70 



7. DROPSY. 



Tli€^ membiaiie liniu*;- Ihe abdomiual cavity »ome- 

 times becomes intiamed as the result of external inju- 

 ries or severe irritation of the intestinal canal or the 

 penetration of a foreign body thro-ugh the intestinal 

 wall. Sometimes this condition is caused by parasites. 

 Usually' the disease is of a severe tj^pe and cannot be 

 treated successfully. It may produce death within a 

 very short time. But sometimes it follows a chronic 

 course, causing prolonged illness, and in these cases. 

 fluid usually collects in the abdominal cavity consti- 

 tuting the c(indition known as ascites or abdominal 

 dropsy. The evidence of this condition consists in an 

 enlargement of the abdom.en ; it is distended in all di- 

 rections but particularly downward and sometimes to 

 such an extent that the lower part of the belly reaches 

 the ground. It is hardly necessary to say that in these 

 cases the fowl is spiritless and disinclined to moveabout 

 actively; Avhen it is caught and the swelling is ex- 

 amined by the touch it will be noticed that it is soft 

 and that by pressing upon one side weaves can be felt 

 on the other side indicating that it contains fluid. 



8. JAUNDICE OK THE YELLOWS. 



When the action of the liver is interfered with the 

 bile may not be poured out into the intestine in a nor- 

 mal manner and its retention leads to a yellow disco! 



