls in catarrh is thinner and not offensive, and is accompanied with sneezing and coughing, while in roup the discharge is thick and very offensive. Cold, catarrh, coryza, roup and pip are all more or less related to each other. Cough. Turkeys are often afflicted with a cough resulting from small red worms in the windpipe. The disease seems to be the same as " gapes " in chickens, and calls for the same medication, i.e., Dulcamara and Drosera, in alternation with Sulphur, to complete the cure. For external treatment, see " gapes." Diarrhoea and Dysentery. While resembling, in some respects, cholera, these 38 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. ailments are essentially quite different. The discharges are copious, sometimes bloody, the feathers about the anus befouled and the fowl out of condition, though not so greatly prostrated as in cholera. " Scouring " is an- other name for the trouble. All fowls are subject to it. The cause is damp, cold weather; cold on the stomach ; brooding in damp, cold stables ; feeding on noxious berries or plants ; eating too many worms ; over- feeding, also want of lime or gravel necessary to the digestion of hens. Ipecac, is the chief remedy, a dozen or more pellets, owing to number to be treated, in water, or mixed, after being dissolved, with the food. If directly traceable to bad food, remove the cause and give Arsenicum. Chamomilla, also, has cured. Hens sometimes have a whitish discharge which oozes out, fouling their feathers ; for this, give Carbo veg. Among geese there is a disease known sometimes as " white dysentery." The geese lose appetite, become weak and breathe hurriedly ; the evacuations are very soft and of a chalky color, and finally liquid. The body or flesh assumes a bluish color and the bird then dies. The disease runs its course in three or four days. Bad food, filth, browsing in bogs and swamps, are the general causes. With geese so afflicted it is best to cage them up in a dry place on clean straw (keep it THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 39 clean) and feed good food. The first day give them Aconite, two or three dozen pellets in the drinking water. The next day give Arsenicum (wash the drink- ing vessel thoroughly on changing medicines, or get a new one). Mercurius viv. and Chamomilla are also useful. There is also a species of bloody flux or inflamma- tion of the bowels, which attacks turkeys and hens when closely confined, fed on bad food and given foul drinking water. The abdominal walls get thin and transparent, and there is a sinking in the region of the anus; a bloody, mucus-like diarrhoea accompanied with rapid emaciation. Mercurius cor., in clean, pure water, is the best remedy. Ipecac., also, is useful. There is a disease among geese and ducks originating from the same causes as the preceding, which, in some respects, resembles it, yet which post-mortem examin- ation shows to be inflammation of the spleen. Geese, when attacked, begin to shriek, put their heads to the ground, fall over on their backs, go into convulsions and die. Where the disease has progressed so far, there is no help for the sick. But the remainder of the flock may be cooped up or confined, given good food and pure water, in which Arsenicum, as a preventative, has been dis- solved ; give this remedy for three days, changing water 40 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. every day. One German authority, Traeger, prefers Nitric acidum dissolved in water, and the water used to moisten the meal or other food given. The amount of each remedy should be in proportion to the number treated from one dozen to three dozen or more pellets. Dysentery carries off a great many parrots, espe- cially the young ones. A few doses of Mercurius cor. will speedily cure. It may be stated, that, in general, Mercurius cor. is the remedy for the worst cases of dysentery, especially " painful bloody dis- charges." Diseases of the Eye. The cause of sore eyes in hens is uncertain. Some breeders attribute it to the weather and others to over- heating, dust and sundry other causes. Perhaps all have something to do with it. The eyes are watery, ulcerated, with discharge of offensive-looking liquid, and, in time, pus sores are formed. The sick fowls are also very apt to fall rapidly away. If there is reason to suppose the complaint is caused by the weather, which is more frequently the case, give Aconite in the beginning ; but for bad cases or those well advanced, Euphrasia or Sulphur are better, the latter, if there is pus formation. Apis is indicated when the eyes are THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 41 inflamed, sore and swollen, but not complicated with colds or other ailment. Distemper. " Hen distemper " is a plague occurring in hot, dry weather, and is commonly attributed to atmospheric conditions. The hens lose their bright, cheery look, have a puffed face of deep scarlet color ; crouch about in corners and die one after the other. The disease is contagious, and if not too much spread through the flock, the sick ones should be isolated. Examination reveals the fact that the skin around the anus is in- flamed and red, with black spots occurring. The best remedy is Nux vomica, which has proved successful. Students of poultry books will, no doubt, experience some confusion on reading the foregoing, for some of their books connect hen distemper and cholera, while others associate it with roup. Which are we to be- lieve? they may ask. The reply is, ignore the name and attend to the symptoms. If the foregoing symp- toms are met, administer Nux vomica. Dizziness. Dizziness seems to be the best term, or, at least, the most descriptive. In geese it is sometimes known as " staggers" and sometimes denominated by the sy no- 42 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. nym, " Vertigo." Geese and ducks are mostly afflicted with it, but hens and turkeys are not exempt. The signs are, drooping wings, stretched-out neck, or twisted about in all sort of ways, the body is often shaken, and turned around and around until the bird falls over and dies. Fat, or over-fed fowls are mostly subject to it. The cause is variously attributed to a rush of blood to the head, to worms in the nostrils or ears, and to the results of blows on the head. It will be seen from this that the ailment is difficult to treat, or rather to deter- mine which of the three causes should be treated. The rush of blood calls for Belladonna and plenty of cool, fresh water for drinking. If caused by a blow, Acon- ite, followed by Belladonna. If from worms, give Cina, or a little turpentine or kerosene in the nostrils may remove the trouble ; should they be in the ears, the case is difficult; to fill the ears with sweet oil or milk is about the only safe course. As a rule, how- ever, dizziness is but a symptom of some malady. Dropsy. This disease only, as a rule, attacks old and fat hens who have ceased laying. The malady is manifested by a swelled abdomen and ruffled plumage. The fat seems turning to water. If any one wishes to treat dropsy, THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 43 Apocynum cannab. or Apis are the best remedies ; the former, if there is heaviness and general sluggishness ; the latter, if there are evidences of the disease on the skin. It is better, however, to destroy a bird so afflicted. Epilepsy. Pigeons are sometimes attacked by a disease called, perhaps improperly, epilepsy. It manifests itself by the contortions or unnatural workings of the muscles of the throat, and if touched the birds seem to be in pain. The disease oftener attacks the female than the male. Its cause is unknown. Belladonna covers the symp- toms best. Feathering. Every one knows that babies during dentition, or teething, often get very sick. Something analogous occurs with young fowls when their down begins to be replaced with feathers; that is their " teething" period. To the best of our knowledge this complaint has never been classified and named. We have called it "feather- ing," because the word, if homely, is certainly descrip- tive. Most poultry raisers have at some time carried a lot of young chicks or turkeys safely through infancy only to have them, when feathers begin to sprout, per- versely die. This will happen even where the care, 44 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. food and housing is of the best. What is the matter ? The owner asks the question of his editor, and that gen- tlemen doesn't answer satisfactorily. When young fowls of this age begin to droop and die they should be carefully examined to make sure that lice are not the cause. If no lice be found there