40 J5ISEASES OF POULTRY. 



mation, and where the gasping shows great obstruction 

 of the air passage, relief may be obtained by giving from 

 three to six drops of either the syrup orthe wineof ipecac. 

 Medicines shoiild be administered very carefully in 

 diseases affecting the trachea and bronchi, as other- 

 wise they may enter the air passages and increase the 

 irritation. 



THE GAPES, V^ERMINOUS TRACHEO-BRONCHITIS, 

 SYNGAMOSIS. 



The gapes is a parasitic disease of birds, caused by 

 the presence in the trachea or windpipe, of a worm 

 called the Syngamus trachealis. The most prominent 

 symptom of this disease is frequent gaping, and from 

 this characteristic the affection takes its name. 



History. — The gapes appears to have been first ob- 

 serve and described as occurring in the United States. 

 This disease was seen by Dr . Wiesenthal in 1799 , at Balti - 

 more, Md., where he states it affected hens and turkeys. 

 It was reported by Georges Montagu as prevailing 

 among chickens in England from 1806 to 1809. ' This 

 author believed that chickens were the only occupants 

 of the poultry yard which become its victims, since he 

 observed turkeys and ducks living on the same premises 

 with infested chickens but remaining free from the 

 disease. He observed that pheasants were similarly 

 affected at the period when the appearance of the plum - 

 age changes so that the sexes can be distinguished. 

 He also saw the disease in partridges. 



Both Wiesenthal and Montagu recognized that the 

 disease was caused by warms which inhabited the 

 trachea, producing inflammation and obstructing the 

 passage of the air. 



This disease has been very prevalent among fowls 



