136 POULTRY DISEASES 



ration and diarrhea. The course is rather rapid. On autopsy 

 there is noted an acute gastro-intestinal catarrh, and a fibri- 

 nous inflammation of the serous membranes and cloudy swell- 

 ing of the liver and kidneys. 



FOWL PEST 

 (Pestis Avium) 



This is an acute contagious and infectious disease of fowls. 

 It may attack chickens, geese, turkeys, pheasants, sparrows, 

 parrots, pigeons and owls. The infective agent is contained in 

 the blood, nasal discharges, nervous system and droppings. 



The disease may be transmitted to chickens by inoculation 

 of emulsions from these sources from the infected fowd. These 

 emulsions filtered through porcelain and the filtrate injected 

 into a chicken produced the disease. Landsteiner claims that 

 the blood corpuscles are more virulent than when serum alone 



is injected. 



The virus kept in sealed glass tubes retains its virulency for 

 at least three months. The filtrate proved virulent for only 

 one week. Centanni found that a temperature of 65 degrees 

 Fahrenheit killed the virus at once and 55 degrees Fahrenheit 

 in thirty minutes. The virus remained active in dried liver 

 and spinal cord for 200 days, and in blood mixed with gly- 

 cerin 270 days. Drying in a thin layer kills it (Ostertag). It 

 is destroyed by five per cent creolin, three per cent chlorate 

 of lime and one per cent corrosive sublimate. 



The disease is probably spread by contaminations from the 

 droppings and nasal secretions. The feet of man and animals, 

 utensils and clothing coming in contact Avith the contagion 

 may transmit the disease. Birds introduced into the flock 

 from infected flocks or placed in infected runs or coops may 

 serve as a source of infection. Macerated parasites (blood 

 sucking) removed from sick birds and these injected into sus- 

 ceptible birds did not produce the disease. 



Symptoms. — The period of incubation is from three to five 

 days. The bird first appears depressed with loss of appetite; 

 later dull and sleepy. The comb and wattles appear dark red 

 and the bird sits with droopy wdngs, and gives a peculiar loud 

 cry when picked up. The walk is irregular and staggery. 

 Toward the end of the disease greyish scales sometimes de- 

 velop on the skin, especially on the face and around the eyes. 

 The nasal discharge is of a reddish or greyish color and rather 

 viscid in consistency. Similar secretions are noted in the 

 mouth and throat. The bird if distressed by obstruction from 

 mucus accumulation may throw its head causing a discharge 

 of a quantity of the secretion. The droppings are grey or 



