If a flock of chickens are believed to be suffering from mites, and there are very few, by the way, that are not troubled with these pests, then it would be advisable first, to whitewash the poultry house thoroughly, not only the roosting quarters, but the walls and other fixtures inside the house. Kerosene is quite frequently used to spray the nests with, but has not the lasting power that some of the coal tar products possess. Recently, wood preservatives have been used for the purposes of ridding the poultry house of mites, and very good results have been obtained from this method. CHAPTER XIII. POULTRY DISEASES It is not to be supposed that poultry, living under the artificial conditions that man has ordained for them, can be entirely free from diseases. In fact, very few poultry men can say that they have not had some kind of disease affect their flock. Most diseases are contagious, so it is important to be on the watch for any symptoms of anything out of the ordinary. Sanitation plays a very important part in keeping the flock free from diseases, and clean methods should always prevail. Do not allow the house to become filthy and foul smelling. It is always a good precaution to disinfect the poultry premises at least once a year with a good whitewash or some strong disinfectant. This is about the same as taking out a life insurance policy for the flock. Dampness is probably about the most common cause for diseases. Disease germs always multiply more rapidly in damp, dark quarters. Therefore the advice given in an early chapter about keeping the poultry house light and well ventilated, will bear repetition. If one is accustomed to watching his birds as to their physical condition, he will be able to notice the symptoms of any on-coming disease in time to isolate the bird thus affected, before the disease has a chance to spread, if it is a contagious disease. By watching a bird thus isolated, and also looking very carefully for any further symptoms in the flock, one can do considerable in checking the disease. The old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” certainly is true in this case. Indigestion is a very common ailment with poultry, especially with those birds that are fed heavy for egg production. Usually a little laxative material placed in the drinking water, and making more of their ration a scratching ration, in order to induce exercise, is probably as simple and effective a treatment as can be given. Roup, chicken pox, and canker are also very common poultry diseases. These three diseases are all supposed to be due to a small organism which multiply very rapidly, and acts mostly on the skin of the bird. These diseases are not similar in appearance, however, despite the fact that their source is the same.