is a plain call for medicine. There are 110 incurable diseases given if treated in time and the proper homoaopathic remedy selected. The condition described is so vague that no remedy can be with certainty prescribed, but the probabilities are that a helpful one will be found among the three following : Calcarea carb., Chamo- milla or Hepar sulph. The conditions distinguishing these remedies must necessarily be vague. In general, Calcarea carb. when there seems to be arrested growth, Chamomilla, when there is foul evacuation, and Hepar when the chick looks scrofulous or, so to say, mangy. Even a fourth remedy may be added, and a good one Aconite, when there is restlessness, " crying," and a general feverish condition. Administer the remedy, a dozen or more pellets, in the water cup or food of the fowls; in the latter case dissolve in water and mix thoroughly. As already stated, this is merely suggestive. It is an analogy between the teething of babes and the growing THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 45 of feathers. But the losses are so heavy at this period of fowls 7 lives that a remedy is needed, and we believe can be found in the foregoing. Gapes. Every poultry raiser knows what the malady known as " gapes " is. It chiefly attacks young fowls before their feathers have grown, and is manifested by a more or less constant " gaping " of the mouth, or, more properly, a gasping for breath. It is due to the presence of a small red worm in the windpipe. Whether this worm is bred without the chick, or is a spontaneous generation resulting from physical causes, is an open question. In all probability the disease is due to constitutional defects which may be removed by the proper remedy. In a disease of this sort the remedy must be prescribed some what empirically, as there are no parallels between this disease and the provings. German homoeopathic writers assert that Drosera and Dulcamara given on alternate days will cure the disease. Among suggested remedies may be named Ignatia, Lachesis and China. If it should ever be discovered that the worms are bred in the stomach and ascend thence, as is most proba- bly the case, then the remedy unquestionably would be Cina, or the active principle of that remedy Santonine, 46 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. and we would advise putting the young chicks on Cina for a few days, when, if there is no improvement, resort may be had to one of the other remedies. Among the more popular external treatments may be mentioned the twisting of a horse-hair into a fine loop, running it down the bird's windpipe and pulling the worms out, also taking a small feather, stripping it, ex- cept at the point, dipping it in 'turpentine or kerosene and running it down the throat, after having bent the feathered part over so that it will go down with the grain of the feathers. There are many other treatments recommended by various authorities, such as flour of sulphur, crude camphor, turpentine, etc., but the trouble with them all is that there is always danger of killing the chick along with the worm. Gout. This disease commonly known as " gout " would seem to be more akin to " rheumatism." Hens and turkeys are mostly liable to it, and it also attacks ducks and geese when they sleep on damp floors. The cause is taking cold, or exposure to cold and wet, which settles in the legs and feet ; damp pavements and filth also combine to produce it. The legs and feet swell and be- come stiff, and the fowls walk with difficulty, their gait THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 47 suggesting that of a rheumatic person. The first requisite in the treatment is a dry place for the fowls, and if their legs could be rubbed down with mutton tallow, so much the better. Bryonia or Rhus tox. will cure, however, without the tallow. Dulcamara is also a good remedy, Turkeys seem more subject to this disease than other fowls. Hernia. Hens laying unusually large eggs are at times troubled with hernia. The larger species of fowls are more apt to be troubled by it than the smaller. The intestine through which the egg passes protrudes abnormally, and does not recede when the hen leaves the nest. To attempt to treat this ailment externally involves rather a disagreeable proceeding, as it must be repeated a number of times. The treatment consists in washing the protruding part in lukewarm water or milk, anoint- ing it with linseed or sweet oil and gently forcing it back into the body. This repeated several times will cure the trouble. This treatment should be accompanied each time with a dose of Aconite to allay any fever. The internal remedy is Pulsatilla or Nux vomica, i.e., when the external treatment just mentioned is not resorted to. 48 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. Hoarseness. Caged singing birds are subject to attacks of hoarse- ness; in other words they " catch cold" from being exposed to draughts, the same as men do. There are a number of remedies for this ill, and they are easily ad- ministered by dissolving half a dozen pellets of the chosen one in the bird's water cup. If the bird sneezes and is evidently just taking cold, Aconite is the remedy, but if it is plainly hoarse, tries to sing but has little voice, and that rough in sound, give Causticum or Hepar sulph. If there is great hoarseness, watery eyes, yet occasionally the voice breaks out clear, give Pulsatilla. Humid or Black Disease. Humid, " black " or " sweating " disease sometimes attacks hens who are setting and remain too long on the nest at a stretch, especially if the nest be too damp and cold. Under the wings the featherless parts will be found blackish looking and clammy. Medicine can hardly do any good in such cases. The best cure is to make the hen air herself more. Also, look carefully for lice, both for the little red mites and the large gray lice. Some writers recommend washing the under part of the wing with tepid water. But this process may excite , THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 49 the hen so much that it may " break up " her setting. Carbo. veg. will aid, or Sulphur. Indigestion Dyspepsia. This complaint is evidenced by unhealthy evacuations of partly or wholly undigested food, diminished or total loss of appetite, and sometimes retching, vomiting and a " tucked up " crop. It is supposed to be caused by over eating. Confine the bird by itself, let it fast a little and give it half a dozen pellets of Nux vomica dissolved in its water cup. If this does not correct the trouble, change the remedy to Pulsatilla, especially if there has been retching or vomiting. China and Carbo veg. are also good remedies. Itch. Itch is a contagious disease. Some care must be used not to confound it with lice or chicken-pox. Examin- ing the fowl will enable one to distinguish the one from the other. A hen with the itch is constantly scratching and biting herself, her feathers become droopy and fall out. Examination reveals the fact that her body is covered with small pimples, larger on the back than elsewhere. Give Sulphur in the water for three days, and then follow with Staphisagria urtil the cure is 4 50 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. complete. Keep the fowl, or fowls, caged during the treatment. Kriebel. We have given this malady the German name for want of an English one. It is, we believe, unknown to American poultry raisers, though, probably, their fowls have suffered from it and they did not know its cause or confounded it with some other ailment. The cause of it is smut and ergot, a peculiar excrescence found growing on grain. That found on ears of corn is called smut, and on rye and wheat is called ergot, in some sea- sons when the weather has been hot and moist, though it is found to a certain extent in all seasons on the corn. Chickens fed on corn containing much smut develop the following symptoms : Dizziness, staggering gait, lack-lustre feathers, leanness, lay few eggs and refuse to hatch ; sometimes they fall on their sides and draw their claws convulsively together when they attempt to arise ; the final symptom is a decay of the comb and feet, and then death follows. It will be seen from this that no matter how carefully fowls are attended they cannot escape "kriebei'Mf fed on corn or grain containing much smut or ergot ; many a well-kept hennery may have been decimated from this cause, much to the puzzlement of its proprietor. The cure, of course, is THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 51 plain remove the cause. The health of the flock will be regained more rapidly by giving it three or four dozen pellets of Solanum nig. every