CATARRHAL STOMATITIS OF BIRDS. PIP. 



Causes: hurried breathing; local irritants; exposure; filthy roost. 

 Symptoms : gaping ; roupy cry ; epithelial pellicle o n tongue, larynx, or 

 angle of the bill. Treatment : pick off pellicle ; smear it often with glycer- 

 ized antiseptic. Remove accessory and exciting causes. 



This form of inflammation of the tongue of birds is characterized 

 by the increased production and desiccation of the epithelium so 

 that it takes on a horny appearance. According to Cadeac it may 

 accompany various inflammatory affections of the air passages, 

 which cause hurried breathing with persistently open bill, and 

 thus entail evaporation of the moisture. More commonly it has 

 its primary cause in local inflammation of the surface in connec- 

 tion with damp, cold, draughty hen-roosts, and above all, the 

 accumulation of decomposing manure and the exhalation of im- 

 pure gas. Even in such cases the abnormal breathing with the 

 bill open is an accessory cause of the affection. 



Symptoms. The breathing with open bill should lead to ex- 

 amination of the tongue, but above all if at intervals the bird 

 with a sudden jerk of the head emits a loud shrill, raucous 

 sound, which reminds one of the cough of croup. The tip and 

 sides qf the tongue are found to be the seat of a hard, dry, and 

 closely adherent epithelial pellicle, which suggests a false 

 membrane. 



Treatment. The common recourse is to pick or scrape off the 

 indurated epithelial mass, leaving a raw, bleeding surface exposed. 

 This is then treated with a solution of borax, or chlorate of 

 potash. Cadeac deprecates this treatment as useless and danger- 

 ous, and advises the disintegration of the dry epithelial mass 

 with a needle taking care not to prick nor scratch the subjacent 

 sensitive tissue, and to wash with a 5 per cent, solution of chlorate 

 of potash. A still more humane and effective method is to make 

 a solution of hyposulphite of soda in glycerine and brush over 

 the affected surface at frequent intervals. This may be con- 

 veniently applied through the drinking water. 



In case of implication of the lower air passages or lungs, the 

 treatment must be directed to them, and soft, warm, sloppy food 

 and the inhalation of water vapor will prove of great advantage. 

 Secure clean, sweet dry pens, pure air, and sunshine. (See 

 pseudo membranous enteritis. ) 



