DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



009 



day they appeared well. They and two more 

 controls were then infected ; the two untreated 

 controls died on the seventh day as usual from 

 typical enteritis, but the others remained per- 

 fectly well. This then is Dr. Klein's preventive 

 vaccine, which can be prepared from these par- 

 ticulars by any competent bacteriologist, and 

 disarms this fatal disease of much of its terror. 

 A broth culture for preparing it should be recent, 

 and only needs to be incubated from twenty-four 

 to forty-eight hours. 



Favtis. — This formidable disease was at one 

 time, and still is by some writers, treated as if 

 only a severer degree of " white-comb," from 

 which it is entirely distinct. It is caused by a 

 microscopic vegetable parasite or fungus, on 

 account of which origin it may attack the most 

 healthy fowls, and is highly contagious. The 

 same fungus is known to attack man, dogs, cats, 

 mice, rabbits, and horses ; and one severe out- 

 break reported to us lately was probably due 

 originally to an infected pony in an orchard 

 rubbing itself against the trees. The fungus is 

 ;iamed Achorio)i schotilcinii, and is one of the 

 contagions most easy of any to observe under 

 a microscope, in spite of its minuteness. If a 

 particle of one of the scabs be taken, moistened 

 with dilute acetic acid, and crushed on a micro- 

 scopic glass slip, a power of x 500 or even less 

 will show distinctly a quantity of thread-like 

 bodies, or mycelium, in which are developed 

 spores, which also abound in a detached form. 

 No microscopist can miss so much as this ; and 

 more careful examination will show that the 

 fungus even penetrates the shafts of the feathers 

 in severe cases. The disease has lately become 

 very common, and for some reason Anconas 

 have appeared to be specially subject to it — 

 perhaps from their fighting proclivities. At one 

 of the largest shows in 1901 we noticed the 

 disease as next predominating in the Buff 

 Orpingtons, and of these two breeds there were 

 numerous cases at this one show. Unless 

 allowed to become very bad, leading to loss of 

 feathers on the head and down part of the neck, 

 the general health seems but little affected, and 

 the fowls lay as usual ; but in severe cases the 

 health fails and the bird dies of weakness. The 

 first symptoms usually noticed are small white 

 or yellowish spots or papules on the comb, 

 which have a thin scale or crust. These crusts 

 seem to extend, rather raised at the edge and 

 lower in the centre like a shallow cup ; they also 

 multiply and run together. When removed, 

 the skin underneath is red and excoriated. If 

 neglected, the eruption extends to the head and 

 down the neck, one of the little cups often sur- 

 rounding a feather, or the hole where the feather 



once grew, and even the region of the vent may 

 be invaded. Birds allowed to become so bad as 

 this usually die of debility, and are difficult if 

 not impossible to cure ; but while confined to 

 the comb the disease may be successfully 

 treated. 



For successful treatment, and impunity in 

 handling it, the nature of the disease must be 

 borne in mind. Being a vegetable fungus, many 

 of the usual insecticides are of little or no use ; 

 also it should not be forgotten that the invisible 

 spores are being detached as dust and floating 

 about, and if they reach any scratch or abrasion 

 on the hands may attack them ; this has several 

 times happened. They do not appear capable 

 of rooting themselves on sound and healthy 

 skin, but the least scratch on a bird's comb, in 

 an infested yard, will probably be at once 

 infected, the whole scratch being marked by 

 diseased growth in a day or two. Hence two 

 cockerels which have fought will quickly both 

 develop the disease if it exists near them, and 

 there is reason to believe that even a flea-bite or 

 wound from a tick may give footing to the germ. 

 For local treatment we have several resources, 

 all the following having proved effectual, but 

 it may be as well to say that carbolic acid is 

 unsuitable, as enough of it to be effective would 

 be absorbed into the system, and prove poison- 

 ous. First of all, as we have seen above 

 that dilute acetic acid softens and breaks up the 

 growth, we may wash the affected parts with 

 vinegar, and after drying off that, strong brine 

 or solution of nitre in water will kill a great deal 

 of the fungus : this treatment followed up has 

 mastered several outbreaks. Another applica- 

 tion which has proved effectual is tar and 

 sulphur, provided the way has been first opened 

 to the spores by either the vinegar or a good 

 wash with hot water and soft soap. The most 

 powerful dressing is corrosive sublimate, strength 

 I in 1,000, but it must be remembered that this 

 is a strong poison, and in water almost tasteless. 

 For these reasons it should be dissolved not in 

 water, but in methylated spirit, applying with 

 a brush to all the affected places night and 

 morning at first, and later on once a day. 

 Another very powerful dressing is solution 

 of resorcin, 40 grains in an ounce of water. 

 With any of the applications, a wash with 

 vinegar should be given occasionally, as this 

 increases their effect for the reason stated above. 

 The most rigid cleanliness, burning of all matter 

 removed, and for the birds themselves good food 

 and tonics, should not be forgotten. 



Fcather-catiiig. — Fowls in small space espe- 

 cially, but sometimes in other circumstances, 

 often develop the deplorable habit of devouring 



