450 WALLACE LARKIN CHANDLER 
trying to dislodge something in it; these periods of excitation were of 
short duration and were followed by periods of prostration lasting for 
several minutes, during which the muscles were wholly relaxed and the 
neck was limp; then with a sudden jerk, the period of excitation would 
appear again; this excitation could always be elicited by disturbing the 
bird; when the bird was placed on its feet, the legs stiffened and threw 
the body backward; the legs were bluish (they were pink -normally) ; 
frequent movements of the gullet were observed, these movements often 
involving the mouth. At 5.15 another ounce of clear fluid came from 
the mouth. At 6p. m. the bird made a violent effort to regain its feet; 
the wing movements were well coordinated but weak; this effort was 
followed by excitation during which the legs moved violently as described 
above. 
March 25 — At 9 a. m. the bird’s condition was worse; there was constant 
rotation of head and neck; convulsions occurred as before; when placed 
on its feet, the bird squatted quietly for a moment and discharged a large 
quantity of watery fluid from the anus, and then went into convulsions 
again. At 5 p.m. the bird was apparently better, and was resting quietly 
in an upright position. At 7 p. m. the bird was found in convulsions; 
the head was bent firmly on the venter (almost between the legs); the 
bird had no control of any muscle. 
March 26 — In the morning the bird was found with all muscles relaxed 
except the neck muscles, which were rigid and held the head firmly against. 
the venter. At 6 p. m. the bird was found dead. A post-mortem exami- 
nation revealed a strong odor of nitrobenzene in all the organs; the crop 
and the gizzard were filled with cracked corn, which had not started to 
digest altho the bird had had nothing to eat during the preceding sixty hours: 
the other organs were about normal. 
HEN VII 
March 25, 1917 — Hen fumigated at 25° C. for a period of eight hours. 
Time when fumigation was begun, 2.15 p. m. 
Time when fumigation was finished, 10.15 p. m. 
Observations: When removed from the tank the bird was a trifle 
stupid but was otherwise normal. It developed no symptoms of poisoning 
until March 30. 
