DISEASES OF POULTRY. 89 



Causation. — The cause of simple inflammation of 

 the digestive tract is to be sought either in the quantity 

 of the food, the quality of the food Or of the drinking 

 water, or the atmospheric conditions to which the 

 bird has been exposed. This form of inflammation 

 should not be confounded with that which is caused 

 by irritating poisons, or by the various kinds of para- 

 sites which are liable to develop in the digestive tube. 



Inflammation of the stomach and intestines may re - 

 suit from overloading the stomach; from too stimulat- 

 ing rations or from too much pepper, condiments or 

 condition powers; from eating tainted, moldy or 

 putrefying food; from drinking water which has 

 been contaminated with filth and which has stood 

 in a warm place or in the sunshine until it has 

 become putrid; from exposure to draughts, cold 

 rains or damp coops, particularly during the molt- 

 ing season. It most frequently affects young birds 

 and the improved breeds. 



Symptoms. — There is loss of appetite, roughness of 

 the plumage, depression and indisposition to move. 

 The crop is generally distended, its walls are partially 

 paralyzed and it empties slowly ; in some cases it may 

 contain no food. There is frequent expulsion of soft, 

 whitish, yellowish or greenish excrement, which is 

 irritating to the cloaca and to the neighboring parts. 

 The droppings gradually become more liquid until a 

 severe diarrhea sets in. The expulsion of the excre- 

 ment may be accompanied by a spasmodic and pain- 

 ful contraction of the bowels which causes the bird to 

 strain or to stop suddenly when walking. The mucous 

 membrane of the cloaca becomes inflamed, and the 

 feathers surrounding it are stuck or glued together. 

 There is increased thirst, elevation of temperature, 



