84 Diseases of Poultry 



ment may sometimes occur through the absorption from the 

 skin. An excessive amount would have to be applied to 

 cause such a result. As the mercury in this ointment is in 

 an insoluble form it is much less likely to such absorption 

 than is the bichloride. 



The symptoms of mercurial poisoning are loss of appetite 

 and frequent and sometimes bloody dysentery discharges 

 from the bowels. At autopsy the mucosa of the whole 

 intestinal tract is seen to be inflamed. The renal tubules 

 of the kidneys are filled with a whitish crystalline deposit 

 and the kidneys thus appear somewhat hypertrophied. 

 Give large quantities of white of egg, milk, mucilage or flour 

 and water. 



Phosphorus may be obtained from rat poisons or from heads 

 of matches. If large quantities of phosphorus are eaten by 

 the bird severe inflammation of the stomach and intestine 

 occurs and death results in from 1 to 2 hours. If only a 

 small quantity is eaten the symptoms, according to Beeck, 

 are weakness, languor, ruffled feathers, lack of appetite. 



Strychnine is usually obtained by poultry from rat poisons. 

 The distinctive symptoms here, according to Beeck, are the 

 twisting of the spinal column and paralysis. The neck is 

 twisted backward so that the head is often held o\er the 

 rump. The treatment recommended by Beeck is to give 

 inhalations of chloroform or internally 1 to 3 grains of 

 chloral hydrate dissolved in 2 tablespoonfuls of water. The 

 amount to be given depends on the size of the bird. 



Ergot of Rye is one of the vegetable poisons which some- 

 times causes serious trouble among poultry. This is especially 

 true in European countries. In this country so little rye 

 is raised and fed to poultry that there is little chance for 

 poisoning. The cause of the poisoning is a fungus which 

 attacks the rye plants. The symptoms of ergot poisoning are 

 trembling, intoxication, great weakness and gangrene of the 



