DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT 103 



this solution, five or six times and rcpcMlirif]: every hour or 

 two. It' pus has formed in the uh'crs, they may well be 

 eleaned with a lew di'o|)s of hydrotjen peroxid before the 

 potassium eldorate solution is used. 



STOMATITIS— SORE MOUTH 



The iileerative form of sore mouth, due to fungi (molds), 

 has been deseribed inider external parasites. (See thrush, 

 aphtlia, page 84.) Quite frequently in eases of avian diph- 

 theria or roup we find diphtheric patches in the mouth and 

 ovei" the tongue, as illustrated in Fig. 67. This is described 

 under respiratory diseases. (See page 177.) 



Simple catarrhal inflammation of the mouth is not com- 

 mon. It may be caused by s(mie irritants, or by bacterial 

 (germ) invasion of an injured part. 



Treatment. — A saturated solution of boric acid should be 

 used for bathing the affected parts. If ulcers are present 

 they should first be cleansed with full-strength hydrogen 

 peroxid. 



IMPACTION OF THE CROP— CROP BOUND 



Obstruction of the crop is generally due to swallowing 

 bodies that cannot pass readily from the crop through the 

 second portion of the esophagus to the stomach and gizzard, 

 that is, to an obstruction of the second portion of the esopha- 

 gus. Hog bristles, small feathers, straw, etc., are usually the 

 cause of the obstruction. Of the cases examined in the au- 

 thor's laboratory some have been due to each of the agent-s 

 named. Two incubator-hatched and brooder-raised chicks, 

 just beginning to feather, were given potato parings, after 

 which they died. There was found in each crop a potato 

 paring extending from the crop through the second portion 

 of the esophagus into the stomach. 



By referring to Fig. 2 these organs and their relations can 

 be seen. 



A second cause of impaction of the crop is due to low 

 vitality of the bird; as a result of acute disease, e. g., cholera, 

 or from improper nourishment, the thin nuiscular walls of 

 the crop may become paralyzed or so weakened as to ])e un- 

 able to force its contents onward into the proventriculus. 



Symptoms. — Tlie animal becomes dull, occasionally opening 

 its beak and fetid gases are sometimes emitted. There is an 

 absence of ai)petite. The crop a])pears enlarged, the walls 

 tense, doughy to the touch and foreign liodies may be 

 felt through its walls. Obstruction of the crop rarely dis- 

 appears spontaneously and if no relief is given the bird may 



