Diseases of the Reproductive Organs 271 



In such cases death usually ensues in a relatively short time 

 as a result of peritonitis. These cases are incurable; in- 

 deed the trouble is usually not known till after the bird dies. 

 The lower portion of the oviduct (vagina) or the cloaca may 

 be ruptured in passing a very large egg. If the wounds 

 made in this way are relatively small they will usually heal 

 without any trouble. If, on the other hand, such tears are 

 extensive they may very easily become infected, and unless 

 treated properly in accordance with the general directions 

 given in Chapter XXI for the treatment of wounds, the bird 

 will die of blood poisoning. 



Lately in some experimental work we have shown that 

 extensive ruptures of the upper part of the oviduct (albumen 

 portion) will heal spontaneously and leave no trace of the 

 injury. We have removed large pieces from the oviduct 

 wall in this way, only to find the bird laying in a perfectly 

 normal way in a month or so after the operation. At 

 autopsy only a small scar or else no trace whatever of the 

 wound could be found. 



Gangrene of Oviduct 



This may result from severe and complicated obstruction. 

 What is meant by "gangrene" is that walls of the oviduct 

 die, and putrefy. This causes general blood poisoning from 

 which the bird dies. Gangrene of the oviduct most frequently 

 follows severe cases of complicated obstruction where there 

 is a mass of fibrous exudate deposited in the oviduct. There 

 is not the slightest hope of successfully treating such cases. 



Breaking of Egg in Oviduct 



It sometimes happens that an egg in the upper portion 

 of the oviduct, before it has acquired any shell, is by acci- 



