178 Diseases of Poultry 



been exposed to cold or allowed to run out in cold, wet 

 weather. 



Treatment. — The rapid course of the disease makes treat- 

 ment impracticable. Prevention is the only cure. Birds 

 should be well nourished with plenty of green food and should 

 be especially protected from cold and wet when molting. 

 Also chicks which are in a stage between down (chick) and 

 Juvenal feathers need special protection. This disease often 

 attacks brooder chicks and indicates something wrong with 

 the brooding. The cause should be immediately sought out 

 and removed, or considerable loss will follow from continued 

 exposure of the flock. 



Prognosis. — This disease is usually fatal in a few minutes 

 or hours after its symptoms are noted. According to Salmon 

 the patient sometimes develops pneumonia. 



Pneumonia 



This disease is a step beyond congestion of the lungs. The 

 vessel are not only distended but liquid escapes through their 

 walls and coagulates in the air spaces. The lung of a chick 

 dead of pneumonia is dark cdored and firm and heavier than 

 water. A normal lung floats but a lung filled with this coagu- 

 lated serum sinks. 



Diagnosis. — The symptoms resemble those of congestion 

 of the lungs. The bird stands with its head drawn back, its 

 wings down, and its plumage ruffled. The comb is usually 

 very dark. Respiration is rapid, labored and apparently 

 painful. There is a loss of appetite, and abnormal thirst 

 and constipation. A thick, adhesive, and often bloody 

 mucus is sometimes discharged from the nostrils and mouth. 

 In such cases there is usually coughing. 



Post-mortem examination shows that either the bronchi 

 are nearly filled with thick mucus or the smaller air passages 



