DISEASES OF THE OVARY AND OVIDUCT 131 



not lay. If the obstriietion is well along in the 

 egg canal the egg may be felt as a hard object in 

 the posterior part of the abdomen. In many cases 

 the obstruction is so far np the oviduct it cannot 

 be felt or seen and we must depend for diagnosis 

 upon the action of the bird, which suffers acutely 

 under these conditions. 



Treatment.— First be sure that the bird will not 

 lay the egg unaided. Allow her to remain quiet 

 and alone for a couple of hours; she will often 

 relieve herself unaided. If it is evident that 

 the bird must be given help, wash the hand 

 carefully with soap and water and lubricate the 

 fingers with three to five per cent carbolized vase- 

 line, which can be secured at any drug store, pass 

 the fingers through the anus and cloaca into the 

 egg canal and remove the egg. At times the egg 

 is large and it may be necessary to break the shell 

 in order to remove it. If the egg is broken, make 

 sure that all parts of the shell are removed. By 

 referring to Plate I the relations of these organs 

 may be seen. 



After the removal of the egg give the hen a 

 tablespoonful of olive or castor oil and place on 

 a light feed for a few days. Eecovery usually 

 occurs in the simple uncomplicated cases which 

 form the majority; in complicated cases death is 

 often the result. 



Rupture of the Oviduct 



This is usually a complication of obstruction of 

 the oviduct. It is frequently fatal in a very short 

 time and in such cases can be diagnosed only upon 

 postmortem examination. 



Cause.— Vigorous contraction of the muscular 

 walls of the egg canal in expulsion efforts some- 



