THE GAPE- WORM. 75 



for 1806. It is here noticed as appearing in an 

 epizootic form in Fowls. Young birds are most 

 generally attacked, but I have many notes of its 

 occurrence in old ones. Many instances of the latter 

 seem to be in Dorkings. 



Dr. Wiesenthal, in the journal quoted above, states 

 that the disease takes place in the greatest degree 

 amongst the young turkeys and chicks bred upon 

 old-established farms. " Chicks and poults," he says, 

 u in a few days after they are hatched are found 

 frequently to open their mouths wide, &c, and to 

 become affected." This statement has been corro- 

 borated time after time since it was made. In 1895 

 the writer conducted experiments with Fowls on con- 

 taminated soil, and found both young and old birds 

 quickly obtain the disease from the ova on the 

 ground. This is a point we may well remember 

 from a practical point of view. Chickens, if for this 

 reason only, should have frequent change of environ- 

 ment. Although many who keep poultry overlook 

 this point, it is one paid great attention to by good 

 gamekeepers, who know full well that constantly 

 breeding pheasants on the same ground leads' to 

 disease, and especially to 'Gapes.' 



Life-history of the Worm, 



On opening the trachea and bronchi of a bird 

 showing symptoms of Gapes, from three to as many 

 as twenty small red worms will be found. Their 



