POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT 



and showing evidences of distress. For 

 post-mortem symptoms see page 112. 



Cause. A contagious disease, due to 

 bacteria, that, owing to infection of soil and 

 drinking water by birds suffering from the 

 disease, spreads rapidly through a flock. 

 It is often introduced by the purchase of an 

 infected bird that appears at the time of 

 purchase to be well. 



Treatment. Prevention by strict sani- 

 tary measures is what must be aimed at. It 

 is believed that no cure is known for gen- 

 uine cases of cholera. Isolate all new birds 

 brought into the flock, especially when 

 cases of cholera are reported in the neigh- 

 borhood. The bodies of birds that have 

 died of this disease are best burnt without 

 delay. The germ of cholera appears to be 

 both persistent and easily spread, and too 

 much stress cannot be laid on the necessity 

 of preventing its introduction, failing that, 

 of quickly stamping it out. The sacrifice 

 of a few birds to prevent the spread of the 

 disease will be well repaid, for it has been 

 necessary on occasions to kill a whole flock. 

 40 



