164 Diseases of Poultry 



with a 5 per cent carbolic acid or silver nitrate solution, and 

 then a cotton plug put in again to prevent the cavity from 

 healing too quickly. We have cured chickens in this way in 

 about a fortnight. 



"As all these methods of treatment demand a good deal 

 of time and care, they cannot well be used for whole flocks, 

 but the more valuable fowls may be treated in this manner. 

 Farmers and poultrymen should first try the permanganate 

 of potash method of treatment as it is the easiest to employ. 



"Food remedies influence roup only by strengthening the 

 fowls and assisting nature to throw off or conquer the 

 disease." 



The birds which are being treated should be kept in a dry, 

 warm, well ventilated room with good nourishing food. The 

 drinking water should be frequently changed. 



Prognosis. — In infected flocks this disease caused a direct 

 annual loss of 10 to 15 per cent of the flock. Also many birds 

 contract a chronic form of the disease which affects them for 

 months or years. Careful individual treatment will save the 

 lives of many birds, but such treatment is economically in- 

 advisable except in case of very valuable birds. 



Diphtheritic Roup (Avian Diphtheria or Canker) 



As previously stated this disease is considered by several 

 investigators as a stage or a form of the same disease as nasal 

 roup. There is, however, some good evidence^ that they are 



' For instance, in the Maine Station flock occasional cases of 

 nasal roup appeared annually -with unfavorable weather conditions, 

 but there were never any false membranes formed. About five 

 years ago some new stock was introduced. A few months later 

 cases of typical avian diphtheria appeared in these birds and a 

 Uttle later in other birds in the same pens. This disease was some- 

 times associated with the lesions common to nasal roup, but often 

 the two diseases were quite separate. 



