152 . DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



not be obtained by the injection of oil, immerse the 

 vent and lower part of the body in water, as warm as 

 can be used without injury, and hold it there half an 

 hour or more until the parts are relaxed. Then inject 

 oil and endeavor to assist the bird by careful pressure 

 and manipulation, or by dilation of the passage. Fluid 

 extract of ergot is useful in these cases and may be 

 given in five -drop doses three times a day. In some 

 cases it is necessary to puncture the egg, allow the 

 contents to escape, crush the shell and remove it in 

 pieces. 



GANGRENE OF THE OVIDUCT. 



If an egg which has been arrested in the oviduct 

 can not be expelled, the inflammation which it pro- 

 duces becomes more and more intense until it causes 

 the death of the tissue. When the flesh dies it at once 

 begins to decompose and putrify, and this conditioii is 

 known as gangrene. The gangrenous walls of the 

 oviduct are easily torn and the egg may then escape 

 ia-to the abdominal cavity. No treatment is of use in 

 such a case as peritonitis and septic infection occur and 

 lead to death in a comparatively short time. 



RUPTURE OF THE OVIDUCT. 



The walls of the oviduct are sometimes torn or rup- 

 tured in the absence of inflammation or gangrene, and 

 simply as the result of vigorous contractions in the 

 efforts to expel an abnormally large egg: A fissure 

 thus formed permits the escape of the egg into the ab - 

 dominal cavity. This accident may be suspected by 

 the suspension of laying and the enlargement of the 

 abdomen. By pressure of the finger one or more eggs 

 may be located in the lower part of the abdomen. As 

 treatment is unavailing, the better plan is to destroy 

 the bird as soon as the condition is recognized. 



