DISEASES OF POULTRY. 133 



ening and sometimes with a marked yellow coloration. 

 It has been considered by some authorities as due to 

 compression, and may result from this cause when 

 there is a great accumulation of fat in the abdominal 

 cavity. In most cases, it probably results from 

 chronic inflammation. Some excellent authorities re- 

 gard it as caused almost entirely by infections and in- 

 toxications. No doubt most forms of irritation which 

 set up chronic inflammation, will produce atrophy. 



In this disease the surface of the liver is often more 

 or less granular, the small centers of glandular tissue 

 being shrunken, undergoing degeneration, and sur- 

 rounded by thickened connective tissue. This pro- 

 cess is accompanied by the obliteration of old vessels 

 and the formation of new ones, there is even a forma- 

 tion of new bile ducts, which, however, is more or 

 less incomplete as most of the new ducts fail to per- 

 form their functions. 



The symptoms are obscure and the disease difficult 

 to recognize during the life of the bird. There is seen 

 only dullness, drowsiness, stupor and possibly con- 

 vulsions. 



This disease should be guarded against by giving a 

 properly balanced ration, being particular to avoid an 

 excess of starch or fat. Allow plenty of exercise with 

 green feed, avoid grain or meal that is musty or mold}"- 

 as well as decomposing food of any kind. 



The early stages of atrophy should be treated with 

 calomel, saline purgatives and alkaline salts as re- 

 commended for hepatitis. 



FATTV DEGENERATION OF THE LIVER. 



This is a rather common disease of birds, and has 

 been attributed to lack of variety in the food, too close 

 confinement and insufficient exercise. 



