96 DISEASES OF POUI,TRY. 



back rounded, the plumage erect, the wings drooping, 

 thp head drawn down to the body, and the eyes closed. 

 They gape frequently, their walk is slow, hesitating 

 and unsteady. The diarrhea persists, the excrements 

 are colored with blood, the strength is rapidly lost, 

 and walking becomes more and more difiicult. In the 

 later stages of the disease, the bird sleeps most of the 

 time and can scarcely be aroused, a viscid, grayish 

 liquid escapes from the mouth, its comb becomes pur- 

 ple, and it finally falls upon its side and dies after a 

 few struggles. 



In the early stages of the disease the temperature is 

 elevated two degrees to four degrees F. , but later drops 

 three degrees to five degrees F. below normal. The 

 birds die in from one to two weeks after they are at- 

 tacked. The chronic form of the disease is character- 

 ized by slower development and less marked symptoms. 

 The birds are sick three or four weeks before they die. 

 Their appetite is capricious, the feathers are rough and 

 have lost their lustre, the comb and flesh are pale and 

 bloodless, and there is an exhausting diarrhea. If the 

 birds are handled the owner is surprised at the great 

 loss in weight, as the flesh appears to have almost 

 disappeared. This loss of strength and flesh continues 

 until the bird dies from exhaustion. In some cases 

 temporary improvement is seen; the diarrhea disap- 

 pears ; the comb partially regains its colors ; the bird 

 appears stronger; but suddenly there comes a relapse, 

 the symptoms are intensified, and death follows in a 

 day or two. In a few cases the improvement is per- 

 manent, and the affected birds finally recover their 

 health and flesh. 



In examining the carcasses of the dead birds, the 

 liver is foand greatly enlarged and distended with 



