ROUP AND ITS CURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 31

ROUP AND ITS CURE.

Roup is one of the ailments of poultry which is most dreaded 'by breeders in every I part of the world, and therefore the following words of advice may be- read with interest by those who possess large yards of fowls. Tba prevention of roup when infection - is expected, as when one or more members i ef the flock have contracted! it, as also the ' -cure of the infected specimens, is a very simple matter when promptly handled. A , piece of copperas the size of a. kernel of | corn to a bucket of water furnishes both disinfectant and tonic. This may constitute their drinking water for an indefinite '.period with no iiarm resulting. Do not mistake the sulphate, of copper, -which is a blue . crystal,, for - the sulphate of iron, or " copperas, which is 'green. . Or if th& blue crystal _ be , used, < ifc ■ should ,be in the mi- - nutest -doses, as it is" of .'» poisonous nature. If., no- tonic- b©" desireft, a ve/y weak solu- j tion" of carbolic acict" "addecV to .the drinking /water wiir effectually prevent 'ite contamination by the foiipy diseSarge'from the head. ' * r - A simple discharge from the nostrils should be the signal to consider the condition of the flock, looking first to such lack of oare as has led to ifc. If better housing j i or feed be indicated' these should be sup- ' plied. ' Disinfect the drinking: water. Then

watch for any symptoms of swelling about ' the head, and smell the breath to detect piny foul odour. If these appear, remove to secluded quarters, for any such specimens are invalids, and demand an invalid's care. If a hen groans aloud with eve-ry breath, it is simple swelling of the larynx, and yields speedily to confinement in a barrel over night, with a few shavings in the bottom to which a few spoonfuls of spirits of turpentine have been added, the barrel being covered loosely over the top. If a swelled head and foul odour indicate that an advanced stage of roup has set in, these will yield to local treatment, syringing the nostrils with a mild solution of carbolic acid. Let the diet for a day or two be hot milk flavoured not too strongly with red pepper. Administer this with a spoon if not readily eaiten. Roup is precisely identical with catarrh in human beings, with this distinction, that the hen cannot free the passages of the head from accumulations, which soon become an active poison to the- blood. Assimilation is suspended, } and presently digestion and all other bodily functions cea.se, and starvation suoceedls to blood poisoning. The resemblance to consumption in the human race is very marked, and we may say the same of the causes leading' to it. It* is apparent that local cleansing - and " disinfection of the affected parts, combined with a rich and easilydrgested diet, should constitute the rational cure of roup.