MYCOSIS OF THE RESPIRATORY TRACT 



the birds are unable to close their mouths. It is an exudate 

 composed of fibrine and the result of inflammatory action. 

 In the superficial layers of the deposit the fungus and its 

 spores can be found upon the presence of which the 

 diagnosis of the disease depends. The best plan for de- 

 tecting the mould is to lightly scrape the surface of the 

 cheesy-like growth, mount it in a drop of glycerine con- 

 tained on a slide, and then examine with a low power of 

 the microscope. The windpipe, bronchi, and lungs are 

 usually invaded by this fungus. When in the lungs these 

 organs have caseous or cheesy -like nodules in them. 

 Mycosis of the air-passages is generally a very fatal disease, 

 more especially when the birds are kept in damp places. 

 The best treatment is, unquestionably, prevention, which 

 comprises an absolute regard for cleanliness, and the strict 

 avoidance of feeding upon damaged grain or such that has 

 become mouldy. Game-rearers should take particular care 

 to have their foods kept in dry places, as nothing can be 

 more pernicious than feeding birds on damaged fodder. 

 Individual treatment of affected birds comprises the removal 

 of the growth, and the subsequent application of tincture 

 of steel to the part by means of a camel-hair brush. When 

 used all appliances should be washed with hot water and 

 some disinfectant. 



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