TOBACCO FOR SICK POULTRY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 82, 4 September 1869, Page 6

TOBACCO FOR SICK POULTRY.

A correspondent writes as follows ,- —" Speaking with>thc wife' of a working bailiff who had boon a successful raiser of fowls. I asked what plan she adopted when they were sickly -. she quickly made answer — I give them a quid of tobacco. This reply so acted on mv risible faculties that I could not

follow up tho conversation, but she further stated — ; I have adopted the plan with success for 10 years.' I then inquired why she gave it, and the quantity administered ? to which she replied — 1 had noticed that when my husband was mopish and out of sorts that it' he took a large quid of tobacco, he soon came round, and tho thought occurred to mo that it might relieve my fowls, which it always does : so wheuever I soo any of them sick I give them a piece o£ tobacco about as largo as from tho end of my thumb to the first joint.' You can judge my surprise as a medical man, when I state that I have seen a like quantity destroy life in a human being. Now for the sequel. In tho autumn of last year I purchased some prize fowls and one of them a month since became sickly. I gave the old woman's rcmsdy a piece ol tobacco the sizs of the first joint of lihuinb (i.e. 20 grains). It had a speedy and singular effect upon it ; in two minutes there was a little staggering accompanied by a peculiar twitching of tho tail, which gradually became straight with the back, and ultimately trailed on tho ground ; in 20 minutes

•the fowl appeared quito well and lias .continued . so. . .This morning my servant, as usual let the fowls out and gave them some barley but the cock bird appeared very sickly and disinclined to cat. He stood with Ms mouth slightij opened .and wings hanging down • in fact, what the old woman termed' out "of sorts.' I offered him some pieces 01 bread my constant practice, but he took little notice, or of the hens, whilst eating it. As this state had lasted thre or four hours, I looked his throat, which appeared healthy, and he- had nothing in his crop. I then gave him the ' quid ' tobacco, i.e. , 35 grains. In two .or three minutes he appeared very weak, and his tail began to droop sliglifcty.s lie, thep sat 1 down' 1 ' under a tree and remained quiet about five minutes. I then walked to him, when lie got up, and in a few minu tea commenced pecking some corn, and in a quarter of an hour fr,oni the first taking of the ' tobacco he appeared quite well, and began to crow most lustily, although" 'he had not mad 3 the slightest effort before during the morning, which was 'very •unusual, as he frequently crows" -when" well. To see him now, 2-4 hours after tho dose of | tobacco performing his accustomed duties, no one. would scarcely believe that he had 'taken so potent a remedy. I do not profess to give the modus operandi, but as it acts like> a^ charm ; it is worth knowing." — J.N,, Colchester, in " Gardners' Chronicler." '