68 Diseases of Poultry 



sleepy. The comb is often pale and bleached in the earlier 

 stages but becomes dark purplish red later. Usually the 

 birds will not eat, but occasionally they show an abnormal 

 appetite. There is always a marked diarrhea which may 

 vary in color from whitish to greenish brown or red. In 

 the more severe cases blood clots are found. These differ- 

 ences in the appearance of the discharges indicate to some 

 extent which portions of the alimentary tract are involved 

 in the disease. In the majority of cases the birds will be 

 sick for many days or weeks before death takes place. 

 Post-mortem examination shows usually an enlarged liver 

 and spleen. If the bird has been sick for a long time the 

 liver may appear shrunken. The intestines are full of mucus 

 and inflamed. 



Treatment. — If possible the cause of the trouble should 

 be ascertained and removed. This is by all means the first 

 and most important step to take. It is useless to spend 

 valuable time in doctoring sick birds while the conditions 

 which gave rise to the trouble are still present. In bacterial 

 enteritis sick birds should be removed from the flock as soon 

 as noticed. Houses and runs should be cleaned up and 

 disinfected. Drinking vessels and food troughs should be 

 scalded daily. Potassium permanganate should be used in 

 the drinking water (cf. p. 25). Mix powdered charcoal with 

 the mash. Feed less bran and more middlings in the mash. 

 Do not feed too heavily. 



After attending to the above hygienic measures the birds 

 should be given a good physic. A teaspoonful of Epsom 

 salts to each fowl, dissolved in water and mixed in the mash, 

 is the most convenient way of treating a large number of 

 birds. 



For medical treatment the following may be recommended : 

 Subnitrate of bismuth, 3 grains; powdered cinnamon or 

 cloves, 1 grain ; powdered willow charcoal, 3 grains. Give 