day in the drink- ing water. Lice. The dangerous louse to poultry is the large " gray- back," who works on the head, neck and vents, is hard to find as it lurks close down on the skin at the roots of the feathers, and is so blood-thirsty that one or two are enough to kill a young chick. These lice are with chickens all the time, but especially during July and August. Search for them on the head, neck and throat. Bowel disease in summer is a sign of lice ; the sleepy disease, in which the chicks are sleepy or drowsy, is a . sign ; refusal to eat ; puny looking body, and slow growth ; sudden deaths ; gradual wasting away ; con- stant crying; loss of feathers on the head ; and other symptoms that appear surprising or remarkable. Even in the cleanest of houses, when not a sign of lice can be seen, look on the chicks for the large lice. Not only on chicks but the large body lice are nearly always on adults. A chick will never get lousy unless the old fowls are near, and that is the reason why brooder chicks grow faster than those under hens. The large lice will kill ducks suddenly. They kill nearly all the young 52 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. turkeys that die. Whenever you notice a sick fowl dusting itself look for lice. There are as many remedies for these pests as there are " cures for warts " among school boys, and yet the lice flourish. Here are some of them : Wash the fowl with a decoction of absinthium (worm- wood). Oil of fennel dropped on the head or neck will drive away lice. Clean the coop or hen-house thoroughly and white- wash it equally as thoroughly. Rub the roosts with a mixture of kerosene oil and lard ; if this is kept up for a time the vermin will disappear. Fumigate the hen-house with a pan of live coals and a handful of sulphur. (Also be very careful you do not set it on fire by so doing.) Apply kerosene freely to perches and wherever the lice may find refuge. Put a little, a very little, kerosene on the fowls' neck- feathers, and this will drive away the lice from the fowls. Be careful not to put on too much, as it is irritating. A good ointment for lice is made by mixing a cup of lard with a teaspoonful of kerosene. To clear a house of fleas, mites, ticks, lice and such parasites, clean it, wash it with hot lime wash, sprinkle THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 53 the floor with a solution of carbolic acid, and grease the roosts with a mixture of one pound of lard, one pint of raw linseed oil, quarter of a pint of kerosene and a quarter of a pound of sulphur. For lice among pigeons, clean the house, or cote, thoroughly, and sprinkle it with camphorated water, and supply the birds with plenty of bathing water. Green twigs of alder put into the coop, or house, and removed next day, will be found covered with the vermin. If handfuls of wild thyme be thrown in the coop and about the hen-house, lice will rarely trouble the fowls. To clear singing birds of lice, keep the cage clean, immerse it in scalding water, and let the bird bathe frequently. If lice are on the bird, take a piece of flan- nel and put some turpentine on it. Catch the bird and wrap him up in the flannel as closely as you can, with- out hurting him, leaving only his head exposed. Hold him for a few minutes and then release him, and the flannel will be found covered with lice, or some lice, at any rate. Fire or scalding water is then the best treat- ment for the lice after being caught. Among the numerous parasitic pests of fowls, is one which we may call " red rnites." They are noticed as being in countless myriads on the walls and roosts. 54 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. Another class of mites, parasitical, are found under scales, on the combs, and on the legs below the feathers. If unmolested, the comb grows thicker at the base, darker, and furrowed. The feathers of the head and neck fall off. The disease is infectious, and when a fowl is attacked, it should be caged apart from the flock. The treatment must be external. The parts may be painted with kerosene or washed with carbolic soap. Another good treatment is to wash the affected parts and then anoint them with sulphur cerate, which may be obtained at any homo30pathic house. Another good ointment, and one that can be home-made, is two parts of sweet oil or lard to one part kerosene. "Scabby or scaly legs" in poultry are due, perhaps entirely, to these parasitical pests, and they may be entirely removed by a little care washing the leg and rubbing it with the kerosene ointment, or a very little pure kerosene. A dozen pellets of Sulphur, in the water-cup of the fowl under treatment, renewed every day, will aid in the cure enabling the fowl to regain a healthy skin and comb much sooner than without it. One ounce oil of cedar mixed with a pint of other oil and put on the neck, back, etc., of chickens is said to clear the lice away. Only a few drops should be used, as grease is repugnant to fowls. THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 55 For young chicks: two parts glycerine, one part car- bolic acid, the two mixed with five times their bulk in water. Apply freely to sprouting feathers. In conclusion, and in the words of an experienced poultryman, " lice means work" Liver Complaint. It is rather difficult to detect this complaint until the fowl is killed, when the liver will be observed to have an unnatural color and a certain rotten or cheesy look. When alive, the fowl has, if it may be so ex- pressed, a jaundiced and bilious look, with alternate attacks of diarrhoea and costiveness. Podophyllum will cure the trouble. Many cases of this difficulty are caused by the use of copperas solutions in the drinkng water, by inexperienced poultrymen, known as Douglass mixtures. Marasmus. Marasmus, or " consumption," as it is sometimes called, though neither designation seems to be quite cor- rect, is that disease in which the glands, secreting an oily fluid among the tail feathers, becomes stopped. When this occurs the fowls cease scratching, sit about morose, biting often at the root of the tail feathers, be- come constipated, grow lean and die. The external 56 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. treatment is to reopen the glands, if possible, or to anoint the part with oil sweet oil being best. Such treatment, while palliative, is not really cura- tive, for it is fair to assume that the disease is not due to external accidents. The homeopathic remedy for the complaint is Hepar sulph. Isolate the fowl, if possible, and put a dozen pellets of the remedy in her water-cup. Moulting. Properly speaking, this is not a disease but a normal process through which the fowls pass without difficulty. Should it happen that the process is slow and the fowl seems in a generally, dry, arrested condition, give it Calcarea carb. If there is a raw corroding fluid among the feathers, give Natrum muriaticum. If fever, Aconite. Oily foods, such as sunflower-seeds, linseed-meal, etc., are beneficial during moulting. pip. A disease that affects the tongue and mouth of the fowl, and is evidenced by a tough, scaly growth on the tongue, and is often the result of dryness of the tongue due to the clogging of the nostrils, which cause the fowls to breathe through the mouth. The term " pip " is now seldom used. The " regular " treatment THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 57 is to remove the scale or skin from the tongue with a knife, and at the same time put a little chlorate of potash into the mouth. But this heroic treatment is now generally abandoned, and is both troublesome and, far too often, totally ineffective. The homeopathic treatment, on the other hand, involves no more trouble than mixing the pellets in the water of the fowls and arranging that they drink it. The disease seems really to be a species of sore throat or diphtheria, brought on by sudden change in the weather, or catching cold in some way. The hens are listless, sit with open mouth, nostrils are clogged, comb looks unhealthy, and the crop is mostly empty, prob- ably on account of the difficulty in swallowing. As with roup, to which it is akin, Spongia meets most cases, though Mercurius viv. is also indicated. In many instances one dose of the former remedy com- pletely cures. If, after several days, no improvement sets in, change to Mercurius viv. If the complaint is very prevalent, give the remedy to the entire flock in their water or food; if confined to a few, isolate them. Dose : from a dozen up to four or five dozen pellets, owing to size of flock. In this, as in all other diseases, there is not the slightest danger in giving too many 58 