FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 109 



There is always a loss of appetite, greenish diarrhea and a yel- 

 lowish or brownish discoloration of the visible mucous mem- 

 branes, especially of the eyes. Emaciation becomes extreme if 

 the subject survives long enough, and a more or less blackish 

 discoloration of the gobble and bare portion of the skin covering 

 the head occurs. 



Lesions. — The lesions of this disease are quite characteristic 

 and constant; the caeca being frequently enlarged, the walls 

 thickened by a gelatinoid deposit arranged in layers, while the 

 contents of the bowel are soft, pasty or of a greenish liquid ap- 

 pearance. The comparative stagnation of the contents of the 

 caeca, as in the appendix of man, appears to favor infection by 

 microbes. 



The liver changes consist of extensive infective inflamma- 

 tion, followed by degeneration and necrosis. The surface over 

 the affected parts show a variety of colors, as brown, red, gray- 

 ish or dirty white. 



Treatment. — Treatment would be along the lines of intes- 

 tinal antiseptics, as Xeroform, bismuth, salol or sulphuric acid 

 with a laxative of oil to carry these agents unchanged to the 

 caeca. But no success has attended our attempts in this direc- 

 tion, and the danger that comes from keeping the infected birds 

 around, and the constant multiplication of the microbe far more 

 than counterbalances any possible recoveries. 



Prevention. — It has been repeatedly shown that the amoebae 

 passed with the faeces of the infected bird, contaminates the food 

 and water and then actively propogate the disease. Preventive 

 measures must then be mainly directed toward the purification 

 of these infecting media. The ground as well as the compart- 

 ments containing the infected birds will require thorough disin- 

 fection. All droppings as well as other litter must be carefully 

 removed and burned. The nests, roots and drinking vessels, 

 should be disinfected with a mixture of sulphuric acid, one-half 

 gallon, carbolic acid, one-half gallon and water, twenty gallons. 



Respectfully submitted, 



W. Reid Blair, D. V. S., 

 January 1, 1911. Veterinariari and Pathologist. 



