258 Diseases of Poultry 



stalk. This stalk held the hard and decayed yolk fast to 

 the ovary. In cases of this kind the stalk sometimes breaks, 

 and the yolk inclosed in the follicle and with the end of the 

 stalk attached, passes down the o\'iduct acquiring albumen, 

 membranes and shell. In still other instances the stalk breaks 

 and the follicle and contained yolk drops into the abdominal 

 cavity. 



DISEASES OF THE OVIDUCT 



Diseases of the oviduct are relatively common and cause 

 a steady and probably in the aggregate rather large loss to 

 the poultryman. Fortunately some of the diseases of the 

 oviduct are more amenable to treatment than are those of the 

 ovary. Further these diseases in many cases show plain ex- 

 ternal symptoms at a relatively early stage. Then they may 

 be recognized and treated while it is still possible to effect 

 a cure. This is usually not the case with ovarian diseases. 



The general external symptoms of the commoner diseases 

 of the oviduct are very much like those of constipation. The 

 poultryman watching his birds is indeed rather likely to con- 

 fuse the two. But if so no harm is done. The thorough clean- 

 ing out of the alimentary tract, and stimulation of the liver 

 indicated in the treatment of constipation is the very best 

 thing to be done in cases of inflammation and similar disorders 

 of the oviduct. 



Anatomy of the Oviduct 



In order to understand more clearly the pathological 

 conditions of the oviduct it is well to consider briefly at this 

 point some facts regarding the normal anatomy and histology 

 of this organ. Here we shall follow the accounts given by 

 two of the authors in earlier papers.^ 



The oviduct of a laying hen is a large, much coiled tube 



1 Curtis, M. R., "The Ligaments of the Oviduct of the Domestic 



