1908.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 157 



possible from the symptoms enumerated to recommend a line 

 of treatment, or general directions can be given which when 

 carried out make it possible for the stock owner to pursue 

 such a course as to prevent the spread of the disease to other 

 animals exposed, or to prevent its recurrence. 



Examination of Specimens and Original Investigations. 



For many years it has been the practice of the veterinarian 

 of the college to examine material from sick or dead animals, 

 and to report the findings to the one sending the specimen, 

 and advise a line of treatment for the individual animal or pro- 

 tection of the remaining animals of the flock or herd. 



From an examination of such specimens as have been sent in 

 during the past year, a diagnosis has been made of nodular 

 disease of sheep, caused by the parasite oesophagostoma Co- 

 lumbianum, enterohepatitis of turkeys, verminous bronchitis 

 of sheep, fowl cholera, swine plague and other more common 

 diseases of a less serious nature. Through correspondence and 

 the sending of specimens a very interesting and quite uncom- 

 mon disease of poultry in this country was brought to the at- 

 tention of the department. 



In January of the present year there arrived at the depart- 

 ment by express a dead fowl, which upon post-mortem examina- 

 tion exhibited some of the lesions of European fowl cholera. 

 Microscopic examination gave support to that diagnosis. To 

 confirm the same, a pigeon was inoculated with a small quantity 

 of blood from the heart of the dead fowl. After the lapse of 

 about twelve hours the inoculated pigeon was found dead. A 

 microscopic examination, together with culture tests, demon- 

 strated the presence of the fowl cholera organism in the blood. 

 Subsequent inoculations and examinations gave similar results. 



Considering the seriousness of the disease, its rare occurrence 

 in this State, together with the possibilities of its rapid distri- 

 bution among flocks of poultry, through sale of birds and other- 

 wise, a visit was made to the farm from which the specimen had 

 come. 



It was found that about two hundred birds were kept by the 

 poultryman, in two different flocks situated some fifty feet 

 apart. About one-half of the fowls had been raised upon the 



