DISEASES OF POULTRY. 95 



water. The bacillus does not remain localized in the 

 intestine but may be found in the liver, kidne3-s and 

 blood of birds which have succumbed to the disease. 

 Pigeons are insusceptible. 



2 . The bacilli described by Cornil and Toupet are 

 short rods found in outbreaks of this disease among 

 ducks. They are found in the intestines, heart, liver, 

 spleen and blood. The disease may be transmitted to 

 ducks by inoculation or feeding with the germs. 

 Chickens and pigeons are not affected by it. 



3. The Vibrio Metchnikovi, also called the ii^i'zV//- 

 lum Metchnikovi, is a spiral -shaped germ resembling 

 the comma -bacillus. Chickens are very susceptible to 

 these germs, and whether they are introduced by the 

 air -passages or digestive organs, or inoculated beneath 

 the skin, they find their way to the intestines and cause 

 inflammation with the symptoms of cholera. Pigeons 

 may be infected by inoculation, but do not suffer from 

 this germ when it is fed to them. It is seen from this 

 brief summary that bacterial enteritis affects principal - 

 ly turkeys, ducks and barnyard fowls. The outbreaks 

 of this disease are usually confined to a single farm, 

 they generally begin early in summer, are at first acute 

 and very fatal in their effects, but gradually diminish 

 in intensity until they finally disappear. Birds of all 

 ages are affected, though the younger ones are appar- 

 ently more susceptible. 



Symptoms. — In the acute form the symptoms de- 

 velop rapidly. The affected birds are dull, listless, 

 and indisposed to move. They have considerable 

 thirst, but are without appetite. The comb becomes 

 pale, the excrements at first solid and of a greenish 

 color, later are soft, liquid, abundant and bluish green. 

 As the disease advances, the sick birds stand with the 



