684 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



time he lias spent in earing for the young poults. The season is then too late for him 

 to attempt another start, his premises are infected, and, discouraged at the result, 

 he decides to relinquish further effort in this direction. It is quite common where 

 entero-hepatitis makes its appearance to lose seventy per cent of the young stock 

 before they are sufficiently mature for table purposes. 



NATURE OP THE DISEASE. 



The early symptoms presented by affected birds are not particularly character- 

 istic. Affected birds, however, will separate from the remainder of the flock. This 

 separation or lagging behind does not appear to be a desire for seclusion but the 

 result of being unequal to the task of keeping up with the others, from physical 

 exhaustion. The droppings are more fluid than normal, and may be streaked with 

 yellow. Gas bubbles may be sufficiently numerous to give a frothy appearance. The 

 head may be, and usually is, darker in colour than normal. This dark colouration 

 may disappear and reappear at irregular intervals while the bird is at rest, but 

 excitement usually causes a bright red colouration. 



The best means of early diagnosis is the Examination of the droppings for 

 evidence of diarrhoea or a yellow colouration of the faeces. Feeding time may prove 

 the most appropriate for such observation. Where this is not convenient, owners 

 should provide some means of determining an infection at the earliest possible 

 moment. 



COURSE OF THE DISEASE. 



Affected birds, if untreated, may die in a few days or may linger for a week or 

 longer after the first appearance of symptoms, according to the virulence of the 

 infecting agent. In some cases the onset is so rapid and free from outward mani- 

 festations as to be recognizable only by an autopsy. Without treatment, or a com- 

 plete change in diet and surroundings, the course is usually fatal. 



POST MORTEM FINDINGS. 



The post mortem findings are characteristic. The lesions are confined to the 

 liver and intestinal tract. The liver is the seat of lesions which appear on the surface 

 as circular spots about the size of a five- or ten-cent piece, yellow or whitish yellow 

 in colour and surrounded by what, to the naked eye, appears to be normal liver tissue. 

 At the point between the lesion and the liver tissue, a ring, almost bright red in 

 colour, is observed. These lesions in the liver if cut open may have a uniform colour 

 throughout, or, in the more chronic cases, there may be a core in the centre. The 

 intestines may be the seat of a chronic inflammation. The caeca or two blind guts 

 Avhich lie along the course of the intestine, and enter it about six inches from the 

 vent, are usually inflamed and in either or both, a single or number of lesions> the 

 size of a walnut are usually present. These lesions are yellow in colour, have a 

 thick wall and a degenerated centre. There may be in addition to the above in 

 severe, acute or chronic cases, either a localized or general peritonitis (inflammation 

 of the outside wall of the intestines) with adhesions and fluid in the cavity. 



PREVENTION AND TREATMENT. 



The placing of the poults on clean, sanded board floors in a dry well-lighted and 

 well-ventilated building with a southern exposure, is considered a means of preven- 

 tion. The continued contact with the floors, however, tends to weaken the poults. 

 1 believe it to be an advantage to see that they are quartered on sanded board floors 

 at night and prevented from ranging in the early morning when the grass is wet. 



