1902.] DISCUSSION. 231 



not. Blackhead is said to be one of the serious causes of 

 damage to our Rhode Island tyrkeys, and I believe that the 

 disease has now spread over the border into the eastern part 

 of Connecticut. It has been found in New York, in Iowa, 

 and in other places in the West; and it would not be surpris- 

 ing if it was soon found in the western part of Connecticut. 



Secretary Brown. Dr. Curtice, has the Rhode Island 

 Station been able to find a remedy for the blackhead in 

 turkeys? 



Dr. Curtice. I think the remedy was pointed out in an 

 earlier work, but I do not think it has been emphasized 

 sufficiently. In a work which was published by the Agricul- 

 tural Department of the United States Dr. Smith and Dr. 

 Moore determined the cause to be a parasite which is directly 

 transmitted through the faeces of the turkey, in the droppings. 

 Both of these gentlemen hesitated, because they were scien- 

 tists, I suppose, in saying that that was the only way. But, 

 being personally acquainted with both of them, I think they 

 are satisfied that it is the only way, but being scientific men 

 they wanted to hedge a little, as, possibly there may be an- 

 other way, but it is probable, as we view things from a prac- 

 tical standpoint, that there is no other way, and if we will 

 exclude the direct way in which they show that the disease 

 is transmitted we can raise turkeys healthfully. The common 

 hen and the incubator is again the gateway through which 

 we must pass from infected turkeys to healthy turkeys. You 

 must hatch the turkey eggs not under the turkey hens, but 

 under the hens of the barnyard, and not allow those hens 

 and little turkeys to go where other turkeys have been or 

 are. If you have no turkeys you are favorably situated to 

 begin. It is a good business, as turkeys brought a good price 

 last year, and will next. 



Question. How^ does this disease affect the turkeys? 

 I have never heard of it before. 



Dr. Curtice. Excluding the deaths due to wet grass 



