298 Diseases of Poultry 



This like the bacteriological test cannot be made by the 

 poultryman. It must be done in a well equipped laboratory 

 and under the direction of a competent bacteriologist. The 

 practicability of the test depends upon the value of the 

 fowls. 



Treatment. — The treatment of white diarrhea like that 

 of most other poultry diseases consists in prevention rather 

 than cure. Proper care of the breeding birds, proper incu- 

 bation and proper care and feeding of the chicks will do 

 much to prevent the ravages of this disease. A chick that 

 lacks constitutional vigor, or that is weak from improper 

 incubation or improper brooding falls an easy prey to an 

 infectious organism. On the other hand, a healthy -vigorous 

 chick will resist the attacks of such an organism for some 

 time. 



However, care in housing and raising the chicks is not 

 sufficient to prevent this disease in a badly infected flock. 

 Undoubtedly, in the light of the researches reviewed in the 

 preceding pages, the best point to attack this disease is the 

 laying hen. Recent work has shown that these infected 

 hens can best be identified by the agglutination test. Where 

 it is possible to apply this test, all reacting birds should be 

 removed from the breeding pens and not allowed to come in 

 contact with the healthy birds. Such a method accom- 

 panied by care and cleanliness in raising the chicks will 

 practically eradicate the disease. 



There are many poultry plants, however, where it is 

 impossible or impracticable to apply this test. Under such 

 circumstances there is no certain way of identifying the 

 bacillus carriers in the breeding pens. The following 

 method will greatly aid in reducing the mortality from this 

 disease although it will not eradicate it completely. 



In the first place every incubator and brooder should be 

 thoroughly disinfected before using and between each hatch. 



