I08 FOWL CHOLERA 



The liver is usually enormously enlarged, softened, and 

 the blood vessels are engorged. The gall bladder is distended 

 with thick, dark bile. 



The crop is usually distended with food. The stomach 

 often pre.sents externally a number of circular di.scolorations, 

 about three millimeters in diameter, which on section are 

 found to be extravasated blood. The small intestines are 

 congested. 



The rectum and cloaca usually present deep, red lines 

 upon their mucous membrane, evidently the first stage of 

 inflammation, which results, in chronic cases, in thickening of 

 the walls, especially of the rectum, the desquamation of the 

 mucous membrane and the formation of large ulcerated 

 surfaces. 



The mesenter}' is generally congested, often greatly 

 thickened and reddened, and rendered opaque by inflamma- 

 tion. The ureters are distended with yellow urates ; the 

 kidneys seem engorged, and on section accumulations of the 

 tenacious, yellow urates are frequenth' seen. The spleen is 

 generally normal in size and appearance, though frequently 

 enlarged and softened. 



The pericardium is sometimes distended with effusions, in 

 which case there is noticeable hyperemia of the surface of the 

 heart. The lungs are often, though not generally, engorged 

 with dark blood ; they are seldom, if ever, hepatized. 



The blood vessels are sometimes filled with a firm clot, 

 and contain but little liquid ; at other times the blood does 

 not coagulate at all. It seems to be those cases in which the 

 duration of the disease is the longest, that the blood loses its 

 power to coagulate. 



Ward has summarized the morbid anatomy in the fowls 

 examined by him as follows : 



" At death, or some hours previous, the comb frequently takes on a 

 dark purple color, but this does not always occur. Very often the comb 

 is pale and bloodless. The skin of the breast and abdomen is frequently 

 reddened. 



" In post-mortem examinations a congestion of the blood vessels of 

 the liver, kidney, mesenterj-, or intestines is noticeable to some degree 



