DISEASE INJURING TURKEY 265 



to other birds, which take up particles along with their 

 food. The same organism has been found in guinea fowls, 

 ducks, pheasants, quail, grouse, pigeons and sparrows. 



The chief danger lies in the fact that where domestic 

 poultry is kept, the ground is contaminated and rendered 

 unsuitable for the raising of turkeys. For this reason it is 

 never safe to allow turkeys and other poultry to use the 

 same yard. The investigators say that it cannot be 

 doubted that the common English sparrow has dissemi- 

 nated this disease throughout the country, and it is still 

 carrying it from one locality to another. 



Poultrymen and farmers are advised not to waste their 

 money on so-called remedies and cures for blackhead, 

 but to follow the preventive measures indicated below : 



Protect the yards and flocks which may be infected 

 with blackhead, by careful examination of all new stock, 

 whether turkeys, fowls, geese or other domestic birds. 



Keep the turkeys on ground which is as fresh as can 

 be obtained. Change the range at least every year or 

 two, and, above all, keep them isolated from other 

 poultry. 



In fattening birds for market, begin to increase the 

 rations gradually. If birds show a loss of weight in suc- 

 cessive weighings, there is no use to attempt to fatten 

 them. Overfeeding does not cause blackhead, but it does 

 frequently cause the sudden death of birds in which 

 blackhead is present. 



When birds have died of blackhead, their bodies must 

 be promptly burned or buried very deep, in order to pre- 

 vent rats or other rodents from eating them and thus 

 spreading the disease. In the early stages of acute cases 

 of the disease, if the bird is isolated from the flock and 

 placed in a dry, well ventilated location, free from drafts, 

 and fed sparingly on soft, light food, with little corn, it 

 will have a beneficial effect. 



