132 DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



of starch or oil, such for example as corn, may lead to 

 an exaggeration of the functions of the liver charac- 

 terized by the accumulation of a large quantity of bile 

 in the gall bladder, or in the gall ducts of birds,'' like 

 pigeons, which have no gall bladder. The bile is so 

 abundant that it penetrates the adjoining organs by 

 imbibition and colors them for a considerable distance. 

 In some cases the bile is thick, dry and hard like a 

 piece of black soap. 



In these cases the bile distends the gall bladder and 

 the ducts, sometimes because of its abundance, at 

 other times because owing to its thickness it does not 

 flow freely into the intestine, and in still other cases 

 because the caliber of the duct has been reduced by 

 inflammation. In all of these cases the result is the 

 same — the bile is absorbed by the blood vessels, caus- 

 es jaundice and poisoning, which soon leads to the 

 death of the bird. 



Unfortunately, the nature of the disease is only oc- 

 casionally suspected before death. With birds having 

 combs and wattles, or those which have the borders 

 of the eyes or cheeks free from feathers, a close ob- 

 server may detect the yellowish or mahogany color of 

 these parts. 



When this symptom is observed, or when uponposi- 

 mortem examination of a bird the distention of the 

 biliary reservoirs is made out, and other birds are 

 thought to be similarly affected, Megniri recommends 

 purging with 1-2 to 1 grain of aloes, and a complete 

 change of food giving as great a variety of ingredients 

 as is convenient. 



ATROPHY OR WASTING OF THE LIVER. 



The wasting or shrinkage of the liver, known tech- 

 nically as atrophy, is generally associated with hard- 



