38 



DISEASES OK POUI.TKV 



cold, todraughtsof cold air, and to sudden and extreme 

 changes of temperature. This disease may, also, re- 

 sult from the inhalation of irritating vapors, dust, and 

 other foreign substances. A careful discrimination 

 should be made between bronchitis arising from such 

 causes and that due to contagious catarrh ( rou]i ) , tuber - 

 cnlosis, gape worms, and the aspergillus fungus. 



Symptoms. — The birds are some- 

 what dull, with loss of appetite, ac- 

 celerated breathing and cough. On 

 listening to the respiration a blow- 

 ing or whistling sound may be heard 

 in the air tubes, in the early stages 

 of the disease, caused by the air 

 being drawn over the dry and thick - 

 ened membrane; later, a rattling oi 

 bubbling sound is heard caused by 

 air passing through accumulations 

 of mucus. In the majority of cases 

 the symptoms are not serious, and, 

 under favorable conditions, they 

 soon disappear. Occasionally, the 

 malady increases in intensity, the 

 plumage becomes rough, the wings 

 droop, the breathing is laljored and 

 difhcult, the bird frequently opens 

 its beak in order to obtain sufficient air, it is sleepy, 

 torpid and exhausted. In such severe forms of the 

 disease a large proportion of the affected birds die. 



Treatment. — The first indication in simple bron- 

 chitis is to place the affected birds in a comfortable, 

 dry and reasonably warm place, where they will not be 

 subjected to draughts of air, but where the ventilation 

 is good. Give soft and cooling food , such as stale bread, 



FifT. 3. — R'lR-ht lunff 

 of a yi>i>se: <?, prini.ary 

 bronchus: /'/i. openings 

 throutrh which coniniu- 

 nicatioii is established 

 with the air sacs; rr, 

 secondary bronchi. 