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. pellets, for the curative virtue lies in the similia of the dose and not in its " strength." Roup. Under this heading is grouped, too often, the whole series of catarrhal affections. If Webster's Unabridged is opened and "Roup" looked up, the inquirer is re- ferred to " Roop ;" turning to that word he is again referred to " Croup," and that really is " Roup." Dunglison's Medical Dictionary also gives the same derivation. The difference between croup and diph- theria, in brief, and, what closer study would probably reveal to be analogous, roup and pip, is, that in roup the mucus remains slimy and stringy, while in pip it hardens and forms the "scale." Be that as it may, roup is the bane of chicken-raisers and of chickens. The disease is characterized by a foul breath, offen- sive discharges from the nostrils, inflamed and swollen head, sore eyes, and a cankerous-looking throat and mouth. The homoeopathic remedy for roup is Spongia, and if homoeopathy had done nothing else for poultry breeders than to give them this remedy, it would merit their lasting gratitude. Of its efficacy there can be no doubt. Spongia is the sovereign remedy for croup in THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 59 children, as countless thousands could testify, and it is the same in croup, or roup, of fowls. That this theory is correct is confirmed by experience wherever the remedy has been administered to fowls. Breeders, who heretofore had lost fifties and hundreds from roup, find that their loss under Spongia diminished to next to nothing. In administering the remedy, all that is required is to dissolve from a dozen to four dozen pellets in clean water, and put the water, the usual quantity apportioned to the fowls, in a clean vessel, where they will drink it. Continue until the disease has disappeared, which will be in a very short time. The disease sometimes called " Rattle " in geese seems to be nothing but a species of Roup, and Spongia is the remedy for it. Among other homoeopathic remedies for Roup may be mentioned Hepar sulph., Aconite, Arsenicum and Tartar emetic. But these will hardly be called for often. Before closing this subject it may not be amiss to quote the following testimony from a correspondent of The Poultry Keeper, a well-known journal : " I don't know but it will be in place to say something more of the Spongia. When I last wrote I was trying it on a rooster that had the Roup for six months. For a wonder it cured him up. Of course it would be impossible 60 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. to do this in every case. You know I wrote you several times about losing my young chicks with the Roup. Well, I lost three lots 150 in all. I kept on trying, and, after using the Spongia, 1 have only lost a few, and will have winter frys instead of spring frys." Another correspondent writes as follows : " I am now prepared to state unconditionally that Spongia did it ; circum- stances as more favorable weather, and my own rather costly experience of last year may have had something to do with it ; but the facts are that, from July, 1889, when the roup invaded my flocks, until February, 1890, when by dint of the ' survival of the fittest,' health was again in a measure restored in my poultry house, my chickens have yielded me very little in- come, and less pleasure ; handling and dosing, isolating and fumigating, until I was almost suffocated and entirely disgusted. One-third of my entire flock succumbed. Fact is also that although not a believer in homoeopathic remedies, I used Spongia this year on the strength of the Poultry Keeper's recommendation, as soon as the dreadful disease showed itself, about the middle of August, and the last and most satisfactory fact is that my hens and chickens never were in better health than they are now, and have been since the beginning of September ; only a single chicken out of 150 having died of the disease. Certainly, single examples do not prove a case, but if the experience of many others, which will not be slow to come in, should show that in Spongia we have a simple and effective remedy against as terrible a scourge as roup, the poultry fraternity may well congratulate itself and thank the Poultry Keeper." The foregoing was written by a gentleman in Wis- consin. Here is a bit of experience from one, a citizen of New York : " I had about twenty cases of roup in my flock this fall. I tried turpen- tine, glycerine and carbolic acid, in proper proportions, without effecting a single cure, and also used chloralum and several other remedies without any good effect. I commenced Spongia about a week ago, and part of them are now well, and there is a very marked improvement in the rest of the THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 61 Another poultryman writes : "Since you sent me Spongia for a roup recipe I have given it a thorough trial, and find it strikes the very vital parts and does the work. I have tried a number of recipes, and they all proved a failure, and with the same symptoms, and every condition, the Spongia has cured in every instance, and for your advice in the matter I am under many obligations. I have quite a good place here and expect to raise a large number of chickens the coming season." And still another : "At the time I commenced using the Spongia I had fifteen or twenty cases of roup, and new ones coming down every day. They soon com- menced to show signs of improvement, and are all now entirely well. Spongia did the business." Later issues of this journal contained abundant con- firmatory evidence of the inestimable value of Spongia in Roup ; one number contained letters from twenty different correspondents from all parts of the country testifying to the curative powers of Spongia. It may not be out of place to emphasize again the necessity of getting Homoeopathic Spongia to obtain these results. We once read an Allopathic professor's account of how Spongia is prepared and can affirm that if any one administered the remedy prepared as he directed no results would be obtained. Swelled Crop. Caused by eating too much or from something that prevents the food from passing out of the crop, as the 62 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. passage from the crop to the gizzard may be clogged with long dry grass, old rags, or other substances. The hen ruffles her feathers, throws her head back and her crop feels packed ready to burst. Fasting and gentle manipulation generally cures. Nux vomica or Arseni- cum will aid in giving relief. Some breeders as a last resort cut the crop a little with a very sharp knife, with- draw the food and sew up the wound with a silk thread. In the latter case anoint the cut with Calendula cerate, or, if that is not at hand, with Arnica and water. Swelled Head. From some cause not clear, the heads of hens will often swell greatly and be very hot. Exposure to draughts of air, however, is a fruitful cause of both swelled heads and swollen eyes. Spongia has given relief in many cases but Belladonna is the indicated remedy for this trouble ; Bryonia also will relieve. Thrush (Aphthae). Consists of small vesicles or white specks on the mem- brane of mouth, tongue, etc. There are several remedies for this condition of sore mouth or Stomatitis ; among them may be named in their order: Nitric acid if there is a general yellowish appearance; Mercurius viv. if THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 63 red, spongy, bleeding ; Staphisagria if pale, white and readily bleeding ; and Thuja if there appears to be a fungus-like growth. Tumors, Excrescences. Domestic fowls are sometimes attacked with Tumors, which anyone will recognize at a glance. Isolate the fowl and dissolve a dozen pellets of Arsenicum each day in its water cup if it is supposed the Tumor is a natural growth, or, if caused by injury, Hepar sulph. Cauliflower-like excrescences or seedy warty growths require Thuja. Vesicles. Small Vesicles, or pimples about the size of a pin- head, and pearl-like, will sometimes be found on the neck, comb and wattles of fowls. They hunt sunny places, droop their wings and grow lean. On the seventh day the Vesicles ripen and improvement sets in or the fowl dies. Isolate the affected ones. Nitric acid is the best remedy ; dissolve in the water cup a dozen or more pellets each day until cured. Warts. Warts do not trouble fowls often. The best general prescription for them is Thuja. Occasionally there is met with in pigeons and other fowls, warty, cancerous 64 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. or ulcerous growths in the mouth and throat. It is difficult to cure, but