CHAPTER IV
Diseases and Pests of Fowls

ABSCESSES
Not a common poultry complaint

Symptoms. The flesh becomes inflamed and swollen and forms a “head” containing pus.

Cause. A scratch or a small injury followed by inflammation due to pus-forming organisms.

Treatment. Lance the abscess when “ripe” with a clean, sharp knife, cutting low so that the sore may drain readily. Squeeze out the pus; wash with 1% carbolic acid or creolin and dress with creolin and sweet oil (half and half) until healed.

The most common abscess is that which forms on the pad of the foot and develops into bumblefoot.

ANÆMIA, OR GOING LIGHT
A condition that should incite the poultryman to investigate the cause

Symptoms. Birds lose weight, or ”go light,” without any apparent reason.

Cause. A general lack of thriftiness in the flock may be due to insufficient or poor food, to lack of exercise, or to bad ventilation of houses; lice or mites may be infesting the birds. On the other hand, birds may gradually lose weight as the result of some such disease as tuberculosis (see page 90}, aspergillosis (see page 29), or worms (see page 94).