130 • 'J-'^ Farmer's Veterinary Admiser. 



BIED CHOLERA. CHICKEN CHOLEEA. 



This is one of the most destructive of our indigenous ani- 

 mal plagues, and causes greater losses in the United States 

 than can be well conceived of, considering the relatively low 

 value of the individual animal. The susceptibility is not 

 confined to chickens, though, as usually seen, it proves espec- 

 ially destructive to these. By inoculation Renault conveyed 

 it in fatal form to pigeons, ducks, geese, and parrots, and 

 during its prevalence in a district we frequently see dead 

 thrushes and other wild birds manifest victims of the same 

 infection. Renault and Toussaint have conveyed it in fatal 

 form to rabbits ; and the latter, supported by recent German 

 observers, considers it identical with rabbit septiccemia, so 

 that rats and mice must be added to the susceptible list. 

 Renault inoculated both dog and horse, with fatal i-esult, but 

 Toussaint found that in horse, ass, dog, and sheep inocula- 

 tions produced local swelling and abscess with much consti- 

 tutional disturbance, but the blood did not become virulent 

 and recovery ensued. 



The germ is a slightly ovoid micrococcus found in the dis- 

 charges and in the blood. It is evident that infection may be 

 conveyed by bii'ds, wild and tame, by rabbits, rats, and mice. 

 In the summer season it is also propagated by insects. 



Symptoms ; Course. Inoculation is variable, averaging 

 five to eight days, and proving shortest in winter. 



The bird becomes dull, listless, trails its wings, drags its 

 limbs, sits a great deal, head sunken between the wings, and 

 feathers ruffled. It seeks sunshine, and if several suffer they 

 liuddle together for heat. Temperature rises to 109°. 

 Appetite is lost, but thirst continues, and abundant yellowish 

 or yellowish-green discharges are passed, with in some cases 

 a whitish flow from the bill and nostrils. The comb and 

 wattles become flaccid, and of a dark livid or blue color, 

 at first in spots and later throughout, weakness and prostra- 



