CHAPTER XV. 



Dise;ase;s of the Kidne;ys, Rhe:umatism and Limbijrneck. 



Gout. 



Gout is a rather common disease among fowls. It is due to 

 a failure of the kidneys to eliminate the urates. The uric acid 

 content of the blood is greatly increased and the urates are 

 deposited on the surface of the visceral organs, in the tissues 

 of the urinary apparatus and around the joints in the form of 

 crystals of urate of soda. In fowls two forms of the disease 

 occur; the visceral, and the articular. 



Visceral Gout. 



In visceral gout the only symptoms shown by an affected bird 

 are a loss in weight or "going light" and a slight yellowish tinge 

 to the skin, comb and wattles. The bird has a good and often 

 abnormal appetite. Death occurs suddenly. An examination 

 of the abdominal cavity shows that all the organs and serous 

 membranes are covered with a chalky or talcum-like powder. 

 This powder has a mother-of-pearl luster and on microscopic 

 examination is seen to be composed of small needle-like crystals. 

 These are crystals of urate of soda. These crystals are also 

 found in the urinary organs. The ureter and collecting tubules 

 are often filled with a mass of these crystals. Drs. Hebrant 

 and Antoine give the following test for the urate of soda. 



Dissolve the crystals in nitric acid and evaporate in a watch 

 glass. This gives a red onion peel mass which turns purplish 

 blue on the addition of a solution of caustic potash. 



Articular Gout. 



In this form of the disease the crystals of urate of soda are 

 in nodules around the joints especially of the feet and toes. 

 These nodules sometimes appear like strings of beads on the 

 under side of the toes. They contain a white or creamy thick 

 liquid composed mostly of the crystals. They arc at first soft 

 but later become very firm. The presence of the nodules causes 

 stiffness and soreness of the joints and the birds become indis- 



