T;3(; phe.usants for covekt.^ ani> aviaries. 



iliseasc is distiiii^uislicd liy tlie apjii-arauce ut' white cix-aiiiy 

 patches ill tlio nioutli and jdiaryiix ; tlie surfaces vi tlie 

 Lcrowihs are slimy, and the iiinuth gels filled with viscid 

 sluiie which iii advanced cases beceuies very ietid. The 

 growths sprca,d dowuwards, eiitenug the icsophagus and 

 trachea and causing death. It is ni't a common di-(.'ase 

 aniiing pheasants, but it it makes its a]:)pearancu iii the 

 aviai-ies tliu iirst step is to isoUite at onci' tlie infected liirds, 

 renxiving those that are healtliy to fresh ground. A little 

 salicylate of soda may be added to the birds' drinking 

 water, a,nd the ground of the ]ien should be watei'ed with a 

 "1 per cent, solution of sulphuric acid, or better still dressed 

 heavily with ipiick lime, which should lie allowe(l to lu' on 

 the surface for about three days, and then dug m. The 

 treatment for the affected birds is to free the moutli as far as 

 possible from all growths, and dress the underlying surface 

 with a strong solution of boric acid. Jn early stag'es the 

 disease can often be cured, so long as only the mouth is 

 invaded ; of course, if the disease attacks the (csojihagus or 

 trachea, little or nothing can be ilone. 



In all eases in which birds are destreyed to jirevent tlie 

 spread of any infectious disease, the greatest care should be 

 taken not to leave the dead bodies exposed. If this be dene, 

 the disease is almost certain t(j extend; it has been proved 

 to do so in the case of Ijirds dying with tuberculous livers, 

 "gapes,'' and other diseases. The bodies should, if p(.issible, 

 always be Ijuriied. This can never l)e too often, or too 

 strongly, insisted upon. When the body of a diseased bird 

 or animal is buried different beetles or insects feed on the 

 carcase, and may become carriers of the disease to other 

 animals that in turn feed ujkjii (hem. If burning- is im- 

 practicable, they should be burled dee]_)ly in some part "f 

 the ground where there are no fowls or jiheasants. llantriiu'- 

 the dead boilies of diseased birds m trees to produce a supiily 

 of gentles is exceedingly objectionalile. 



t)ne of the most common cau.,es eif mortality aiiKnig 



