"GROUSE DISEASE "—COCCIDIOSIS 269 



agents in the spread of disease can be easily inferred. The access of such 

 birds to infected spots should be prevented as far as possible. 



Should incubators be used for hatching chicks, these should be carefully 

 disinfected a few days previous to their use, care being taken that Eggs for 

 no fumes are apparent when the eggs are introduced. The eggs ^\?"g ^i'°j" ' 

 themselves, whether for natural or artificial incubation, should be ^'cohoi. 

 wiped with some disinfectant solution— 90 to 95 parts of alcohol (or strong 

 methylated spirit) with 10 or 5 parts of water respectively can be used for 

 this purpose. 



Treatment. 



As Coccidiosis is nearly always accompanied by ancemia, I have found that 

 a little ferrous sulphate dissolved in the drinking water given to Ferrous 

 infected birds is of service {see my remarks on p. 265), its tonic action dHukiiig^'^ 

 helping them to make a better resistance against the disease. ^^ ®'" 



I have carried out direct treatment of Coccidiosis in the case of fowls, 

 pigeons, hand-reared pheasants, and canaries, while Dr Hammond Smith has 

 also tried the treatment that I had found successful in the above birds, on 

 the hand-reared Grouse at Frimley, with satisfactory results. At two large 

 poultry farms, where serious outbreaks of Coccidiosis occurred, the owners, at 

 my suggestion, also tried the treatment detailed below, with, I am glad to say, 

 uniform success. I have much pleasure in thanking Dr Annie Porter for help 

 in some of these investigations. 



When Coccidiosis was diagnosed early by cysts in the droppings, the infected 

 birds were supplied with drinking water in which crude catechu was dissolved 

 — 10 to 15 crrains of catechu beinsf dissolved in a gallon of water. The solution 

 so obtained was of a deep sherry or old ale colour. It should be noted that 

 the catechu solution always darkens on keeping ; but this does not aflect its 

 curative properties to any extent. The fowl chicks, pheasants, etc., p^^^^j^^^jj^ 

 were given this strength of solution for ten to fourteen days, and if drinking 



o f^ •' ' water. 



the voiding of oocysts had then entirely ceased for several days the 

 dosing was discontinued. If, on the other hand, passage of oocysts continued 

 during the ten days of treatment, though steady decrease in their numbers 

 occurred, the birds were then given water containing 5 to 8 grains of catechu 

 per gallon for a further period, until practically no oocysts were found in their 

 faeces. Usually the first treatment, with the stronger dose, was sufficient. The 

 birds showed no dislike of the catechu- water, but drank it readily. 



