INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POULTRY 327 



susceptible to the disease. It is characterized by an inflamma- 

 tiou of the liver and intestines, especially the ca-ca. 



The specific cause is a protozoan microorganism, Ama'ha 

 meleagridis. Adnlt fowls and turkeys may act as carriers of the 

 germ, and the young turkeys become infected at an early period. 



The symptoms are diminished or lost appetite, dulness, 

 drooped wings, diarrha-a, weakness and death. When the dis- 

 ease becomes well advanced, the head and comb become dark. 



The course of the disease is from a few weeks to three 

 months. Very few of the young turkeys survive. 



The treatment is almost entirely preventive. The same pre- 

 cautionary measures for the prevention of the introduction of 

 disease into the lloek, recommended in other infectious diseases, 

 should be practised. Turkeys that survive should be disposed 

 of. As chickens may harbor the disease-producing germs, we 

 should not attempt to raise turkeys in the same quarters wuth 

 them. Eggs should be obtained from disease-free flocks. Wip- 

 ing the eggs with a cloth wet with fifty per cent alcohol may be 

 practised. The same recommendations regarding the cleaning 

 and disinfecting of the quarters described in the treatment of 

 fowl cholera should be practised. 



If an outbreak of the disease occurs in the flock all of the 

 sick birds should be killed, and their carcasses cremated. Mov- 

 inc: the flock to fresh runs and the administration of intestinal 

 antiseptics are the only eft'ective lines of treatment. 



Avian Tuberculosis. — Tuberculosis of poultry is a serious 

 disease in some countries. Poultry usually contract tuberculosis 

 by contact with a tubercular bird, and not from other domestic 

 animals and man. 



The symptoms are of a general character, such as emaciation, 

 weakness, wasting of muscles and lameness. Tubercular 

 growths may appear on the surface of the body. 



If we suspect the presence of the disease, it is advisable to 

 kill one of the sick birds and make a careful post-mortem 



