64 POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



eggs." Further they have given experimental proof of the 

 transfer of the bacteria of mammahan tuberculosis from the 

 inoculated egg to the chick. As noted before it was very difficult 

 to do this by feeding the hens food infected with mammalian 

 tuberculosis. 



In this connection it is of interest to mention a case of the 

 apparent transfer of fowl tuberculosis to man. In the Medical 

 Record (Vol. 31, 1887) there is recorded a case of human 

 tuberculosis in France which apparently came from eating 

 tuberculous fowls which "were cooked very little before being 

 eaten." The case occurred "in a little hamlet of 10 cottages 

 isolated in the midst of a large forest." No other source of 

 infection could be discovered. 



Treatment. Fowl tuberculosis when it reaches the stage at 

 which it can be diagnosed cannot be cured under our present 

 knowledge. Treatment of individual cases should not be at- 

 tempted. After it has been ascertained by post-mortem (and if 

 possible bacteriological) examination that the disease exists in 

 the flock all suspected birds should be removed at once. If 

 the disease is to be controlled it must be by keeping the healthy 

 and the affected birds apart. The most serious thing about 

 tuberculosis is that there may be many birds in the flock that 

 are in early stages of the disease but do not betray their condi- 

 tion. Long before these birds show recognizable symptoms 

 they are throwing out millions of bacteria which become a men- 

 ace to the remainder of the flock. 



If only one or two cases of tuberculosis are found it may be 

 sufficient to simply disinfect the houses, yards, feeding troughs 

 and drinking vessels. This should be done with some good dis- 

 infectant. (See Chap. II). Morse recommends also the liberal 

 application of lime referring to the fact that "lime workers sel- 

 dom suffer with tuberculosis." The runs should be cultivated 

 and the houses should be open to the sunshine and fresh air at 

 all times. 



If, however, the number of birds dying of tuberculosis in 

 the flock is increasing even though the increase is very gradual, 

 more strenuous measures must be taken. Under these condi- 

 tions Dr. Morse says 1 "Kill everything in sight, disinfect, allow 

 the poultry plant to lie fallow for several months, disinfect again 

 and buy fresh stock that is known to be healthy." This no 



