Endopavd sites from Chickens. 251 



lachiymo-nasal fossae. Occasionally the bird would scratch its 

 eyes with its claws as if to remove some irritant. On closer 

 inspection one could see one or two worms looking like short 

 pieces of white thread wriggle across the cornea at the lower 

 surface, and by pulling back the membran;i nictitans a large 

 number of the worms could be seen in active movement. About 

 60 of them were removed by means of forceps for subsequent 

 examination. The eyes were then well irrigated with a 5 per 

 cent, warm solution of boracic acid. The treatment was re- 

 peated on several occasions. All the worms disappeared and 

 the bird made a complete recovery. Since then opportunity 

 has been taken of examining other birds so affected. 



The disease is very common at Cairns, North Queensland, 

 and the loss occasioned there is often serious. It has also been 

 observed at other towns in tropical Queensland, and it will be 

 found probably throughout the coastal towns of tropical Aus- 

 tralia. It has not been observed away from the sea coast. 

 This feature was iiointed out by Ransom in connection with the 

 occurrence of Oxyspiruvd mansoni in other countries. 



The early symptoms of infestation are not very marked, there 

 being slight lachrymation accompanied by slight conjunctivitis. 

 Apparently the presence of the worms, which can generally be 

 found on pulling down the nictitating membrane, causes more 

 or less irritation according to their number ; this irritation is 

 frequently shown by the fowl scratching at the affected eye 

 or eyes. If untreated, a pui'ulent conjunctivitis sets in, prob- 

 ably induced by the efforts of the Ijird to remove the offending 

 bodies, and pus collects at the inner canthi, which may com- 

 pletely close up the eye. The latter becoming very swollen, a 

 sero-purulent material collects in the lachry mo-nasal fossa, the 

 skin over which becomes more or less distended. In bad cases 

 the cornea becomes implicated, and finally loss of the affected 

 eye results. Birds so affected lose tiesh considerably, and may 

 die from exhaustion. 



The life-history of the worm being unknown, preventive 

 measures cannot be rationally adopted, especiallv in cases where 

 fowls are allowed large areas in which to run. The treatment 

 usually applied is to remove as many worms as possible by 



