DISEASES 
wrong system and careless management. White diarrhoea, so. 
called, is a matter of wrong incubation. 
The high mortality of young chicks, though not an epidemic 
disease, shares with excessive cost of producion, very much 
of the responsibility for poultry farm failures. At the pres- 
ent writing the poultry editors of the country are having much 
‘discussion over the conclusion of Dr. Morse of the Bureau of 
Animal Industry to the effect that white diarrhoea is caused by 
an intestinal parasite similar to the germ that causes human 
dysentery. Dr. Morse’s opportunities for investigation have 
been somewhat limited and as the intestines of any animal are 
always swarming with various organisms, it will take very 
conclusive evidence to prove that the doctor is right. Practi- 
cally the naming of the germs that attend the funeral is not 
particularly important for the reason that it has been 
thoroughly demonstrated that with good parentage, good incu- 
Lae and good brooder conditions, white diarrhoea is un- 
nown. 
The Causes of Poultry Diseases. 
Poultry ailments are assignable to one of the three follow- 
ing causes, or a combination of these: First, hereditary or 
inborn weakness; second, unfavorable conditions of food, sur- 
roundings, etc.; third, bacteria or animal parasites. 
A great many chickens die while yet within the shell, or 
during the growing process, there being no assignable reason 
save that of inherited weakness. To this class of troubles the 
only remedy is to breed from better stock. It is as much the 
trait of some birds to produce infertile eggs or chicks of low 
vitality as it is for others to produce vigorous offspring. 
The second class of ailments needs no discussion save that 
accorded it under the general discussions of the method of con- 
ducting the business. 
The third class of ailments includes the contagious diseases. 
It is now believed that most common diseases are caused by 
microscopic germs known as bacteria. These germs in some 
manner gain entrance to the body of an animal, and, growing 
within the tissues, give off poisonous substances known as 
toxins, which produce the symptoms of the disease. The ability 
to withstand disease germs varies with the particular ani- 
mal and the kind of disease. As a general rule it may be 
stated that disease germs cannot live in the body of a per- 
fectly vigorous and healthy animal.. It is only when the vital- 
ity is at a low ebb, owing to unfavorable conditions or inher- 
ited weakness, that disease germs enter the body and produce 
disease, 
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