"GROUSE DISEASE " COCCIDIOSIS 271 



for ten to fourteen days, and if the voiding of oocysts had then 

 entirely ceased for several days the dosing was discontinued. 

 If, on the other hand, passage of oocysts continued during the 

 ten days of treatment, though steady decrease in their numbers 

 occurred, the birds were then given water containing 5 to 8 

 grains of catechu per gallon for a further period, until practically 

 no oocysts were found in their faeces. Usually the first treat- 

 ment, with the stronger dose, was sufficient. The birds showed 

 no dislike of the catechu-water, but drank it readily. 



In very severe cases, treated late, as much as 20 grains 

 of catechu per gallon of water have been administered ; but, as 

 a rule, this strength is too great, and causes the birds to become 

 constipated. 



Although the objection might be raised that catechu is merely 

 an astringent, yet the great success of the treatment up to the 

 present justifies it being brought to the notice of those interested 

 in the breeding and raising of game-birds and poultry. 



In the earliest experiments, ten fowl-chicks, aged fourteen 

 days, infected with Coccidiosis, were all cured, while twelve 

 pullets suffering from a mixed infection of Coccidiosis and worms 

 were also satisfactorily treated. From experience gained with 

 these cases, further experiments were made with the following 

 results : 



At a large farm in Cambridgeshire, where some three hundred 

 head of poultry are kept, an outbreak of Coccidiosis occurred. 

 Catechu was given to all the birds in their drinking water, 

 and after its administration no further deaths occurred, and the 

 majority of the birds were perfectly well in ten days ; nor was 

 there a return of Coccidiosis. After treatment the birds were 

 all removed to a fresh run. "*\/ 



At a Sussex general poultry farm where fowls, geese, ducks, 

 turkeys, and pigeons are raised, and about two thousand head 

 of birds are always present, catechu has been used now for some 

 time in treating sudden outbreaks of Coccidiosis usually after 

 the introduction of new stock for breeding purposes. At the 

 same farm a few pheasants are reared in captivity, and on one 



