CRAMP. 143 



before using it again for 'the purpose of rearing pheasants or 

 poultry. 



Since the publication of the early editions of this book, 

 some exceedingly important investigations into the nature of 

 the diseases of young pheasants have been made by Dr. E. 

 Klein. The first of these diseases is that known to keepers 

 under the name of "the cramps." This occasionally causes 

 great mortality amongst young birds, attacking them usually 

 during the second or third week. It is described by Dr. 

 Klein as commencing with lameness in one leg. The next 

 day the other becomes lame, and the bird sits motionless, and 

 when made to move drags both limbs along the ground. 

 Death generally occurs on the third day. On examination 

 after death, the thigh-bone (the femur), or that of the leg 

 (the tibia), or both, will be found soft, and in advanced cases 

 broken, sometimes with great extravasation of blood into the 

 surrounding tissues. The fracture generally occurs near the 

 ends of the bone, whether that of the thigh or the leg. 

 Microscopic examination shows that the interior of the bone 

 is highly inflamed, the result of the presence of bacilli, which, 

 as in other infectious diseases, can be spread from one bird to 

 another. 



The treatment of this disease is very simple. The moment 

 it is recognised the young birds should be destroyed and 

 burned. When this is acted on, at the beginning of the 

 epidemic, it may prevent any further infection ; but it is 

 possible that the microbe may exist in the ground, from 

 which it finds an entrance into the system of the birds. This 

 view is very possibly the case, as experienced keepers know 

 that " cramps " occur when the coops are kept on damp soil, 

 and that when removed to higher dry ground the disease dies 

 out. 



In a subsequent communication to the Field in the 

 following year, Dr. Klein says: "I still attribute the cramp 

 disease to a bacillary infection of the system of the bird 

 leading to corrosion and fracture of the bones." 





