58 ruri;iuv diskasks and tiikik treatment. 



of a tlock of 1460. Microscopic examination proved that these 

 were (lvin<( of lul)erculosis. 



Tuberculosis is confined chiefly to adult or nearly adult fowls. 

 Only very rarelw if ever, is it found in growing chicks. Fur- 

 ther it is much more common in fowls than in other kinds of 

 poultrv. Two cases in wild geese were reported at the On- 

 tario Agricultural College. Avian tuberculosis is said to be 

 found in turkeys, pheasants, and especially in pigeons. Cage 

 birds are particularly susceptible to this disease. 



Etiology. — Tuberculosis is caused by a minute germ, the 

 Bacillus tuberculosis of birds. These l^acteria gain entrance to 

 certain portions of the body and there multiply in vast numbers, 

 causing the formation of small nodules or tubercles. The dis- 

 ease is highlv contagious and is .spread through the flock by the 

 contact of healthy birds with the diseased ones, or with their 

 discharges. 



The relation of avian tuberculosis to that of man and other 

 animals has attracted a great deal of attention. It is a subject 

 of very great importance to the poultryman, not only on account 

 of his flock but also on account of its relation to the health of 

 himself and his family. In this connection, writing some years 

 ago Salmon says: "^Nlany outbreaks (of fowl tuberculosis) have 

 been attributed to infection from eating the sputum of persons 

 affected with consumption. Tlie possil^ility of such infection is 

 admitted by .some authorities and denied by others. It is cer- 

 tain that poultry and ]Mgeons are not easily infected experi- 

 mentally witli the tuberculosis of people, cattle and other ani- 

 mals which are classed together as mammals." On the other 

 hand. "Tlie bird or avian tuberculosis spreads rapidly from 

 l)ir(l to bird and is easily transmitted experimentally to birds but 

 it has little effect upon most mammals which are very suscep- 

 tible to human tuberculosis. There is, consequently, a marked 

 difiference between avian and mammalian tuberculosis. The 

 disease in tlie two cases does not appear to be absolutely dis- 

 tinct, l)ut slimld rather be regarded as two varieties of the .same 

 malady.'" 



In the last few years a great deal has been found out about 

 tuberculosis in 1)oth birds and mammals. The results have 

 been sinnmarized and extended by Drs. Koch and Rabinowitsch 

 in an extensive pa])er dealing with avian tuberculosis and its 



