03 



presents the usual well-known appearance of a sick 

 «;hieken. The patches sometimes putrefy and beconu^ 

 exceedingly otleisive. ^^'hen they are scraped away 

 it is noticed that the tissues beneath are raw and sore. 

 The interference with breathing may be so serious that 

 the bird will hold its mouth open and struggle for air 

 like a chicken wilh gapes. The entire face is some- 

 times covered with i)atehes of false membrane, the 

 eye may become affected or destroyed and the air 

 passages may be completely obstructed so that death 

 is caused by suffocation. The corner of the mouth 

 seems to be a favorite seat for the development of diph- 

 theritic false membrane. 



The disease usually follows a chronic course lasting 

 several days or several weeks. In some outbreaks, 

 however, the germ of the disease seems to be more 

 virulent than in others, and in these cases the birds 

 may die after the lapse of but a fcAv days. In strong 

 individuals, and especially where the general type of 

 the outbreak is not of a very virulent character, the 

 tendency is toward recovery, but the disease is never- 

 theless destructive, because recoveied birds are fre- 

 quently thin and unproductive for a long period. The 

 fact that fovls suffeiMng from roup do not show evi- 

 dence of general disturbance until the local changes 

 are quite obvious, is due to the fact that roup is es- 

 sentially a local disease of the mu<-ous membranes, 

 and general disease does not result until the air or 

 food passages are obstructed or interfered witli by the 

 patches, or general infection takes place. 



The treatnunt of roup must begin with the isol.ition 

 of tlie afflicted fowl and thorougli disinftM-tion of tlu^ 

 poultry house and yards. This disinfection should be 

 carried out with great care, and should be |>r('ced('(l by 