Arsenicum will in many cases relieve. For what is known as " Wart Skin " (not Chicken-pox) give Calcarea carb. White Comb. This disease is said by German authorities to be a vegetable parasite or fungus, which attacks fowls some- times. The combs become covered with what looks like a whitish dust, the feathers grow scrawny and the fowl dies. The complaint seems to be contagious, and the fowls affected should be isolated. The treatment recommended by the German poultry men is Sulphur for a day or two in the drinking water, followed by Staphisagria, which is the main remedy. Something which somewhat resembles this complaint will be found under the heading " Lice." Worms. When any fowl is known by observation to be affected with worms, Cina, or the active principle of that remedy, Santonine, is the remedy. Continue until good health is restored. Eaw flesh is generally the cause of worms, but not always. PART IV. A BRIEF MATERIA MEDICA OF THE CHIEF REMEDIES PRESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK. THIS Materia Medica, condensed from the standard homoeo- pathic text-books, gives some of the more prominent indications calling for the remedy named in human beings; the same indication demands the same remedy, whether it occurs in man, beast or fowl ; thus readers will not only be enabled to obtain a clearer knowledge of the remedy their fowls require, but at times to select a remedy for their own ills. It must not be inferred that all the symptoms, under a remedy, must be present in order to call for it. A few of them, or even one, will be relieved by the remedy if truly indicated. Aconitum. Restlessness. Anxiety. Headache as if the brain were moved or raised. Eyes staring, red, inflamed. For inflammation resulting from foreign substances in the eyes. Violent sneezing, feverish, thirsty with coryza. For beginnings "o/ colds." Toothache in sound teeth, or neuralgia, from 5 66 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. exposure to cold, dry winds. Dry burning throat. For begin- ning of pleurisy or pneumonia. Spitting of bright, frothy blood. Pressure as of a weight in the pit of the stomach. Urine hot, painful, red. Milk fever. Teething, with hot inflamed gums. Laryngitis, with inflammatory fever. Dry, hacking cough. Hot breath. Oppression of the chest when moving fast. Pulse full and hard in fevers- Great irritation of the nervous system. Skin red, dry and burning; sweating when covered and attacks of chilliness. Sleeplessness of old age. General indications are dry fever, heat, and especially restless- ness. Aconite is very useful in the first stages of a large number of ailments. Apis. Inflammatory affections with great swelling, almost like dropsy. The pain is of a biting, stinging, burning character, like that arising from the sting of a bee. A great indication for the selection of this remedy is the want of thirst in spite of fever and inflammation. The same holds good in dropsical affections. Sore throat with stinging pain when swallowing. Incipient diphtheria. Erysipelas. An extremely valuable remedy in a great variety of diseases of the eye, inflammatory. Apocynum Cannabinum. Heaviness of the head evenings. HydrocepTialus. Great thirst, but water disagrees. Dropsy. Acute inflammatory dropsy. Excretions of urine and sweat greatly diminished. Dropsy and dropsical conditions. Arnica Montana. Externally. A lotion of one part tincture to ten of water, to be applied to all injuries from falls, blows, concussions and sprains. Internally (in pellets), for all heavy blows or concussions. Bladder affections from mechanical injuries. Pleurisy from mechanical injuries. Rheumatism of THE POULTRY DOCTOR, 67 laborers. Palpitation and " strain " of the heart after violent exertion. " Clergymen's sore throat." Bruised feeling. Great physical fatigue. Ill effects from blows or heavy exertion generally. Neuralgia following injuries. Nose bleed with " blackish " blood. Arsenicum Album. Headache, motion aggravates. Chronic eruptions, with pustules on the head. Violent burning in the eyes. Discharges of cadaverous odor from the ears. Watery discharge causing burning and smarting in the nostrils. Cancerous ulcers on the face. Eruptions, sores and ulcers on mouth or lips. Thirst, drinks often but little at a time. Fre- quent vomiting. Vomiting immediately after eating. Heat and burning in the pit of the stomach. Diarrhoea after chill- ing the stomach by food or drink. Ill effects of cold water or ice cream. Haemorrhages from bowels, dark and offensive. Asiatic cholera with watery discharges. Sudden catarrh threat- ening suffocation at night. Difficult breathing. Tightness of chest. Agonizing heart pains. Trembling limjbs ; violent starting while falling asleep. Very rapid sinking of strength. Dreams full of care, sorrow and fear. Eruptions, pimples, car- buncles, cancers, lupus. Bad effects from tobacco chewing, qui- nine or alcoliol. Bites of animals. Sudden and extreme debility, burning pains and bad eruptions. Haemorrhoids, with burning, like fire. Arsenicum Jodatum (lodatum). Enlarged scrofulous glands. Blood poisoning with debilitating sweats. Eruptions in syphilitic patients. Last stages of diphtheria and croup, putrefaction. Diarrhosas, dark, mushy stools. Belladonna. Delirium. Blood mounts to the head. 68 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. Jumping, violent, throbbing headache, eyes feel as if starting from their sockets. Headache from heat of the sun. Face swollen and hot. Violent thirst and desires sour drinks. Scar- let fever. Attacks of coughing, as if from dust. Erysipelas. Bad effects from smoking tobacco. Peritonitis. Suits full- blooded people. Congestion of blood. Red, inflamed swellings, red, feverish states. Bryonia. Headache beginning in the morning and increas- ing, as though the head would burst, till evening : worse on motion. Hot, soft puffiness of face. Coryza, with greenish discharge from the nose. Bitter taste. Angry, disagreeable temper. Soreness in pit of stomach when coughing. Bilious- ness. Desire to breathe deeply, but cannot on account of pain in the chest. Pleurisy. Pains in the joints. Rheumatism. Great aggravation of suffering from heat. Constipation : stools hard, dark brown or black, dry, as if burnt. Lumbago. Pro- fuse, offensive sweat. Yellow skin. In general, bilious com- plaints and all complaints worse on motion. Catarrh with dry- ness. Dry mouth and throat. Lumbago. Calcarea Carbonica. Scrofulous ophthalmias. Hair dry, falling out, dandruff, and generally scabby and unhealthy. Sore, ulcerated nostrils. Ozena. Face pale, bloated, old and wrinkled looking. Difficult teething. Cough dry : expectora- tion salty. Chronic dyspepsia. Felons. Feet cold, damp, bunions. Takes cold easily. Epilepsy ; marasmus. Cracking of joints, as if dry. Headache in school children. Scrofulous inflammation of the ear. Skin dry, shrivelled. Ringworms. For rickety and scrofulous people or unhealthily large children ; big headed. Enlargement of the liver, with jaundice ; liver THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 69 sore. Chronic dyspepsia, with aversion to warm food or drink. White swelling of knee-joint. Inflammation of hip- joint. Chronic form of intermittent fever. Many cases of goitre. Camphora. Sudden and extreme prostration. Face pale, livid, cold. Cold sweat. Cholera. Cholera morbus. Sick- ness from tobacco. Tongue cold. Mouth cold. Summer com- plaint. Body cold. Strangury. Influenza when patient feels cold and chilly. Hands cold, bluish. Great prostration, Impotence. Chill, with shivering and shaking ; chattering teeth. Unhealthy coldness. Cholera, cramps, cold prostra- tions. (N.B. The remedy used should be homoeopathic camphora, and not the crude drug from the "camphor bottle.") Carbo Vegetabilis. Ailments from eating fat meats, pork, etc., or in waterbrash, sour risings, great flatulency with constant eructations. Spasms in the stomach with burning and aching pains. Ailments after abuse of mercury, as offensive breath, bleeding of the gums, canker in the mouth. Useful in all kinds of foul-smelling discharges, even from ulcers. Bad effects from drinking ice water, such as colic. Senile gangrene, humid leg. Corrosive leucorrhoaa. Causticum. Ailments resulting from suppressed eruptions like measles, scarlatina, etc. Loss of voice. Paralytic condi- tions, sciatica. Weakness of the neck of the bladder, children wetting the bed. Acid dyspepsia. Horny warts. Chamomilla. Child cries, quiet only when carried ; whin- ing, restless ; wants things, and when offered pushes them away; peevish, nothing pleases, one cheek red while the other 70 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. is