58 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 



which forms the shell is secreted. The time required 

 for the egg to pass from the ovary to the uterus, or 

 the part where the shell is formed, is about six hours, 

 and from twelve to twenty-four hours to complete 

 the whole journey, from the time it leaves the 

 ovary until it is laid. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE OVIDUCT. 



The oviduct, as previously explained, is not only the 

 channel through which the egg passes from the ovary 

 to the cloaca, but a great part of the egg is formed 

 by passing through it. 



This organ, in order to perform its delicate func- 

 tion? must necessarily be well supplied with blood 

 vessels; therefore, it is quite subject to inflammation. 



Causes: One of the most frequent causes is over- 

 feeding with rich, stimulating foods, causing very 

 frequent laying, and hence drawing large quantities 

 of blood to these highly vas2ular parts. Other causfes 

 are such as an abnormally large egg becoming lodged 

 in the duct, or the breaking of an egg in the duct, 

 which may be caused by some injury. 



Symptoms: Eggs stained with blood are a symp- 

 tom of slight congestion or inflammation. If the seat 

 of inflammation is in the uterus, or portion where the 

 shell is formed, eggs without shells are laid. Im- 

 perfect, small eggs, or yolks without the white, or 

 e^ffs whjQh contain no y«4k. are an indioatipn of in* 



