72 DISEASES OF POULTKV. 



THRUSH, APHTHj?e. 



In human medicine the terms thrush and aphthae are 

 applied to an affection of the mucous membrane of the 

 mouth, seen particularly in children, and which is 

 characterized by the production of a white cheesy sub- 

 stance, composed of the filaments and spores of a 

 vegetable parasite, called the Oidium albicans (or Sac- 

 charomyces albicans) and of thfe cells of the epithelium 

 which have undergone extensive proliferation. Veteri- 

 narians have applied the name to several distinct dis - 

 eases of the mouth, seen in various mammals and birds, 

 which are characterized by a white or yellowish de- 

 posit on various parts of the mucous membrane lining 

 that cavity. It is supposed that the term thrush has 

 been applied to diphtheria and chicken pox in birds and 

 possibly to other disease*. True thrush, although a 

 rare disease, has been noted in at least two instances 

 where a reliable diagnosis appears to have been made. 



One of the two cases recorded in birds was described 

 by Eberth as follows : At the autopsy of a very emaci- 

 ated fowl, which had died after violent convulsions, 

 there was found on the mucous membrane of the cesoph - 

 agus, from the middle of that tube to the crop, several 

 white but not extensive deposits firmly adhering to the 

 surface. The internal surface of the crop was covered 

 by a white layer, similar to the deposit of thrush. 

 Below the crop, the oesophagus also had some more 

 patches of a brownish -yellow color. The microscopic 

 examination of this layer proved it to be composed of 

 the spores and filaments of the Saccharoniyces albicans. 

 The second case, recorded by Martin, was observed in 

 a young turkey. At the autopsy, there was found at 

 the posterior part of the oesophagus and reaching as 