pale. Eructation sour, inclination to vomit. Convulsions of children. Stool green, watery, or like chopped eggs, with colic. For children during teething and for infantile colic, earache. A valuable remedy for uterine haemorrhages. Cina. Child does not want to be touched ; cannot bear you to come near it ; uneasy and distressed. Child picks at its nose. Grinds its teeth when asleep. Unnatural hunger. The chief remedy for worms in children. (Santonine cures worms if Cina fails. ) Cinchona (China). Heaviness in the head, fainting, tem- porary loss of sight, ringing in the ears ; cold surface. After haemorrhage. Vertigo, after loss of animal fluids. Headache worse in the open air, better from hard pressure, Habitual nosebleed. Flatulency. Heartburn. Hectic fever, frequent night sweats, diarrhoea, pallor, sleepless, nervous. After ex- hausting disease or loss of animal fluid. Chills and fever, espe- cially in swarthy persons. For all losses of animal fluids. Rapid emaciation, with indigestion, voracious appetite, undi- gested stools and copious night sweats. Ringing in the ears. Colchicum. Great thirst but no appetite, smell of food disgusting. Intense neuralgic headache, with ineffectual efforts to sneeze. Stomach icy cold, colic distension. Breathing asth- matic. Rheumatic pains in elbow, wrist, finger-joints. (Ede- matous swelling and coldness in legs and feet. Tingling in toes like after being frosted. Smell of cooking nauseates. Wants things, but when brought they nauseate. Useful with asth- matic, gouty, rheumatic people. Corallium Rubrum is very serviceable in nervous coughs and whooping- cough, mostly during the spasmodic stage ; also, THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 71 in Millar's asthma of children. Sensation as if cold air passed through the respiratory organs, when taking a long breath. Drosera. Whooping-cough in periodically returning par- oxysms, with vomiting, the child feeling better during motion than during rest. Whooping-cough with haemorrhage from the nose and mouth ; nose-bleed, especially morning and even- ing, or when stooping. Cough worse at night, and made worse by singing, laughing, crying, smoking and drinking. Oppres- sion of chest as if air could not be expired. Dulcamara. Dull headache, continuous. Aching in eyes when reading. Coryza worse after slightest exposure. Saliva- tion. Menses suppressed by cold. Rheumatic pleuritis and pleuro-pneumonia with tough, difficult, discolored sputa. Ery- sipelas of feet. Pains in the joints after exposure to cold. Rending pain in side, upward. Tetter oozing a watery fluid, bleeds after scratching. Nettlerash with much itching ; after scratching it burns ; increases in warmth, better in cold. Fleshy warts. Useful, in general, in ailments arising from cold, wet weather, especially in phlegmatic, scrofulous, torpid, people; catarrhal troubles always worse in cold, wet weather, with free secretion of mucus ; lameness in small of back after getting wet. Euphrasia. Eyes with swollen agglutinated lids- Thick yellow discharge from the eyes. Stitching pressure in the eyes. Sensation as of sand in the eyes. Opacity in the cornea. Catarrhal ophthalmia with lachrymation and mucous discharge. Profuse flow of acrid tears. Inflammation and ulceration of the margin of the lids. Profuse, bland, fluent coryza, with scalding tears and aversion to light. Cough, can scarcely get breath. 72 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. Attacks of heat during the day, with redness of face and cold hands. Has strong action on ailments of the eyes in connection with colds. Gelsemium, Complete loss of muscular power from want of nerve-tone. Paralysis. Cerebro-spinal-meningitis. Infantile remittent fever, and other fevers having a remittent character. Feverish conditions with great restlessness. Neuralgia with nervous twitchings. Prostration from night watching. Weak- ness of sight, double vision. Affections from prostration of hot weather. Hiccough if chronic. Writer's cramp. Especially useful for all " colds." or catarrhs, contracted in hot, moist weather. Catarrh. Graphites. Dirty crusts on the scalp. Every thing turns black before the eyes when stooping. Styes on lower lid ; wens on the lids. Eruptions behind the ears; fissures; scabs. Dry scabs in the nose, with sore cracked, ulcerated nostrils ; purulent, foetid secretion. Scabs on the face, skin dry, beard falls out. Rotten odor from mouth and gums. Tape worm. Fissuro ani. Emissions without erections. Nocturnal emissions, flaccid (long-standing complaint). Hydrocele, left side. Leu- corrhoeal discharges in gushes. Hard scars. Abscess. Hard, dry respiration. Horny hands, cracked raw places, nails black and rough. Callous ulcers on the feet (quarter crack in horses}. Burning in old scars. Old scars from ulcers. Will remove or lessen scars. For unhealthy, hard, dry, cracked, scabby skin and slow foul ulcerated conditions. Hepar Sulphur. Morning headache worse from every jar. Boils on head and neck. Falling out of hair, with sore pimples and bald blotches. Discharge of foetid pus from the ear. Pain- THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 73 ful boils. Scurfy eruptions. Loose rattling cough. Croup. Unhealthy skin, slight injuries suppurate. Ulcers discharge bloody pus. Sweats day and night without relief, or first he cannot sweat, then profusely. Promotes suppurative process as in abscess, boils, sty, gumboils, "run-rounds" and whitlow; for " ripe colds " and effects of abuse of mercury. Ignatia Amara. Useful in hysteric affections ; also con- vulsive and spasmodic disorders, especially when occasioned by grief ; great excitability of the nervous system ; pain from the least touch ; headache as if a nail were driven into the head, better from eating ; chronic nightly cough ; concussive spasmodic cough, especially on walking. Pain and pressure in the throat between the acts of deglutition, as if a ball were lodged there. Sciatica recurring during cold weather. Sciatica in general. Ipecacuanha. Heat and throbbing in head, with red cheeks. Loss of smell; catarrh with nausea. Nausea constant with all complaints. Vomiting, bile, dark-colored substance with or without blood, sour fluid, always with nausea. Inde- scribable sick feeling in the stomach. Diarrhoea, fermented, greenish, slimy, bloody followed by straining. Diarrhoaa from unripe fruit. Urine scanty, dark red ; unsuccessful urging. Profuse menstruation with constant nausea. Nausea with attend- ing ills ; chiefly of mucous membranes and stomach. Merc. Subl. Corr. Ophthalmia with profuse discharge. Inflammation of the bowels. Dysentery, if accompanied by retention of urine ; stools of blood and mucus. Bloody micturi- tion ; inflammation of the urethra with yellowish discharge. Fever, with burning heat, cold sweat. Nightly bone-pains. Bloody flux. In general similar to mercurius but more violent. 74 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. Mercurius Vivus, Head feels as if in a vice or bound with a hoop, worse at night. Foetid, sour-smelling oily sweat on the head. Purulent discharge, green from the ears. Coryza, nose red shining swollen, worse at night. Teeth loose, toothache from caries; gums painful, swollen, bleeding, receding from the teeth. Ozaena, offensive, sore bones. Erysipelatous inflam- mation of the throat, rawness, roughness, mouth full of saliva ; tonsils dark red, ulcerous, but rarely diphtheritic. Constipa- tion, stools tenacious or crumbling, violent straining, sometimes with blood. Cough, violent racking, worse at night as if head and chest would burst, short breath and sometimes bloody sputum. Scrofulous catarrh . Aching in the bones. Paralysis agitans. Chronic inflammation of the liver with jaundice. Syphilitic conditions generally. Venereal ulcers. Natrum Mur. Intermittent fever, chill beginning in the morning, backache. Profuse sweat having a sour smell. Ma- larial poisoning. Headache, as if bursting ; beating or stitches through neck and chest. Excessively sore, red eyelids. Heart- burn always after eating. Constipation ; difficult stool with fissures at the anus. Chronic catarrh of the ear. Greasy slcin. Nitric Acid. Useful in inflammation and ulceration of the bones ; syphilis and sycosis ; tedious suppuration and glandular diseases ; sore throat, from syphilis on abuse of mercury ; prick- ing pains as from splinters; carious ulcers ; pain in old sores on change of the weather ; brown-red spots on the skin and boils. Is often required in secondary syphilis and mercurial ailments, small-pox. Pneumonia in old people. Bleeding warts. Bad freckles|of the skin. (Resembles Mercurius in many respects. ) Nux