Diseases of the Respiratory System 167 



sneezing and the escape of a thin, watery secretion from the 

 nasal openings ; the thick false membranes fill up the nasal 

 passages and the throat and obstruct the breathing ; a thick, 

 viscid secretion collects on the eyelids and glues them to- 

 gether ; the sacs under the eyes fill up, and swellings are 

 caused which disfigure the head ; the poison which is pro- 

 duced by the growth of the microbe beneath the false mem- 

 branes is absorbed and affects the nervous system, causing 

 dullness, depression, and sleepiness. The affected bird 

 stands with the neck extended and the beak open to facilitate 

 the entrance of air into the lungs, and from the corners of the 

 mouth there hang strings of thick, tenacious, grayish mucus. 

 A characteristic disagreeable odor appears when the mem- 

 branes begin to form, and as they increase in mass it becomes 

 much stronger and by the time the birds are in the condition 

 described above it is very objectionable. 



At this time, which may be three to five days from the ap- 

 pearance of the first symptoms, the condition is very serious. 

 Swallowing is difficult or impossible ; the breathing is so 

 obstructed that hardly sufficient air can be inhaled to sup- 

 port life ; the head is swollen ; the eyes are nearly or entirely 

 closed ; the feathers of the head, neck, and breast are foul 

 with decomposing secretions from the nostrils and mouth ; 

 there is considerable fever ; an exhausting diarrhea sets in ; 

 there is rapid loss of weight ; the comb and wattles become 

 pale and cold ; the temperature of the body finally sinks 

 below the normal ; and death soon follows. 



When false membranes form in the gullet, crop, and 

 intestines, there is a rapid aggravation of the symptoms, 

 an intense diarrhea, and the escape of blood with the 

 droppings. This type of the disease is more frequent 

 with water fowl than other birds. Some fowls in a flock 

 are resistant, and after a few days of illness make a rapid 

 recovery. Others remain dull, weak, and thin in flesh, and 



