FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 449 



BLACKHEAD. 



In many localities turkey growing has become almost extinct as the re- 

 sult of the scourge known as blackhead. This disease was first noticed in 

 New England but quickly spread throughout the entire country. 



Nature ot the disease. — It first attacks the cecum — the blind gut situated 

 between the large and small intestines. It also attacks the liver, this organ 

 becoming very much enlarged, often to twice its normal size, and showing 

 over its surface discolored spots varying from one-eighth to two-thirds of an 

 inch in diameter, shading in color from whitish lemon to dark yellow. 



While this disease is attributed to microbes, it is thought to be very much 

 aggravated or increased through inbreeding. In other words, many at- 

 tribute the prevalence of what is known as blackhead to the depleted vitality 

 of the stock of breeding turkeys making it possible for the germs to grow 

 and gain destructive foothold. 



Symptoms. — Diarrhea is the most marked and consant symptom, and 

 may be expected sooner or later in the course of the disease; it results from 

 inflammation and internal weakness. A peculiar discoloration of the head 

 occurs when the disease is at its height, which has led to the popular desig- 

 nation of blackhead. This disease attacks very young turkeys and often lasts 

 for several months before causing death. The fact that the propagation of 

 this affection is more active during midsummer has led to the belief that it is 

 exclusively a summer disease. 



Treatment .—ThQ use of medicine has not proven very successful. Among 

 the remedies most recommended are sulphur, sulphate of iron, quinine and 

 salicylic acid. Sulphur may be given, 5 to 10 grains being combined with 

 1 grain of sulphate of iron; or sulphur, 10 grains, sulphate of iron, 1 grain, 

 and sulphate of quinine, 1 grain. It is necessary that such treatment be 

 repeated two or three times a day and continued for considerable time to 

 obtain results. Some people who have had experience with this ailment in 

 recent years believe that it results largely from inbreeding, the infection be- 

 ing transmitted from one flock to another by affected birds or eggs. The 

 remedies applied proving of little benefit, the only alternative is the intro- 

 duction of new, strong, and healthy stock. Some have gone so far as to 

 destroy their entire flocks, and, after having thoroughly disinfected the 

 premises, started with new, healthy stock, while others have introduced wild 

 blood into their flocks. 



In all bowel troubles in turkeys, feeding boiled rice has proven of benefit, 

 and it has been largely practiced by experienced growers. Many feed the 

 boiled rice to the young poults to prevent the coming of the destructive 

 diarrhea. The most successful way to obviate a dangerous looseness of the 

 bowels is to avoid feeding wet or sloppy food and guard the young from 

 taking cold. The feeding of small particles of charcoal is beneficial to the 

 young from the fact that it sweetens the crop and gizzard and prevents 

 fermentation, which is very injurious and destructive. Above all things, 

 never make use of infected turkeys for breeding stock. 



TAPEWORM . 



Tapeworm and worms of all kinds are very iniurious to turkeys. 

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