L54 POULTRY DISEASES 



ing around the mass a fibrous membrane or sac. It can be 

 readily seen, for all tins to be brought about, there must be 

 an abundant blood supply. An inflammation of the egg duct 

 (usually the result of infection from the digestive tract by 

 way of the cloaca) means an arrest of function of these glands. 

 There are other cells that secrete mucus which lubricates the 

 passage way, and these, too, are arrested in their function. 

 The result is a stoppage of the egg. 



Other causes are: eggs of too large size, exhaustion of the 

 bird and atony and paralysis of muscular walls of the oviduct 

 and vagina, volvulus or twisting and stricture of the oviduct. 

 Weakened muscles, the result of disease, improper nourish- 

 ment and overwork are contributing factors. 



Symptoms. — The hen goes frequently to the nest and re- 

 peatedly makes expulsive efforts but cannot lay. If the 

 o])struction is well along in the egg canal the egg may be 

 felt as a hard object in the posterior part of the abdomen. In 

 many cases the obstruction is so far up the oviduct it cannot 

 be felt or seen and we must depend for diagnosis upon the 

 action of the bird, which suffers acutely under these conditions. 



Treatment. — First be sure that the bird will not lay the 

 egg unaided. Allow her to remain quiet and alone for a 

 couple of hours ; she will often relieve herself unaided If 

 it is evident that the bird must be given help, wash the hand 

 carefully with soap and water and lubricate the fingers with 

 three to five per cent carbolized vaselin, which can be se- 

 cured at any drug store, pass the fingers through the anus 

 and cloaca into the egg canal and remove the egg. At times 

 the egg is large and it may be necessary to break the shell 

 in order to remove it. If the egg is broken, make sure that 

 all parts of the shell are removed. By referring to Fig. 2 

 the relations of these organs may be seen. 



After the removal of the egg give the hen a tablespoon of 

 olive or castor oil and place on a light feed for a few days. 

 Recovery usually occurs in the simple uncomplicated cases 

 which form the majority ; in complicated cases death is often 

 the result. 



RUPTURE OF THE OVIDUCT 



This is usually a complication of obstruction of the oviduct. 

 It is frequently fatal in a very short time and in such cases 

 can be diagnosed only upon postmortem examination. 



Cause. — Vigorous contraction of the muscular walls of the 

 e^g canal in expulsion efforts sometimes results in a rupture of 

 the wall. When this occurs the usual sequel is peritonitis 

 (inflammation of the serous lining of the abdominal cavity) 



