380 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



culosis is transmitted to fowls. Pernot, though recognizing 

 different types of tubercle bacilli, recognizes the possibility 

 of transmission and urges caution. Other investigators 

 have failed to produce the disease in the fowl with the 

 bovine or human bacillus. 



Tuberculosis is not transmitted through the egg to the 

 chick. Some investigators point to the possibility of trans- 

 mission, but the possibilities are so remote as to be without 

 significance to the poultryman. 



There is no known cure for the disease. Proper sanita- 

 tion and prompt destruction of affected fowls must be 

 relied upon to prevent the ravages of the disease. There 

 is no reason for alarm if the poultryman makes full use of 

 fresh air, fresh ground and sunshine in the management 

 of his flock. If particular care be taken in this respect the 

 disease will not get much headway. The .frequent renewal 

 of the stock, killing off the old and replacing them with 

 young, is a favorable factor in the control of the disease. 

 The poultryman would do well before purchasing fowls 

 to inspect the flock from which they come and secure them 

 only from flocks that show no indications of disease. 



A Tuberculin Test. Until the year 1914 there was no 

 known method of testing live tuberculous fowls. Bovine 

 tuberculin has been proved valueless for this purpose. In 

 that year Dr. Van Es of the North Dakota Station discov- 

 ered that avian tuberculin, when properly used, is an almost 

 certain test of the disease. The tuberculin is injected into 

 the comb or wattles. The injection must be made near the 

 surface, but not so near that the fluid may burst through 

 the epithelium. In the experiments noted the results were 

 ascertained in from 24 to 72 hours. The reactions consist 

 of a swelling and discoloration of the part injected, the size 

 of the swelling varying considerably in different cases. The 

 swellings or reactions, in Van Es's experiments, indicated 



