106 



TURKEY CULTURE. 



Western States are affected. The disease has extended 

 into the Western States, though not yet found in the 

 South, while the losses of Eastern turkey growers from 



this source alone are very 

 large. Evidence accumu- 

 lates that the entire 

 Northern third of the 

 country is sprinkled with 

 infected districts. The 

 disease is usually accom- 

 panied by a diarrhoeal 

 discharge from the bowels, 

 while the head turns dark 

 or purple. It attacks 

 young turkeys at all ages, 

 and gradually develops. 

 More turkeys succumb to 

 the trouble in the latter 

 FIG- 33. part of July and early in 



spotted liver due to "blackhead." August, and at the ap- 

 proach of cold weather, than at any other time. The 

 affected birds seem able to hold out against it during 

 warm, dry weather, but they quickly succumb in wet, 

 stormy weather. The turkeys dying from blackhead almost 

 invariably have a disease of the , 

 liver and a part of the intes- 

 tine. The turkey is infected 

 early in life, and infection does 

 not take place later on ; hence, 

 it may be transmitted from old 



FIG. 34, 

 to young. The disease appar- Natural size of spots on liver, 



ently first affects the caecum or pronged part of the lower 

 bowel, which becomes thickened and enlarged and badly 

 ulcerated. The liver is also spotted, and in advanced 

 stages is covered with circular areas, showing destruction 

 of tissue within the organ (see Figs, 28 to 34 inclusive). The 



