ANNUAL REPORT, 1939 93 



During the past year this department has continued to cooperate with the 

 Massachusetts Department of Agriculture by making available testing results 

 which are used for ofificial recognition and classification of puUorum tested flocks. 



2. Diagnostic Service. A total of 751 consignments, which included 3,682 

 specimens, was received during the past year, — an increase of 91 consignments and 

 1,065 specimens over the previous season. Personal delivery of specimens was 

 made in 465 cases. The classification of the specimens is as follows: 



Disease conditions noted most frequently in the chickens were coccidiosis, 

 tumors, fowl paralysis, pullorum disease, and infectious bronchitis. Fowl cholera 

 was identified in 16 cases, 9 of which represent new known foci of infection. Fowl 

 typhoid was noted in 11 cases. These diseases can no longer be considered rare, 

 although fowl typhoid infection in particular seems to be limited to small areas 

 within the State. Avian tuberculosis was observed in birds from three premises. 



The increased interest and expansion in turkey raising in Massachusetts have 

 resulted in a considerable increase in the number of diseased turkey specimens 

 for the diagnostic service. A comparison of the number of consignments and the 

 number of turkey specimens for the past five years is presented below: 



1934-35 1935-36 1936-37 1937-38 1938-39 



Cases 17 28 26 44 71 



Specimens 84 145 184 172 427 



The more important and the more frequently occurring diseases noted in the 



turkey specimens are listed in the following five-year comparative summary: 



1934-35 1935-36 1936-37 1937-38 1938-39 Total 



Coccidiosis 4 4 8 5 21 



Enterohepatitis 6 6 3 9 7 31 



Fowl pox 3 2 5 



Fowl typhoid 1 1 4 6 



Moniliasis 1 3 4 



Paratyphoid 1 2 3 2 16 24 



Perosis 6 1 1 1 1 10 



Pullorum disease 4 1 3 9 17 



Rickets 13 3 3 10 



Staphylococcosis 2 1 3 



Swine erysipelas 2 1 2 5 



Ulcerative enteritis 4 4 3 2 13 



