CHOLERA 341 



a rapid loss of flesh. The disease makes rapid progress in 

 ihc flock, because <>f the short period of incubation, from 

 one to three days. Most of ilie affected birds die in a short 

 time of an acute form of the disease; others may have a 

 chronic type; recovery is rare. 



On post-mortem examination ihe digestive organs will be 

 found to be inflamed, and the liver is usually enlarged and 

 softened. The presence of cholera can, however, be estab- 

 lished only by a bacteriological examination of the blood, 

 which will be found to contain rreat numbers of the causal 

 organisms. The disease is a true septicemia. The organ- 

 ism enters the body by the ingestion of contaminated food 

 or water, which may become contaminated with the excre- 

 ment of the affected birds or the material that drops from 

 the beak. The extensive lesions in the intestine allow the 

 excrement to become mixed with manure. 



The disease may be introduced into the flock. by the pur- 

 chase of a bird with a chronic form of the disease, or by 

 doves and wild birds that fly from farm to farm. 



Prevention. Xothing can be done for the birds that are 

 infected. All efforts must be concentrated in preventing 

 the spread of the disease. It should be remembered that 

 every drop of blood contains great numbers of the causal 

 organisms, and that if any portion of the carcass is con- 

 sumed by well birds, they are certain to become infected. 

 It is advisable to kill the birds that show any symptoms of 

 disease. This should be done in such a way that no blood 

 is drawn. The dead fowls should be promptly disposed 

 of: th<- feed and water troughs should be thoroughly disin- 

 fected, as also the roosting houses. If possible, the still 

 healthy birds should he removed to fresh, uncontaminated 

 grounds. The causal organism does not produce spores and 

 will not persist lon<r outside the body of the bird. It is 

 considered safe to bring new stock on the place after the 



