138 



Diseases of Poultry 



and geese, as follows : The sick animals become emaciated, 

 although the appetite is not especially disturbed. At 

 times the appetite is even increased. 

 The droppings are thin, contain con- 

 siderable yellow slime, and are passed 

 in small quantities but at short inter- 

 vals. The poultry raiser must direct 

 his attention to these thin, slimy, and 

 often bloody droppings, for if any 

 treatment against the tape worm is to 

 be undertaken, this must be done as 

 early as possible. In observing the 

 droppings it should be noticed whether 

 tape worm segments or eggs are present. 

 The eggs Can be seen, of course, only 

 with the microscope. 



"After a time other symptoms de- 

 velop. The sick animals become dull 

 and listless, remain apart from the 

 rest of the flock — the feathers are 

 ruffled and the wings droop, the appe- 

 tite is lost and the birds allow them- 

 selves to be easily caught. Although 

 it was stated that in the beginning of 

 the trouble the appetite is not dis- 

 turbed, the sick animals develop an 

 intense thirst for cold water. When 

 it rains they run under the eaves in 

 order to catch water, and in winter 

 are eager for ice water." 

 Since the examination of the feces for tape worm segments 

 is rather unsatisfactory for the farmer or poultryman, 

 Stiles says that "The best method for the farmer to follow is 

 to kill one of the sick chickens when he suspects tape worms 



Fig. 20. — Intestine of 

 a fowl turned wrong 

 side out to show 

 tape worms in nod- 

 ular taeniasis. (After 

 Pearson and Warren.) 



