DISEASES OF ANIMALS 



153 



lands are undesirable for use as goat 

 pastures, since in such localities they 

 become badly infested. Goats thrive 

 best, therefore, on dry, mountain pas- 

 tures where they can obtain plenty of 

 browse. When allowed to graze under 

 free conditions, goats, like sheep, seldom 

 become affected with tuberculosis. In 

 Germany and elsewhere in Europe, how- 

 ever, it has been found that milch goats 

 kept confined under insanitary condi- 

 tions are perhaps as readily affected by 

 tuberculosis as are cattle. Mohler in- 

 vestigated a very fatal disease of goats 

 known as takosis. The chief symptoms 

 of this trouble are excessive weakness, 

 emaciation and pneumonia. No medic- 



when kept under the restraint sometimes 

 necessary, are more exposed to contagion 

 and other forms of disease than when 

 allowed to live a more free, natural life. 

 Particular attention should therefore be 

 given to the sanitary condition of poul- 

 try houses, if the birds are not allowed 

 a considerable amount of range. 



Roup i s a contagious disease often 

 called "fowl diphtheria," resembling in 

 many respects diphtheria of man. It is 

 occasionally claimed that diphtheria in 

 children has been acquired by contact 

 with chicken roup and that roup has 

 developed from diphtheria in children, 

 but the evidence for this transmission 

 of the disease is not forthcoming. Roup 



Fig. 113 — A CASE OF TAKOSIS IN A GOAT 



inal treatment is of avail against the 

 disease. Mohler gave considerable at- 

 tention to the perfection of a method 

 of preventive vaccination. Fortunately, 

 takosis appears to be waning in recent 

 years. The common diseases to which 

 goats are susceptible may be treated in 

 the same manner as recommended for 

 sheep. 



DISEASES OF POULTRY 



While chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys 

 and pigeons are subject to a great va- 

 riety of diseases of an infectious and 

 non-infectious nature, attention will be 

 given in the present account to those 

 which are of the most importance. It 

 should be understood that all kinds of 

 poultry, as well as large farm animals, 



affects the lining of the mouth, nose, 

 larynx, eyes and sometimes extends into 

 the lungs and intestines. The disease is 

 characterized by a yellow, thick, false 

 membrane on the affected parts. The 

 membrane is attached to the underlying 

 tissues, so that a bleeding surface is left 

 when it is removed. So long as roup is 

 confined to the mouth and larynx it may 

 be cured but when it has infected the 

 windpipe and lungs its progress cannot 

 be checked. The eyes often become com- 

 pletely covered over with false mem- 

 branes and when the larynx is attacked 

 the opening may be closed so that the 

 chickens die of strangulation. At first 

 a thin, watery discharge takes place 

 from the eyes and nose and a fever may 

 be noted after three or four days. The 



