White Diarrhoea 183 



the germs off in the body passages and infects the feeding ground and 

 water of healthy chicks. This disease seems to be more frequent in in- 

 cubator chicks than those hatched under hens. 



SYMPTOMS 



This disease attacks chicks from 2 days to six weeks old. It sel- 

 dom effects birds over two months old. The effected chicks may die be" 

 fore definite symptoms develop or they may huddle together, become 

 droopy or even sleep, the wings droop, they become short backed and a 

 sticky white discharge develops which terminates in recovery in 30 or 40 

 per cent of the cases and death in the balance. However, such symp- 

 toms do not distinguish it from ordinary diarrhoea, or fungi poisoning. 



It can be distinguished from fungi poisoning by reading of that di- 

 sease, but it is necessary to distinguish it from ordinary diarrhoea to ship 

 one or more effected birds transportation charges prepaid to the agricul- 

 tural college or experiment station bacteriologist and have a diagnosis 

 made. Such a diagnosis is usually gladly made free, since they are 

 in the service of the people. 



TREATMENT 



Remove any cause that might be inducive to ordinary diarrhoea. 

 Feed chiefly sour milk which is the best treatment to check white diarr- 

 hoea. Scrub the incubaloir between hatchefe with 1 tablespoonful of 

 carbolic acid to 1 quart of water. Less chicks may die if the hens are 

 used for hatching. Isolate all sick chicks as soon as seen as they spread 

 the disease. Clean the coops often and spray with a dip solution of 1 

 pint to 1 gallon of water and follow with lime in the coop and around 

 the yard frequented by the chicks, especially where they are fed. Renew 

 the drinking water often and if possible, keep the chicks feet out of it. 

 Sell off all chicks that recover, punch a whole in the web of the foot to 

 distinguifh them. Avoid buying eggs or female stock from effected 

 flocks. 



Be sure you have white diarrhoea and not ordinary diarrhoea before 

 establishing the fact you have a sure cure. As far as I have been able 

 to learn, there is no beneficial drug treatment for white diarrhoea. Sour 

 milk often checks it. 



