67 



The organism which is the direct cause of this disease is to 

 be found in the soil of certain locaHties, where it is normally 

 saprophytic. Under certain conditions of moisture and tem- 

 perature, however, it may multiply rapidly and assume a high 

 degree of virulence, becoming a deadly parasite. 



Syinpfoiiis. 



So sudden is the attack that few if any premonitory symp- 

 toms are observed. At the most the affected birds may show 

 dullness, apathy and loss of appetite and not mingling with the 

 flock. Death comes suddenly, the bird falling forward flapping 

 the wings a few times in the death agony. The larger number 

 of deaths occur, perhaps, during the night when apparently 

 healthy birds going to roost in the evening are picked up dead 

 in the morning. 



Patlwloi^ical Anatomy. 



Post mortem examination of birds dead of the disease shows 

 them to be in good flesh, death coming so suddenly that no 

 emaciation takes place. In the region of the breast and neck 

 upon removal of the feathers numerous subcutaneous hemorr- 

 hages of irregular size and outline are found. Upon opening 

 the abdominal cavity a varying amount of a sero-sanguinous 

 fluid is found which coagulates soon after being exposed to the 

 air. The liver is greatly enlarged and considerably congested, 

 the kidneys are somewhat swollen and congested ; the mesen- 

 teric vessels are greatly engorged with blood and intestines 

 may show many hemorrhagic patches. The intestinal contents 

 are more or less blood stained. The lungs usually show con- 

 siderable congestion ; the heart is pale, flabby and may show a 

 few petechial hemorrhages. 



Prci'ciition. 



The organism which is the cause of the disease and which 

 is found in every tissue of the body is obtained from a con- 

 taminated water supply, generally a water hole which receives 

 the drainage from the surrounding land and to which chickens 

 running at large have free access. The disease is spread by 

 the droppings of the sick birds which contaminates both food 

 and water. Medicinal treatment is of little avail as the onset 

 of the disease is so sudden and birds apparently healthy at 

 night are found dead in the morning. 



All efTort should be made to prevent the chickens from be- 

 coming infected and to stop the spread of the disease. This 

 can be accomplished by putting them in runs and seeing that 



