CHAPTER XVI. 

 DISEASES OF FOWLS. 



There are a number of diseases of chickens and other 

 fowls caused by bacteria. These diseases inflict a heavy 

 tax on the poultry raiser and the general farmer. Pres- 

 ent knowledge concerning these various diseases is far 

 from complete ; in some cases not sufficient to control the 

 disease with much hope for success. 



Chicken cholera. Chickens like swine are subject to 

 dietary disorders which may often simulate a true con- 

 tagious disease in the rapidity of its appearance and in 

 the high mortality. It is certain that most of the out- 

 breaks reported as chicken cholera are not caused by the 

 specific organism of chicken cholera. 



Symptoms. The yellow color of the urates is the 

 earliest symptom ; these in healthy birds are pure white. 

 Diarrhea is present, the manure varies, sometimes being 

 a pasty, greenish mass, a brownish-red slimy material or 

 a thick clear liquid. The sick bird leaves the flock, be- 

 comes weak and drowsy, acts dumpish, and the feathers 

 are roughened. Intense thirst is usually noticed, the ap- 

 petite is poor and the crop distended with food. The 

 diseased fowls rapidly become poor. The disease makes 

 rapid headway in the flock since the period of incubation 

 is short, (one to three days.) Most of the affected birds 

 die in a short time of an acute form of the disease;, 

 others may have the chronic form, but recovery is rare. 



