Nov. i8, 1918 



Observations on an Outbreak of Favus 



417 



with birds in the experiment station yards, as these were fenced. The 

 case mentioned above was discovered in October, 191 3, and the bird 

 taken to the university poultry building. Later it was placed with 

 some cockerels and pullets that were in quarantine and kept with them 

 untill April. In April all the birds were sold. Very careful observa- 

 tions were made, but none of the birds showed any signs of favus except 

 the cock bird previously mentioned. 



On July 14, 1 91 4, breeding cocks from the Station flocks were placed 

 in the house and yards formerly occupied by the favus case. On October 

 12, 1 9 14, two of these cocks showed distinct lesions of favus. These 

 birds were isolated and treated with iodin and strong soap solution. 

 After many treatments they were apparently cured. Subsequently the 

 disease occurred in pens where these two males were placed and also in 

 other houses on the research plant, where these birds had never been. 



Two pullets were taken from one of the infected pens on December 26, 

 1 91 4, and put with a clean flock about half a mile away. Careful obser- 

 vations were made, and on February 20, 1915, one of these pullets showed 

 distinct lesions of favus. 



A careful watch was kept d'n the flock where the first case was found. 

 In fact, one of the writers has handled all the birds on this farm and 

 examined each bird carefully three times since the first case was dis- 

 covered, but has never been able to detect any other cases there. The 

 owner, who is quite a careful observer, stat'es that he had never observed 

 a case prior to the cock bird which, we believe, introduced the original 

 infection. Furthermore, this bird was raised on the farm. No new 

 stock had been introduced on that farm for at least three years, and, so 

 far as known, no other stock mingled with this flock. 



TREATMENT 



After much experimentation with lysol, tincture of iodin, and other 

 recommended remedies it was found that an ointment made of formal- 

 dehyde and vaseline was far more efficient than any of the other prepa- 

 rations. This ointment may be prepared by placing vaseline in a Mason 

 fruit jar and heating it in water until the vaseline melts. Then 5 per 

 cent by weight of commercial formaldehyde is added. The cover of the 

 jar should be tightened immediately and the mixture shaken until the 

 vaseline hardens. One or two applications of this preparation rubbed 

 thoroughly into the lesions usually will suffice. (See Table I.) 



Table I- — Results of the treatment of favus with iodin and the vaseline-formaldehyde 



ointment 



