I'OUI/rRV DISEASES AND TlllllR TRl'ATM KNT. 49 



tite and indisposition to move. 'I'hc cunil) nia_\- be pm'plish at 

 first, beeoniing dark and then quite blaek." These, howexer, 

 are all merely symptoms of di.seai=;e in general that might a])i)ly 

 to an\ one o\ a dozen or more ailments. The only eertain 

 methoil of recognizing the disease is by i)i)st-mi)rtem examina- 

 tion. Every poultryman should be familiar enough with the 

 normal appearance of the more im])ortant i-iternal organs of a 

 fowl to recognize abnormal a])])tarance-. In general, when 

 post-nil ;rlem examination shows the liver larger or smaller than 

 !iormal or congested with blood or marbled or spotted, we may 

 assume that the bird probably had .some form of liver disease. 

 Of cour-e, a diseased condition of the liver is often associated 

 with other diseases, especially of the alimentary canal. Other 

 organs should be examined in all cases to see if tliev are normal. 

 Special care should l)e taken to distinguish tu])erculosis from 

 other diseased conditions of the liver and intestines. 



Trcat)nciit. — Since it is not possible to recognize diseases of 

 the liver by external symptoms, the treatment of individual 1)irds 

 is out of the question. Tf, however, post-mortem examinations 

 show that a numljcr of the birds are dying with liver trouble 

 it is necessary to take some remedial measures regarding the 

 entire flock. In this connection Robinson gives the following 

 remarks and advice : 



"Just as soon as it is suspected that there is liver trouble in 

 the llock one or more indisposed birds should be killed and 

 examined. If examination confirms the suspicion prompt meas- 

 ures should be taken to counteract bad tendencies. These should 

 look first to good diet. Make the mash, if mash is used, light 

 and bulky; feed green and vegetable foods liberally; compel ex- 

 ercise in scratching for food. Then get the f(^wls out a little 

 every day. and if sanitary conditions in the house arc at all 

 objectionable correct them. When the conditions to which a 

 flock has been subjected are such that a number of bad cases of 

 liver trouble develop, it cannot be expected that corrective meas- 

 ures will arrest devcln|)ment and restore to health in every case. 

 On the contrary, a few cases may develop in spite of remedial 

 measures, and the fowls exposed to tlie disease are likely to give 

 a much larger proportion of cases of sickness of various kinds 

 afterwarrU than fowls diat a- a floek had alwavs been healthy. 



