162 



POULTRY DISEASES 



of the farm flock. She was apparently in good health so far as 

 indicated by actions and general appearance. 



Upon palpation of the abdominal cavity there was noted a tumor- 

 like mass, freely moval)le and located in the left posterior quadrant. 

 The mass was apparently about the size of an average sized hen 

 egg. A diagnosis of tumor was made and it was decided to operate. 

 The bird was brought from the pen in which she had been kept, 

 receiving the usual care. After an anesthetic (chloroform) was ad- 

 ministered the feathers were plucked from over the region of the 

 tumor and the seat of operation was sterilized with fifty per cent 

 alcohol. 



An incision about three inches long was made over the region 



of the tumor. After 

 ^' making the incision 



through the skin and 

 controlling the cuti- 

 cular hemorrhage, a 

 mass of retroperito- 

 neal fat about three- 

 fifths inch thick was 

 encountered. Incising 

 this fat caused very 

 little hemorrhage and 

 in fact lipectomy was 

 resorted to in order 

 to remove the ob- 

 structing mass. A 

 tumor 7 cm. long and 

 5 cm. in diameter 

 was easily dissected 

 out of the mass. The 

 tumor apparently had 

 its origin from the 

 superior ligament of 

 the oviduct. 



The tumor w a s 

 hardened in a ten 

 per cent solution for- 

 maldehyd and an in- 

 cision was made through the center when it was found that the 

 tumor was cyst-like, containing a semi-solid or putty-like, finely 

 granular, yellow material. The mass was surrounded by a rather 

 thick, fibrous capsule. 



Fig. 62. A Hex With an Abdominal Cyst. 



The upright attitude is a diagnostic symptom of an 

 abdominal tumor or ruptured oviduct. 



AN ABDOMINAL CYST 



A one-year old rose comb Rhode Island Red hen. This bird was 

 from the same flock as the preceding bird. 



The hen assumed an upright position as shown in Fig. 62, other- 

 wise appeared in good condition. 



Choloroform anesthesia was administered. The feathers were 

 plucked from over the posterior abdominal region and the skin 

 sterilized with a fifty per cent solution of alcohol. An incision 

 three inches in length was made through the skin and aponeurosis 

 of the abdominal muscles. The layer of retroperitoneal fat was 

 very thin. A cyst about four inches in diameter was encountered. 