Vomica, Hypochondriac mood of persons of sed- THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 75 entary habits ; of those who dissipate. Headache from drink- ing spirituous liquors ; red blotched face or yellow and florid. Eyes burning and smarting. Toothache with swollen face. Taste ; bitter, sour, tongue heavily coated white, or yellow. Bad effects of coffee, alcoholic drinks and debauchery. Indiges- tion after abuse of drugs (too much allopathic or "patent" medicines). Sedentary habits, high living. Liver swollen, sensitive caused by debauchery or high living. Jaundice with constipation, from sedentary habits or abuse of alcohol. Alter- nate constipation and diarrhoea. Roughness and rawness in the chest. Nervous prostration from mental overwork. Opium, This remedy is frequently suitable to drunkards and old people, and to persons on whom other medicines are slow to act. Dream. Stupid sleeplessness ; consequence of fright; trembling, jerking convulsions beginning with rigidity of the whole body, loud cries ; epilepsy ; tetanus ; painters' paralysis ; delirium tremens ; expectoration of frothy blood when cough- ing ; constipation from torpor of the bowels ; stupor occasioned by falls, blows, or other accidents. Valuable in apoplexy with stupor and cold extremities ; also in threatened apoplexy of drunkards. Phosphorus. Impending paralysis of brain and collapse; softening of the brain. Dandruff copious; hair comes out in bunches. Bad effects from excessive use of salt. After drink- ing as soon as water becomes warm it is thrown up. Jaundice with pneumonia or brain disease. Sexual excitement, lascivious dreams, emissions and weakness. Asthma with fear of suffoca- tion ; loss of voice, rattling breathing, hoarseness with cough and rawness ; cough worse at night and changing from warm 76 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. to cold. Broncho-pulmonary catarrh. Pneumonia, weight on chest. Typhoid pneumonia. Pleuritis. Tuberculosis in the tall, slender or rapidly growing. Great debility, frequent at- tacks of bronchitis. Clammy sweat. Blood boils. Open cancers bleeding easily. General tendency to fatty degeneration. Soften- ing of the brain ; brain always feels tired. Podophyllum. Excessive secretion of bile; great irritabilty of the liver ; torpidity of the liver; jaundice; chronic hepatis ; hypergemia of liver. " Bilious attacks." Prolapsus ani, with stool, even from least exertion, followed by stool or thick, trans- parent mucus, or mixed with blood. Piles with prolapsus ani and long standing diarrhoea. Bilious temperaments. Pulsatilla. Especially adapted to female derangements, children and to persons of mild, gentle dispositions, but valu- able in many complaints of all persons. Headache from over- loaded stomach, pastry, fat food. v Rheumatic headache. Deaf- ness, as if ears were stopped ; from cold ; earache ; bland, nearly inoffensive discharge, Coryza, with loss of sense of taste and smell, or diminished. Loss of taste with catarrh, nothing tastes good. Thirstlessness. Eructations, tasting of food. Pressure on the pit of the stomach after eating ; colic from cold with diarrhoea ; from ices, fruits, pastry. Phthisis florida, suppurative stage ; chlorotic girls. Pain in chest, as if ulcerated. Catching pains in region of the heart, burning, palpitation. Stitches in small of back. Pain in small of the back, as from stooping long. Pains that shift from place to place. Hysteria. Fainting fits, pale face, shivering. Epi- leptic convulsions from suppressed menses. Tired, worn-out feeling. Flitting chilliness, now here, now there. Emaciation. THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 77 Acts especially with light-haired or blue-eyed, fair people. Old, painful chilblains. Rhus Toxicodendron. Stiffness or lameness on first moving after rest ; better after exercise. Complaints from get- ting wet while over-heated. Erysipelas. Burning, drawing, tearing in face. Fissure of anus, with periodical, profuse, bleed- ing piles. Stiff neck, pain in shoulders and back, with stiff- ness, as from a sprain. Effects from getting wet or sleeping in damp, cold places. Lumbago, increased by cold. Sciatica. Sprain from over-lifting. Rheumatism, joints stiff or red, and shining. Eruptions, red, measly rash, itching, burning. Ec- zema, surface raw. Chilblains. Valuable for effects of strains on the muscles from lifting. Muscular rheumatism, without much fever or inflammation. Acne rosacea. Silicea. Violent periodic headache. Amblyopia of the eyes from abuse of stimulants. Coryza long lasting. Caries of the bones. Carious teeth. Ailments caused by vaccination. Lack of vital warmth ; scrofulous constitutions ; foot sweat; waterbrash with chilliness ; cough hollow, spasmodic ; night sweats. Nails yellow, brittle. Cancer ; fistulous openings ; yellow, dirty, or wax -like skin. While Hepar sulphur tends to promote the suppurative (festering) process, bringing it out "to a head," Silicea tends to heal that already established. Abscess at roots of teeth. Spongla Tosta. Headache in back part of the head. Membranous croup, suffocating attacks, barking cough. Thick, offensive, viscous mucus. Laryngismus stridulus. Inflamma- tion of the larynx, trachea and bronchia. Chronic cough, violent attacks, brought up small, hard tubercle. Asthma. Wheezing, laboring breath. Herpes. 78 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. Staphisagria. Hypochondriacal, apathetic, weak memory, face sunken, weak legs, backache, prostration, resulting from abuse of sexual organs. Herpes, dry, with scabs. Ulcers in scurvy. Toothache from old decayed teeth. Certain deep coughs, not chronic. Chronic gout with nodosities. Sulphur. Affects the whole organism, rendering it sus- ceptible to the action of other remedies, but more noticeably acts on the skin; itching; freckles; yellow, brown, flat spots; skin rough, scaly, scabby ; herpes scabby and scurfy ; eruptions ; whitlow ; black pores on nose. Often precedes Calcarea carb. Tartar Emetic, This is an important remedy in the first stage of influenza ; dry cough and affections of the chest ; also, in bilious affections ; small-pox ; asphyxia of new-born infants. Pustular eruptions of the whole body ; stupefying headache, with pressure above the eyes ; nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, violent oppression of the stomach ; suffocative spasmodic cough ; rattling of mucus, coughing and sneezing ; difficulty of breath- ing, especially at night ; palpitation of the heart and oppres- sion of the chest. Thuja. Headache worse from heating. Eyes : chronic con- junctivitis. Watery, offensive discharge from the ear. Ulcers in the mouth. Bad effects of vaccination. Cauliflower ex- crescences. Warts. Bleeding, fungous growths. White, scaly, dry, mealy herpes. Emaciation and deadness of affected parts, Finger-tips numb, as if dead, Extremely foetid sweat of the feet. Dysuria. Repressed gonorrhoea. Veratrum Album. Cholera, cholera morbus, with cold sweat on forehead, and cramps ; lips bluish ; coldness ; cramps THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 79 in the calves of the legs. Gastric catarrh, great weakness, cold, sudden sinking. External chill and coldness with inter- nal heat. Rheumatic fever, with profuse sweat, great weak- ness and diarrho3a. Typhoid forms of fever in cholera season. Often indicated after Arsenicum. 80 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. LIST OF REMEDIES PRESCRIBED. Acidum sulph. , Aconite, Apis, Apocynum cannabinum, Arnica, Arsenicum album, Arsenicum jodatum, Belladonna, Calcarea carbonica, Calendula, Camphora, Carbo vegetabilis, Causticum, Chamomilla, China, Cina, Colchicum, Coralium rubrum, Drosera, Dulcamara, Euphrasia, Gelsemium, Graphites, Hepar sulphur, Ignatia amara, Ipecac. , Lachesis, Mercurius corrosivus, Mercurius vivus, Natrum muriaticum, Nitric acid, Nux vomica, Opium, Podophyllum, Pulsatilla, Rhus toxicodendron, Silicea, Solan urn nig., Spongia, Staphisagria, Sulphur, Symphitum, Tartar emetic, Thuja, Yeratrum album. THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 81 LIST OF DISEASES TREATED IN THIS BOOK, WITH REMEDIES. The remedies in italics are not mentioned in the book where the ailment is treated, but are here suggested as being useful in the disease should the others fail. Apoplexy. Aconite, Belladonna, Nux vom., Pulsatilla. Asthma. Coral, rub., Spongia, Ipecac., Bryonia. Bone-wen. Hepar sulph., Silicea, Nitric acid, Calc. carb., Sulphur. Black Rot. Thuja, Nux vorn. , Podophyllum. Broken Bones. Symphitum (externally), Hepar sulph. Bumble Foot. Calendula (externally], Hepar sulph., Silicea. Chicken-pox. Arsenicum, Rhus, Belladonna, Silicea. Chip. Veratrum, Arsenicum, Aconite, Dulcamara, Colchi- cum. Cholera. Veratrum, Arsenicum, Arsenicum iod., Cam- phora, in first stages. Carlo veg., after exposure to great heat of the sun. Cuprum, spasmodic variety. Podophyllum, painless cholera morbus. Constipation. Nux vom. , Bryonia, Opium. Phosphorus, inveterate constipation with disappointing calls. Contusions. Arnica (externally). 