609 



testinal infection due to the multiplication of micro-organisms in 

 the intestinal tract. Hence all indications for treatment must be 

 based on the possibility of infection either present or imminent. 

 These indications are met by maxims 1, 2, and 3 clean out, clean 

 up, and clean the water supply. If the intestinal disturbance haa 

 been induced by moldy or otherwise improper feed, further treat- 

 ment as indicated in maxim 4 is called for, namely, stop feeding 

 the contaminated material; or if compelled to continue, apply 

 strong heat to the moldy feed stuff. 



It is doubtful if a complete cure is ever effected in cases of in- 

 fectious diarrhea. Some of the infective organisms are apt to be- 

 come permanently located in some portion of the intestinal tract. 

 As a result the cloaca becomes contaminated with these microbes, 

 and consequently there takes place a pollution of the eggshell in its 

 passage through the cloaca. Hence the next indication is met by 

 maxim 5, cleanse eggs in grain alcohol just before placing them in 

 the incubator. Moreover, since there is always the possibility of a 

 mild attack of one of these infectious diarrheas having escaped the 

 poulterer's notice, with the result that eggs from a hen which has 

 thus suffered have been placed uncleansed in the incubator, a fur- 

 ther indication for treatment in the overcoming of diarrhea! affec- 

 tions in poultry calls for the treatment required by maxim 6, clean 

 incubators and brooders. Sooner or later, if these affections persist 

 in the flock, the poultryman must recognize the value of maxim 7, 

 clean breeding by using the youngest females consistent with the re- 

 quirements governing the production of vigorous stock. 



Before starting in on a course of treatment like the above the 

 poulterer should consider whether the sick (birds are worth the 

 trouble. He should also consider whether he can afford to risk the 

 exposure of his healthy birds to the dangers incident to the presence 

 of disease upon his premises. Whichever way he decides, he must 

 undoubtedly see that it is better to apply the seven maxims as a 

 preventive measure than wait to adopt them as a basis of treatment. 

 He must further remember to quarantine all new birds, and neither 

 introduce into the flock nor allow to remain in it any bird that 

 shows watery eyes, running at the nose, noisy breathing, or soiling 

 of the feathers around the vent. Such birds, in all probability, suf- 

 fer from roup or intestinal infection in mild form, yet are able to 

 disseminate the causative agents of the disease throughout the flock. 



DISEASES OP POULTRY. 



Publications Quoted From and Consulted. la. B. 69; MicK. 

 B. 158; Wyo. 12th Ann. Kept.; Ag. Dept, Bu. Ent. Cir. 92; Ag. 

 Dept. F. B. 190; Ag. Dept. Bu. An. Ind. Cir. 128; R. I. B. 141, 

 124; Ag. Dept. Bu. An. Ind. Cir. 119; Mont. B. 50; Md. B. 153; 

 Oreg. B. 64; Calif. B. 161; Mich. Cir. 12; Del. B. 47; R. I. B. 87, 

 144, 86; Calif. B. 156; Oreg. B. 95; Ag. Dept. Bu. An. Ind. 27th An. 

 Rept. (1910) ; N. C. B. 130, 131 ; Ky. 10th Ann. Rept. ; Year Books 

 of the Department of Agriculture; Ag. Dept. F. B. 287; Bu. An. 

 Ind. Articles by C. F. Dawson. 



