94 Diseases of Poultry 



Epsom salts together with bicarbonate of soda, 10 grains 

 of each, given for 4 or 5 daily doses 'may be recommended 

 also. This should be followed by the addition of a good 

 tonic to the mash. (For stock tonic formula see p. 71.) 



Jaundice 



Jaundice or biliary repletion is said by Megnin to be due 

 to long continued but moderate congestion of the liver. 

 This leads to increased activity of this organ and is followed 

 by the accumulation of a large quantity of bile in the gall 

 bladder and ducts of the bird. This bile is absorbed by the 

 blood vessels and causes poisoning which may lead to the 

 death of the bird. 



Diagnosis. — There are no specific external symptoms 

 other than that the wattles and comb may be yellowish. 

 This also occurs in other liver diseases. Post-mortem 

 examination shows the gall bladder greatly distended with 

 bile. 



Treatment. — Give greater variety of food, especially more 

 green food. Give Epsom salts frequently. Megnin recom- 

 mends I to 1 grain of aloes. 



This completes the list of the liver diseases most commonly 

 treated as such by poultry veterinarians. There are a num- 

 ber of other diseases which especially affect the liver or are 

 caused by deranged function of this organ. These may most 

 conveniently be mentioned at this place. 



Blackhead {Infectious Enterohepatitis) 



Blackhead is a contagious disease affecting the liver and 

 intestines, especially the blind pouches or ceca of the latter. 

 The disease is very quickly fatal among turkeys. The 

 turkey is apparently more susceptible than any other bird 



