606 MICROBIOLOGY OF THE DISEASES OF MAN AND ANIMALS. 



The bacterium of fowl cholera, Bact. cholera gallinarum, or avian Pasteur ellose, is 

 from o.$jj. to 1.25^ long and 0.25/4 to 0.40/4 broad. It develops best at 37, and very 

 slowly at 20. It loses its virulence in cultures very quickly, and it succumbs readily to 

 desiccation. 



The disease is of frequent occurrence in Europe, but not often seen 

 in North America but some outbreaks have been reported in the United 

 States and Canada. . Unfortunately it has been confused by poultrymen 

 with any disease characterized by excessive diarrhoea. The symptoms 

 first noticed are the yellow color of droppings soiling the cloacal feathers, 

 then diarrhoea sets in, the character of the discharge varying, being at 

 times a fluid greenish mass, or a brown-red mucus, or a viscous transparent 

 and frothy fluid. The bird becomes uneasy, drinks copiously and with 

 a rise in temperature to 42 to 44 the bird becomes drowsy and death 

 follows. The period between the first noticeable symptoms and death 

 varies from one to three days. Chronic cases sometimes occur and in 

 these the bacterium is found with difficulty. The birds become infected 

 by way of the digestive tract, from eating and picking up material 

 infected by the discharges of diseased birds. 



Post-mortem indications are blackened combs, congestion of the blood- 

 vessels in the organs and intestines, and punctiform or large hemorrhages 

 of the duodenum, intestines and heart. The bacteria are numerous in 

 the blood, the pulp of all organs, and in the intestinal contents. It is a 

 true septicaemia. 



If the disease breaks out in epidemic form the best and quickest 

 method of getting rid of it is to kill off all the fowls, disinfect the houses, 

 and dig or plough up the poultry runs, and leave them two weeks before 

 re-stocking. 



CHRONIC BACTERIAL ENTERITIS.* 

 Bacterium. (?) 



The disease produced by this bacterium has been demonstrated in 

 Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, and perhaps 

 other European countries. It is known by various names, as Johne's 

 disease, chronic bacterial dysentery, and chronic bacterial enteritis. 



This bacterium produces a chronic infectious disease of cattle in- 

 volving especially the intestinal mucous membrane. Other animals do not 



* Prepared by M. H. Reynolds. 



