NINETEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IX 489 



SOME COMMON POULTRY DISEASES. 

 KOUP. 



Roup Is a more or less contagious disease appearing in several forms 

 chiefly among cliickens. Severe colds, chicken pox, sore head, rattles 

 or diptheritic roup are all thought to be but different form of the same 

 infection known generally as roup. It is most prevalent during the fall 

 and early winter, attacking both young and old birds. The exact cause 

 of the disease is not known, but it is supposed to be due to a very 

 small bacteria or similar organism. It is knowh, however, that it flour- 

 ishes in dark, cold, damp or draughty houses, or in over crowded houses, 

 where the ventilation is not sufficient to supply plenty of fresh air to the 

 birds. Any condition tending to make the birds uncomfortable or to 

 weaken their vitality or vigor is conducive to an outbreak of roup. It seems 

 to be present in most flocks continually, only awaiting a favorable oppor- 

 tunity to make its appearance. It may, however, be introduced by pur- 

 chased birds or contracted at poultry shows or from coops in which dis- 

 eased birds have been shipped. 



Symptoms. — Birds affected with the most common form of roup usually 

 show at first the symptoms of a cold. A very offensive odor is present and 

 there is a watery discharge from the nostril and eye. Later this may be 

 a foamy white and then yellowish As the disease progresses, whitish 

 patches may appear in the throat or mouth and the eye may swell. In 

 case the eyelid becomes stuck together the eye may be enormously distended 

 by the accumulation of pus in the eyesocket or the face may be swollen 

 below the eye. In one form sores appear on the face and comb and may 

 spread to other regions and in another there is a rattling in the throat due 

 to pus forming in the glottis. All these symptoms may be present, or the 

 disease may be localized and only one appear. 



Method of Spread. — Infected birds carry the disease from place to place 

 and infect others by contact. It is also spread through the drinking water 

 and feed. It may spread rapidly throughout an entire flock or attack only 

 a few birds, depending upon the virulence of the organism and the re- 

 sistance of the birds. In some cases it is highly fatal and in others the 

 birds suffer little inconvenience, sometimes laying throughout the course 

 of the disease. 



Control and Treatment. — Method of control and treatment depend largely 

 upon the form of the disease. The first step is to remove all sick birds 

 from the flock and if badly affected, kill and burn. If it is only a light 

 case, these birds will often recover without treatment if placed in a well 

 ventilated and dry coop. Next look for the cause of the outbreak, such as 

 damp houses, overcrowding, draughts, poor ventilation or unsanitary con- 

 ditions in general, and remedy that. Then to prevent spread of the disease 

 clean out and disinfect the house. Control the food and water supply and 

 keep it clean. Use bichloride of mercury in the drinking water, putting 

 one 7.3 grain tablet in every gallon. Use only in earthen or wooden ves- 

 sels. Spray over the heads of the birds at night while on the roost a 

 strong solution of disinfectant with a vapor sprayer. Good ventilation and 

 dryness in the house are essential if control methods are to be successful. 



