72 Veterinary Medicine. 



globules — white and red, — leucocytes, granules and the infusoria. 

 The false membrane is remarkable for its lack of consistency and 

 its tendency to invade the mouth and gullet i-ather than the air- 

 passages. These infusoria are not colored by picrocarminate of 

 ammonia, but stain by methyl-violet and then appear as round or 

 slightly irregular hyaline bodies. 



From aspergillus disease of pigeons^ by the absence of the 

 characteristic, miliary, white nodule of that dijsease showing 

 caseated contents intermixed with an abundant mycelium of 

 aspergillus fumigatus. The aspergillus disease attacks especiall3' 

 the mouth but may also implicate the gullet, lungs, liver, in- 

 testine and kidneys. The microscopic examination of the exu- 

 date is conclusive, by reason of the presence of the bacillus diph- 

 therise columbarum, and the comparative absence of the fila- 

 mentous mycelium. 



Treatment. This is mainly prophylactic. The first step mu.st 

 be to separate the sick and healthy, destroying the former, or 

 shutting them up in a special enclosure apart from all other birds. 

 In the case of valuable chickens, their eggs may be set under 

 other hens and the young raised apart from the suspected flock. 

 This may even be attempted in pigeons, the common eggs being 

 removed and the valuable ones put in their place under a healthy 

 sitting dove. In the case of pigeons that have been recently 

 through the disease they should be kept strictly by themselves, 

 even though they may appear to have regained perfect health. 

 The dead bodies must be burned or deeply buried. Sparrows and 

 even rabbits d3'ing in the vicinity must be .similarly disposed of, 

 and where the disea.se prevails sparrows and small birds may be 

 exterminated as probable bearers of infection. 



The purchase of strange birds must be carefully guarded, none 

 being taken that show weeping eyes, nasal discharge, labored or 

 wheezing breathing, and all new birds should be placed by them- 

 selves in quarantine for ten to fifteen days. Finally a thorough 

 disinfection of the place where the sick have been is of first im- 

 portance. Thorough cleaning of the poultry house, followed by 

 a coat of white-wash, every gallon of which contains four ounces 

 of chloride of lime, or one drachm of mercuric chloride will 

 usually prove effective. The poultry runs should be liberally 

 .sprinkled with a solution of sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, one 



