118 



POULTRY DISEASES 



comes severe enouo-h to set up an infiaiiiuiatioii of the mucous 

 lining of the small intestines, it is termed enteritis, and when 

 it extends to the large intestines it is called dysentery. In 

 both conditions there is an increased thirst, loss of appetite, 

 high fever and fluid discharge, and in the latter the discharges 

 are streaked with blood. 



Cause. — ]\Ioldy, putrid, or too stimulating food, drinking 

 water which contains much organic matter, and hence is filthy 

 and putrid, and exposure to certain unfavorable atmospheric 

 conditions are contributing factors, as is also the injection of 



irritant substances, such as 

 lye, paint, spray-mixtures, 

 unslaked lime, etc. 



Along with diarrhea due 

 to these causes may be 

 mentioned a like condition 

 sometimes caused by the 

 presence in the intestinal 

 tract of certain species of 

 worms and of irritating 

 foods. Exposure in damp 

 coops, cold rains, or 

 draughts often results in 

 digestive derangements of 

 this nature. A bird, dur- 

 ing molting, has poor pro- 

 tection against inclement 

 weather, from lack of 

 feathers, and requires 

 more care than at other 

 times. 



Symptoms. — The plum- 

 age loses its smooth, well- 

 kept appearance ; the bird 

 is depressed and not inclined to move about as nuich as 

 usual ; there may be loss of appetite : the crop is full ; diges- 

 tion is slow; the cloaca is inriamed (red) and sensitive; 

 the evacuations from the bowels are frequent, the discharges 

 being fluid, offensive and varying in color from whitish- 

 yellow to greenish. In later stages the evacuations are 

 quite spasmodic and forcefully ejected (squirting) and the 

 fluff and feathers near the vent are soiled with feces. The 

 affected l)ird gradually becomes weaker and there is a rise in 

 temperature. It may eat little or nothing; thirst is extreme 

 in some cases. The bird may die in two or three days or it 

 may live for two or three weeks. 



Fig. 51. Hemorrhagic Enteritis in a Hen. 

 A, small hemorrhages Cnaliual size). 



