156 DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



the cloaca. Various fungi and bacteria are also found 

 in eggs. Among these may be mentioned the chicken 

 cholera bacillus, and probably the 1)acilli of fowl di])h - 

 theria and avian tuberculosis. These facts need not 

 influence any one to avoid eggs as an article of diet, 

 since all of these parasites are destroyed by a com- 

 paratively low temperature and cooking would remove 

 any danger that might possibly exist. The presence 

 of certain micro-organisms in eg'^s leads to early de- 

 composition. It is important, for the production of 

 good eggs, that cleanliness and sanitary conditions be 



enforced in every poultry -yard. 



s.vNGUiNEous p:ggs. 

 Occasionally small bloodclots are found in eggs, 

 usually in the albumen. These result from a slight 

 hemorrhage which has generally occurred in the upper 

 two -thirds of the oviduct. In rare cases the hemor- 

 rhage may have taken place in the ovary and then the 

 blood will be found either upon the surface of or within 

 the yolk. Such hemorrhages are the result of great 

 functional activity and congestion of the blood vessels 

 of the reproductive organs. They are excited by any 

 of the causes which lead to congestion and inflamma- 

 tion and are to be counteracted by green feed, less ani- 

 mal food, and .suppression of condiments. In special 

 cases medium doses of perchloride of iron or ergot may 



be found useful. 



EGGS WITHOUT SHELLS. 



The production of eggs without shells, or the so -call - 

 ed soft -shell eggs, may be due either to a lack of shell - 

 making material or to inflammation of the shell -form- 

 ing chamber of the oviduct which no longer secretes 

 calcareous matter. It is, also, said that fright may 

 cause the i)remature expulsion of an egg before the 



