FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 743 



trate the shell when eggs are packed in moldy chaff, straw, or grain, or 

 allowed to get damp. 



All of these microbes may also be carried on the outside of the shell, 

 and may infest nest boxes, incubators, brooders, and yards where dis- 

 eased chickens have been. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of white diarrhea are seen in young chicks 

 which are from a day or two to 3 or 4 weeks old. In the most acute 

 form they may die suddenly after having shown but slight symptoms for 

 a short time. Generally, however, there is first observed a disposition to 

 huddle together and to remain under the hover or under the hen more 

 than young chicks should. Very soon they appear listless, indifferent to 

 what is going on about them, stupid, and sleepy. They stand in one po- 

 sition or sit still with the eyes closed, and the few efforts which they 

 make to pick up food appear mechanical and unsuccessful. Their plum- 

 age loses its luster, the wings droop or project slightly from the body, 

 and the characteristic diarrhea soon appears. The droppings which 

 are voided may be white and creamy, mucilaginous and glairy, or they 

 may be mixed with a brownish material. Often the sticky excrement 

 adheres to the downy feathers about the vent, dries and continues to 

 accumulate until it completely covers and plugs this opening. This con- 

 dition, known as "pasting up behind," will, unless soon relieved, bring 

 about the early death of the chick. 



Many of the diseased chicks chirp or peep almost constantly, and 

 when attempting to void the excrement they may give utterance to a 

 shrill cry, as if the effort brought on paroxysms of pain. As death ap- 

 proaches the breathing becomes labored, and the abdomen heaves with 

 each breath. Often the disease is of a more chronic type and has a 

 longer course. The young birds with diarrhea gradually waste away, 

 become weaker and more emaciated until their legs are scarcely able 

 to support their bodies. They try to brace themselves by standing with 

 the legs apart or they rest against a wall or other object for support. 

 Many of them have the peculiar form of body called "short backed," 

 which results from the distention of the abdomen and its projection 

 backward, which makes the back appear too short for the body. Toward 

 the last the strength is completely exhausted, and the chick sits con- 

 stantly or lies on the side with outstretched wings until it dies. 



The most prominent and characteristic symptoms in nearly all cases 

 are the white diarrheal discharges and the rapid wasting away of the 

 affected birds. The losses vary from 50 to 80' per cent of the chicks 

 hatched. Sometimes it is impossible to raise any of them. 



Treatment. — The medical treatment of affected chicks is impracticable, 

 as it is too expensive and has very little effect on the course of the 

 disease. The birds may be given sour milk or buttermilk to drink, or, 

 lacking this, 15 grains of powdered catechu may be added to the gallon 

 of drinking water. 



The preventive measures should begin with the eggs used for hatch- 

 ing. If these are purchased they should only be accepted from flocks 

 known to be healthy, and the eggs of which give rise to healthy chicks. 

 If this assurance cannot be obtained, it is better to produce the eggs 



