where even common colds receive prompt attention, roup is quite unknown ; 

 but by far the greater number of breeders consider roup a more or less in- 

 fectious disease, which is said to be produced by a certain micro-organism. 

 This view is strengthened by accounts of the disease in the literature of poultry 

 breeders, according to w'hich epidemics hive been caused by disea-ed fowls being 

 brought into healthy flocks. 



There is also an impression among poultrymen that fowls that have once 

 overcome the disease possess a certain degree of immunity. 



In America, V. A. Moore is the only person who has examined roup scien- 

 tifically. The results of his investigations, however, are insufficient to estab- 

 lish the etiology of roup, and hence the need of further research. 



For several years in succession roup has made its appearance in the poultry 

 yards of the Ontario Agricultural CoiHege, usually during the cold, damp 

 weather of late autumn and early winter. It usually causes a direct loss of 

 from 10 to 15 per cent., and a muc'h larger indirect one from the disease becom- 

 ing chronic. It often lasts for months, and makes the fowls attacked ab- 

 solutely worthless either for table use or for breeding ; and the most valuable 

 fowls of the special breeds are the ones most frequently attacked by the dis- 

 ease. Young birds, six months or a year old, are particularly susceptible. 



Clinical Symptoms. 



In the majority of cases, the first symptoms of roup appear in the nostrils. 

 Moore found the disease most frequently localized in the eyes ; while, accord- 

 ing to the statements in German. Italian, and French literature, the mouth, 

 pharynx, nostrils, and wind-pipe are the places in which the first symptoms 

 of the disease usually appear. 



Over 300 cases of the disease havL- been studied at this institution. Thirty- 

 six of the most severe were examined daily for several months. Of these, 

 four recovered ; and the others died, or were killed for dissection. 



Nose. 



Nose. Roup usually appears first in weak fowls as catarrh of the nose. 

 At one or both nostrils a serous tiuid is observed. Occasionally on a cold 

 night in autumn or early winter a large part of the flock is suddenly attacked 

 by catarrh ; and next morning as many as three-fourths of the fowls show a 

 serous nasal discharge. In from three to eight days many fowls under nor- 

 mal conditions recover from this catarrh, without any further result. In 

 others, however, both the general and local conditions grow worse, and de- 

 velop through all the different stages of roup. 



The serous nasal secretion soon becomes streaked with grey ; a slimy 

 matter forms and dries quickly to dirty crusts, which often completely close 

 the nostrils. The secretion never becomes yellow, as, according to Zuern and 

 Friedberger-'Froehner, is said to be the case in European fowl diphtheria. 



On the removal of the crusts around the nostrils, a few drops of grey 

 secretion flow out. These can be increased by pressing the nostrils. In 

 later stages, small, solid, yellowish-white particles of matter are often found 



