184 Diseases of Poultry 



Enlargement of the Heart (Hypertrophy) 



The heart of a fowl is sometimes enlarged. According to 

 Cadeac this enlargement most frequently affects the right 

 side of the heart. The muscle may be fatty and degenerate. 



Diagnosis. — The distinctive symptom of this disease is 

 a very rapid beating of the heart. 



Etiology. — The cause of this hypertrophy of the heart 

 muscle is not known, but it is probably due to some derange- 

 ment in the nutrition of the muscle. The palpitations are 

 increased by excitement or fright. 



Treatment. — The disease is not usually recognized while 

 the bird is alive. Treatment is therefore not possible. 



Prognosis. — A hypertrophied heart may function for a 

 long time. The violent beating may cause rupture of a 

 blood vessel ; sometimes several vessels are ruptured at 

 the same time. 



Rupture of the Heart and Large Blood Vessels 



Internal hemorrhage due to the rupture of the heart or 

 large blood vessels often occurs in full blooded fowls. 



Diagnosis. — The bird becomes weak and drowsy, passes 

 into a comatose condition and dies with the characteristic 

 appearance associated with bleeding to death. 



Etiology. — In full blooded fow^ls any excitement or over- 

 exertion which causes an increase in the rate of heart beat 

 and an increased blood pressure may result in a rupture of 

 the heart or one of the large vessels. 



Treatment. — The accident cannot be predicted and treat- 

 ment is impossible. 



Prognosis. — The bird dies in a short time. 



