Diseases of the Alimentary Tract 67 



ful of castor oil may be given each bird. If the diarrhea 

 is persistent, 3 to 6 drops of chlorodyne is said to be an 

 unfaihng cure. 



Enteritis — Dysentery 



For practical purposes we may associate most of the severer 

 forms of diarrhea with the above names. Simple diarrhea 

 was defined as either a temporary or chronic affection of the 

 intestines from w^hich the bird appeared to suffer but little. 

 Practically its only symptom is the watery or discolored 

 discharge. Under the names of enteritis, dysentery or 

 severe diarrhea there are listed several of the more serious 

 infections of the intestines. From the medical standpoint 

 enteritis is the name given to affections of the small intes- 

 tines, while dysentery is applied to the disease in the large 

 intestine. The latter is usually accompanied by mucous 

 and bloody discharges. In the diseases of poultry, how- 

 ever, it is hardly necessary for any one other than a patholo- 

 gist to distinguish between these different forms. 



Etiology. — A variety of causes are responsible for these 

 more acute forms of intestinal trouble. It may be a bacterial 

 infection coming from filthy conditions. Foul drinking 

 water, putrid meat or decaying food of any sort may be pre- 

 disposing causes. Toxic enteritis or poisoning is caused by 

 the birds eating such things as paint skins, lye, unslaked 

 lime, salt, ergot of rye, arsenic and copper (in spraying 

 mixtures) (cf. p. 81). Further simple diarrhea may develop 

 into the more acute form. This latter is due to improper 

 food, water or housing, and is probably closely associated 

 with bacterial enteritis. Various intestinal parasites may 

 cause severe diarrhea. 



Diagnosis. — It is often very difficult to distinguish 

 between the different infections of the intestines in the living 

 birds. In all these cases the birds are inactive and appear 



