June, 1940] AGRICULTUR.\L RESEARCH IN N. H. 43 



cent moisture developed in pen litter and only 10.9 per cent in litter 

 without hens. Various kinds of litter showed an average range in 

 moisture accumulation of 6.6 per cent when exposed to air conditions 

 without hens. 



The establishing of data such as the above will be followed by an 

 investigation of the source and means of entrance and removal of 

 this excess moisture. No significant differences in feed consumption, 

 tgg production, or mortality were observed. 



(Purncll and Bankhead-Jones Offset Funds) 



A Study of Paralysis in Chickens 



During the past year a family of White Leghorn adult birds was 

 obtained which had been showing much evidence of fowl parah'sis. 

 This family consisted of one male and three female birds. These 

 birds were mated in a battery. Eggs were saved in an attempt to 

 obtain progeny from this family. The birds produced well for a 

 short time but later failed to produce at all. One bird died during 

 the experiment and showed the presence of the paralysis. The left 

 sciatic nerve was greatly enlarged indicating fowl paralysis of the 

 neurolymphomatosis type. 



The eggs obtained failed to hatch and since the birds ceased to 

 produce the experiment was terminated. The work was in charge 

 of C. L. Martin and M. S. Cover. (Purnell Fund) 



The Control of Coccidiosis in Poultry 



As a result of attempts to inoculate birds with coccidiosis, it is 

 concluded, by C. L. Martin, M, S. Cover, T. B. Charles and R. C. Dur- 

 gin, that if birds under our climatic conditions can be housed in the 

 late fall free from chronic coccidiosis, the chance of their becoming 

 infected before warm weather or late spring and summer is re- 

 mote. (Purnell Fund) 



Bang's Disease 



This project has been completed and will be reported upon early 

 in 1940. (Purnell Fund) 



The So-Called Trembling Chick Disease 



No work has been done on this project during the past year. In 

 1939-40 the study will l^e directed towards determining the natural 

 method of transmission of this disease. Its causative agent has been 

 shown to be a virus. (Purnell Fund) 



Ulcerated Gizzard and Vitamin C Studies 



The first cases of ulcerated gizzard in chicks were noted in the 

 spring of 1935. Since that time there has been a steady increase in 

 the number of chicks autopsied for this complaint. 



Consideration of the possible causes of this disease leads to the 

 study of poultry rations. Vitamin C, according to various investiga- 

 tors, is essential for proper metabolism, proper mucous membrane, 

 and connective tissue development. An interference in the develop- 



