Diseases of the Circulatory System 183 



cannot be diagnosed until after death. Successive cases 

 in the same flock indicate exposure of the flock to cold or 

 wet weather or to confining the birds in insanitary houses. 

 These conditions should be remedied. Salmon also recom- 

 mends in such cases " 2 to 4 grains of bicarbonate of soda to 

 each bird daily in the drinking water." 



Endocarditis (Inflammation of the Internal Membranes of the 



Heart) 



In the examination of dead birds it is sometimes found 

 that the membrane lining the heart is reddened and coagu- 

 lated lymph may adhere to it. Little is known of this dis- 

 ease in fowls. It cannot be distinguished from pericarditis 

 except by an examination of the heart. The cause and treat- 

 ment suggested for that disease probably apply equally in 

 these cases. 



Myocarditis diphtheritica 



According to Ziirn, Bollinger has described a bacterial 

 disease of the heart and blood vessels of fowls and pigeons. 

 The disease is caused by a bacterium which resembles the 

 bacterium of roup. The disease attacks the lining mem- 

 brane of the heart and blood vessels, causing inflammation 

 and the breaking down of the tissue. It especially affects 

 the valves of the heart and aorta, where round or oval 

 colonies of the bacteria are found on the membrane. In 

 these patches fibrin and red and white corpuscles are mingled 

 with the organisms. The walls of the small vessels of the 

 lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys and intestines are also affected. 

 The liver, spleen, and kidneys are enlarged. The bacteria 

 are numerous in these organs as well as in the blood. 



Little is known of the frequence of the occurrence of this 

 disease and nothing of methods of treatment. 



