DISEASES OF POULTRY. 77 



in breadth. It has flagella at its extremities which 

 enable it to move in any direction. 



The symptoms are whitish points, spots or elevations 

 upon the mucous membrane of the pharynx, oesoph- 

 agus, crop, and more rarely upon the palate, base of 

 the tongue and lingual canal. A microscopic exami- 

 nation of the affected spot shows it to be made up of 

 epithelial cells, leucocytes, red blood globules, and 

 granular matter, among which thousands of the in- 

 fusoria are moving. Beneath the spot or patch, the 

 mucous membrane is congested or inflamed. 



This disease may cause death from loss of appetite 

 and weakness. It is distinguished from diphtheria 

 by the fact that the exudate is only slightly adherent 

 ,to the mucous membrane and is easily detached from 

 it. Some authors doubt if the infusoria cause the dis- 

 ease and are inclined to consider it a form of diph- 

 theria. The treatment should be the same as recom- 

 mended for diphtheria. 



OBSTRUCTION OF THE PHARYNX. 



Occasionally a bird attempts to swallow a particle 

 of food, or a piece of green bone, so large or irregular 

 in conformation that it becomes lodged in the pharynx. 

 The condition may be recognized by the efforts of the 

 bird to swallow the object or to rid itself of it ; and 

 by passing the fingers over the throat a hard swelling 

 can be made out. Prompt relief should be afforded in 

 such cases or death may result from suffocation. The 

 treatment consists in the removal of the obstructing 

 substance. This can generally be accomplished by 

 carefully pressing on the sides of the throat in such a 

 manner as to force the body into the mouth. If it is 

 difficult to move it in this way, a teaspoonful of olive 



