CHAPTER XIV 



Diseases of the Nervous System. 

 Apoplexy (Hemorrhage of the Brain). 



In this disease the bird usually drops dead or paralyzed with- 

 out showing any previous sign of illness. The only abnormality 

 found on examination of the dead bird is clotted blood on the 

 brain. 



Etiology. — The cause of this disease is the rupture of a blood 

 vessel in the brain and the pressure on the brain due to the blood 

 which escapes. The cause of this rupture may be an unhealthy 

 condition (usually a fatty degeneration) of the walls of the 

 brain blood vessels. The immediate cause of the rupture is 

 increased blood pressure due to fright, over-exertion, or strain 

 in laying (hens often die on the nest). This disease is more apt 

 to attack very fat birds and the degeneration of the vessels is 

 supposed to be due to too rich food or to overfeeding. 



Treatment. — Treatment of the affected birds is useless. So- 

 called "apoplexy cures," of which there are some on the market, 

 should be left strictly alone by the poultryman. Only very rarely 

 can apoplexy be recognized till after the bird is dead, and then 

 all the pills or potions ever invented for the purpose of swind- 

 ling a gullible public will be of no avail. If several successive 

 deaths from apoplexy occur, modify the ration, giving more 

 Screen food and less meat and corn. See that the birds have 

 plenty of range. 



Prognosis. — The bird is usually found dead or dies in a little 

 while. 



Heat Prostrations. 



In very warm weather heat prostrations may occur, especially 

 among heavy fowls. This is sometimes considered to be the 

 same thing as apoplexy. The birds sudflenly drop insensible 

 or paralyzed. 



