CHAPTER XIII 



Diseases of the Nervous System 



Apoplexy (Hemorrhage of the Brain) 



In this disease the bird usually drops dead or paralyzed 

 without showing any previous sign of illness. The only 

 abnormality found on examination of the dead bird is clotted 

 blood on the brain. 



Etiology. — The cause of this disease is the rupture of a 

 blood vessel in the brain and the pressure on the brain due 

 to the blood which escapes. The cause of this rupture may 

 be an unhealthy condition (usually a fatty degeneration) of 

 the walls of the brain blood vessels. The immediate cause 

 of the rupture is increased blood pressure due to fright, over- 

 exertion, or strain in laying (hens often die on the nest). 

 This disease is more apt to attack very fat birds and the 

 degeneration of the vessels is supposed to be due to too rich 

 food or to overfeeding. 



Treatment. — ■ Treatment of the affected birds is useless. 

 'So-called "apoplexy cures," of which there are some on the 

 market, should be left strictly alone by the poultryman. 

 Only very rarely can apoplexy be recognized till after the 

 bird is dead, and then all the pills or potions ever invented for 

 the purpose of swindling a gullible public will be of no avail. 

 If several successive deaths from apoplexy occur, modify the 

 ration, giving more green food and less meat and corn. 

 See that the birds have plenty of range. 



Prognosis. — The bird is usually found dead or dies in a 

 little while. 



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