120 POULTRY DISEASES 



abdominal cavity. A microscopic examination of the lesions 

 revealed the bacillus of tuberculosis. It more closely re- 

 sembled the human than the avain type. 



Symptoms. — An absolute diagnosis cannot be 

 made during life, as the symptoms observed are 

 common to many conditions, especially in the early 

 stages when there are no positive external symp- 

 toms by which it can be recognized. The bird be- 

 comes emaciated. The rapidity of emaciation, like 

 in other animals, depends on the progress of the 

 disease; that is, the susceptibility of the bird, as 

 well as the degree of infection. 



The comb appears pale, the bird becomes dull 

 and sleepy, has ^'no life." If the joints become 

 affected there will be lameness in case the affec- 

 tion is in the legs and swollen joints, and often in 

 affection of the skin and visible mucous mem- 

 branes is noted there is ulceration (sores). This 

 latter condition has been noted especially in par- 

 rots. These skin areas are made up of a cheesy 

 material (caseation necrosis), which is covered by 

 a thick, rather hard, crust, whitish in color. At 

 times it is noted that these crusts become rather 

 horny in nature. 



The red blood cells in a tuberculous fowl may 

 be greatly reduced (as low as 1,000,000), and the 

 hemoglobin as low as thirty-five per cent. White 

 blood cells are slightly increased. 



Postmortem Findings.— Owing to the fact that 

 most birds are infected with tuberculosis through 

 contaminated food, we find most of the lesions in 

 the abdominal organs. Of these the liver is most 

 often diseased. Next in frequency comes the 

 spleen and the serous lining of the cavity, as stat- 

 ed in report above. 



As indicated above, the areas may appear as 



