Tuberculosis 131 



mg and undesirable birds were eliminated, leaving 56 non- 

 reacting fowls to which 47 were added by purchase. One 

 year later a similar test of this flock, which had again in- 

 creased to 249 birds, showed only 2.41 per cent tuberculous. 

 It would seem that the measures reported might hold out 

 hope that in slightly infected flocks the disease may be 

 eliminated. 



In the majority of cases, however, the cost of administering 

 the tuberculin, which would have to be done by an experi- 

 enced veterinarian, would be more than the birds were 

 worth. In such cases it will probably be best to kill off the 

 old stock and after thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting 

 start new with stock known to be healthy. 



If it is particularly desired to maintain the same strain of 

 birds it might be done by adopting a method simUar to that 

 proposed by Bang for new herd building in the case of tuber- 

 culous cattle. Directions for doing this are given by Morse ^ 

 as follows : 



"Secure new or thoroughly disinfected ground, keeping 

 it absolutely free from contact with the ground used by the 

 infected flock. Erect new houses on this ground. Collect 

 the eggs from the infected birds and wash them in 95 per cent, 

 alcohol or in a 4 per cent solution of some good coal tar 

 disinfectant. Incubate these disinfected eggs in new incuba- 

 tors. When hatched, remove the chicks to new brooder 

 houses on the new ground. These growing chicks should be 

 cared for by new men, that is to say, either different men 

 from those that care for the old flock, or if you are compelled 

 to use the same men they should disinfect their hands and 

 shoes and put on fresh overalls before handling the new 

 stock. Have different feed bins and different pails for 

 distributing it. As soon as you have built up a clean flock 



' Reliable Poultry Journal, 1910. 



