CHAPTER 111. 



DISEASES OF THE D1GESTI\E OR 

 CANS. 



A. Those caused by parasites. 



There iii'e a great uuuiv parasites that infest the di- 

 ^'estive organs of fowls. Some of these are of but lit- 

 tle moment, because they occur in small numbers and 

 do but little harm; while others are of the greatest 

 consequence because they are sometimes exceedingly 

 numerous and seriously affect the health of the af- 

 flicted bird or cause death. The number of parasites 

 that sometimes infest fowls without producing appre- 

 ciable eifects is almost incredible; while in other cases 

 :i much smaller number of parasites of the same 

 species may not only cause great inconvenience but 

 may destroy the life of the infested bird. So it is en- 

 dent that the effects of i>;irasites depend not only upon 

 the number and activity of the jiarasites themselves, 

 but also upon the strength and resisting powers of the 

 bird aft'ectcd 



Usually. \\u- nun, her of fowls in a llocU Ihat harbor 

 parasites of tlie .same kind is considerable. So that 

 when one of a flock is killed by parasites, and the cause 



(62) 



