Diseases of the Skin 



235 



usually starts at a point where the skin is broken. Young 

 birds are more susceptible than old ones. The large Asiatic 

 breeds are specially liable to take the disease. No breed is 

 entirely immune. 



Megnin ^ and some other authors consider this disease 

 distinct from the favus of man and other animals, but numer- 

 ous recorded observations 

 indicate that it is the same 

 disease, and may be com- 

 municated to man. In 

 handling affected birds, 

 therefore, care should be 

 exercised to prevent infec- 

 tion of cuts or scratches. 



Treatment. — Diseased 

 birds should not be intro- 

 duced into a flock. If the 

 disease has been acciden- 

 tally introduced the af- 

 fected birds should be 

 isolated as soon as possi- 

 ble. The flocks should be 

 watched in order to dis- 

 cover and isolate any new 

 cases that appear. 



In early stages the dis- 

 ease yields readily to treatment. Ziirn considers treatment 

 economically advisable only before the feathered parts of 

 the body are attacked. The disease may sometimes be 

 cured at a later stage. The value of the affected bird must 

 determine whether or not it is worth treating. 



As much of the crust as possible should be removed. This 



Fig. 53. — The fungus Achorion schon- 

 leinii which causes favus in poultry. 

 tv. Empty tubes of mycelium, tp. 

 Tubes of the mycelium containing 

 protoplasm and spores. 



1 Megnin, P., "Medeeine des oiseaux." Vineennes, 1906. 



