304 Diseases of Poultry 



Emphysema 



This name is applied to a disease of young chicks in which 

 the skin puffs out in the sides of the neck near its juncture 

 with the body. The size of the puff varies somewhat. 

 In mild cases it is about the size of a hickory nut. Some- 

 times there is one puff, sometimes several. 



According to Vale the trouble generally occurs in growing 

 chicks which have been confined in close quarters. It is 

 often associated with some lung trouble. It seems to be 

 due to obstruction of the air passages and the rupture of 

 some of the air sacs. The air thus escapes into the tissues 

 beneath the skin. While not common this disease does 

 occur in Maine. Some cases were reported to the Station 

 while this work was in preparation. 



The treatment suggested by Vale is to puncture the skin 

 with a needle and to give 2 grains nitrate of iron to each 

 wine glassful of drinking water. 



Gapes 



Gapes is a disease which attacks domestic poultry and 

 many species of wild birds. In fowls it is more frequently 

 observed in young chicks. It occurs also in adult fowls but 

 rarely causes enough inconvenience to attract attention. 

 The disease is due to the presence of minute parasitic worms 

 in the air passages. 



Diagnosis. — The characteristic symptoms of this trouble 

 are frequent gaping, sneezing, coughing with discharge of 

 mucus. The affected birds appear weak and dumpish with 

 drooping wings. When badly affected the bird stands or 

 sits with its eyes closed, wings drooped, mouth open and at 

 frequent intervals gasps as if suffocating. 



The correctness of a diagnosis for gapes should be tested by 