6 82 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. Consumption (cf. Marasmus). Hepar sulph. , Spongia, Calcarea carb. Core. Mercurius viv. , Silicea, China. Coryza Catarrh. Mercurius viv., Acidum sulph., Ar- senicum, Euphrasia, Dulcamara, Hepar sulph. , Gelsemium. Cough. Dulcamara, Drosera, Sulphur. Diarrhoea Dysentery. Ipecac., Arsenicum, Chamo- milla, Carbo veg., Aconite, Mercurius cor., Nitric acid. Diseases of the Bye. Aconite, Euphrasia, Sulphur. Distemper. Nux vomica. Dizziness. Belladonna, Aconite. Dropsy. Apocynum cannab. , Apis. Epilepsy. Belladonna. Feathering. Calcarea carb., Chamomilla, Hepar sulph., Aconite. Kaliplws., in " nervous prostration. " Gapes. Drosera, Dulcamara, Ignatia, Lachesis, China, Cina, Santonine. Gout. Bryonia, Rhus tox. Hernia. Aconite, Nux vom., Pulsatilla. Hoarseness. Aconite, Causticum, Hepar sulph., Pulsa- tilla, Humid or Black Disease. Sulphur. Indigestion, Dyspepsia. Nux VOID., Pulsatilla, China, Carbo veg. Itch. Sulphur, Staphisagria. Kriebel. Solanum niger. Lice. Sulphur. Liver Complaint. Podophyllum. Chionanthus, [hyper- trophy of liver. Nux torn., in big eaters. THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 83 Marasmus (cf. consumption). Hepar sulph. Moulting. Calcarea carb., Natrum mur. , Aconite. Pip. Spongia, Mercurius viv. Roup. Spongia, Hepar sulph., Aconite, Arsenicum, Tar- tar emetic. Swelled Crop. Nux vom., Arsenicum. Swelled Head. Belladonna, Bryonia. Thrush (Aphthae). Nitric acid, Mercurius viv., Staphis- agria, Thuja. Tumors, Excrescences. Arsenicum, Hepar sulph., Thuja. Vesicles. Nitric acid. Warts. Thuja, Arsenicum, Calcarea carb. , White Comb. Sulphur, Staphisagria, Worms. Cina, Santonine- 84 THE POULTKY DOCTOR. INDEX. PAGE Administration of Kemedies, 10 Apoplexy, 26 Asthma, 26 Black Disease, 48 Black-rot, 27 Bone-wen, 27 Broken Bones, 28 Bumble-foot, 28 Catarrh, 35 Chicken Pox, 29 " Chicken Powders," ... 23 " Chip," 30 Cholera, 31 Clinical Case of Cholera, . 32 Cocks to Hens, 23 Constipation, 33 Contents, 4 Contusions, . 34 Consumption, 34 Core, 35 Coryza, 35 Cough, 37 Diarrhoea, 37 Diseases, List of, 80 Diseases of the Eye, ... 40 Distemper, 41 Dizziness, 41 Dropsy, 42 Ducks, 22 Dust-bath, 20 Dynamization, 12 PAGE Dysentery ......... 37 Dyspepsia, ........ 49 Epilepsy, ........ 43 Excrescences, ...... 61 Feathering, ....... 43 Feeding, ........ 19 Flux ........... 39 Food, ......... 17, 20 Gapes, Gout, 45 46 Hernia, 47 Hoarseness, 48 Homoeopathy and. Its Meth- ods, 7 How to keep Homoeopathic Remedies, 11 How to Procure Homoeo- pathic Remedies, .... 11 Humid or Black Disease, . 48 Illustrations, 8 Inbreeding, 21 Indigestion, 49 Inflammation of Spleen, . . 49 Itch, 49 Kriebel, 50 Lice, 51 List of Diseases, 80 List of Remedies, .... 79 Liver Complaint, 55 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 85 Marasmus, . . . Materia Medica, Mites, .... Moulting, . . . PAGE . 55 9, 64 . 53 . 56 Over-feeding, 21 Parti 7 " II., 16 " III., 24 Pip, . 56 Potentiation, 12 Practical Hints, 16 Preface, 2 Preliminary Eemarks, . . 24 Profits, 22 " Promoting Health," ... 23 Battles, 59 Remedies, List of, .... 80 Rheumatism, 46 Roup, 58 PAGE . 19 . 54 Salt, Scabby Legs, Scaly Legs, 54 Similia Similibus Curantur, 7 Small Pox, 29 Staggers, 41 Swelled Crop, 61 Swelled Head, 61 Truth of Homoeopathy. . . 13 Tumors, 61 Tuikeys, 21,22 Vertigo, Vesicles, 42 62 Warmth, 62 Warts, 62 Water, 17 White Comb, 64 White Dysentery, .... 38 Worms, 63 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. LIST OF STANDARD HOMOEOPATHIC BOOKS FOR DOMESTIC AND VETERINARY PRACTICE. DOMESTIC PRACTICE. The Homoeopathic Domestic Medicine. -By JOSEPH LAURIE, M.D., L.R.C.S., Edtn., etc. Edited and revised with nu- merous important additions, and the introduction of New Remedies, a Repertory, and a Glossary, by ROBERT J. McCLATCHEY, M.D., Graduate of the Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, etc. Ninth American Edition. Pp. 1044, octavo. Half Morocco. Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia. Price, $5.00. Laurie and McClatchey's great book is the completest work on domestic practice ever published, and is especially adapted to families isolated from all medical attendance, to schools, institu- tions and communities. Mailed post-paid on receipt of price. The Homoeopathic Domestic Physician. By CONSTANTINE HERING, M.D. Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia, Cloth, pp. 458, $2.50. To Dr. Constantino Hering, the world is indebted for the famous "Homoeopathic Domestic Physician," i.e., for the idea of books written by skilled physicians, especially for use in domestic practice. This book is the first of its class ever written, but since it first appeared it has gone through many editions and alterations, and is to-day the favorite book with many in- telligent people. THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 11 A Guide to Homoeopathic Practice. Designed for the Use of Families and Private Individuals. By J. D. JOHNSON, M.D. Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia. Pp.494. Cloth, $2. 00. The distinguishing feature of "Johnson's Guide " is the ease with which it is understood by the non-medical. Dr. Johnson is also the author of the well-known work for the medical pro- fession, Johnson s Therapeutic Key. The Stepping-Stone to Homoeopathy and Health. By E. H. RUDDOCK, M.D. New American Edition. Edited and Enlarged with the Addition of a Chapter on the Diseases of Women, and one on the Twelve Tissue Remedies. By Wm. Boericke, M.D. Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia. Pp. 256. Cloth, $1.00. Always a favorite, this book has had new value added to it by Dr. Boericke's work. The chapter on the famous "Twelve Tissue Remedies," of Schiissler is the first attempt to intro- duce these to the public. The Text-Book for Domestic Practice ; being plain and con- cise directions for the administration of Homoeopathic Med- icines in Simple Ailments. By SAMUEL MORGAN. M.D., Physician to the Bath Homoeopathic Hospital. Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia. Pp.191. 18mo. Cloth. Price, 50 cents. Dr. Samuel Morgan's Text- Book for Domestic Practice is a neat and concise pocket-book containing plain directions for the administiation of " Homoeopathic Medicines in Simple Ail- ments." " By simple ailments," the author, as he says in the Preface, "wants to be understood those which are, or seem, too trivial to call in medical assistance, and for the relief of which every family practices physic more or less. VETERINARY "WORKS. A Manual of Homoeopathic Veterinary Practice. Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia. Pp. 684. Half Morocco, $5.00. The scope of this work is much greater than its title indi- cates, for it not only gives the treatment for the diseases of all domestic animals and fowls, but directions for their care in health, preventive treatment, feeding, training, breeding, etc. Ill THE POULTRY DOCTOR. New Manual of Homoeopathic Veterinary Medicine. An Easy and Comprehensive Arrangement of Diseases, adapted to the Uses of every Owner of Domestic Animals, Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Swine and Dogs. By J. C. SCHAFFER. Trans- lated from the German by CHARLES J. HEMPEL, M.D. Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia. Pp. 321, octavo. Price, $2.00. This standard work on veterinary practice enjoys a wide cir- culation here and in Germany, and will be found invaluable to the farmer, horse fancier and herdsman. The Hand-Book to Veterinary Homoeopathy. On the Homosopathic Treatment of the Horse, the Ox, the Sheep and the Swine. By JOHN RUSH, Veterinary Surgeon. From the London Edition. Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia. Pp. 144, 16mo. Cloth. Price, 50 cents. This is the smallest of our veterinary manuals, and will suit those who dislike to invest at once in a larger and more com- plete work. Small as it is, however, it will be found to cover most cases of farm practice. Any of the foregoing books may be had of homoeopathic pharmacists, or through the book trade generally. THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $I.OO ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. ~ r fy JAN 2 4 IS V61ST LD 21-50m-l,'33 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY