DISEASES OF POULTRY. 153 



CLOACITIS, VENT GL^ET. 



owls are sometimes, affected with a contagious 



.tarrh of the cloaca, which is transmitted from bird to 



— oird during the act of copulation. The inflammation 



is usually confined to the cloaca, but in severe cases 



may extend to the mucous membrane of the lower 



part of the oviduct, or even to that of the rectum. 



Symptoms.— The first symptom observed is the 

 frequent passage of excrement which is voided in small 

 quantities almost as rapidly as it reaches the cloaca. 

 Often the bird endeavors to drop excrement when the 

 cloaca is entirely empty. This action is due to the 

 tenderness and irritability of the cloaca which gives to 

 the bird the sensation of fullness, and produces spas- 

 modic contractions. If an examination is made the 

 mucous membrane is found in the early stages to be 

 red, dry, swollen and hot. In a day or two a discharge 

 makes its appearance. It is, at first, thin and watery, 

 but soon becomes white, purulent, and offensive. This 

 discharge collects upon the skin and feathers about the 

 vent, obstructs the passage and irritates the parts with 

 which it comes in contact. The soiled skin becomes 

 red and inflamed, it may be abraded by friction or by 

 the bird picking at it, and thus sores or ulcers are 

 started which may become quite troublesome. 



Treatment. — First reduce the inflammation and 

 clean the parts by holding the lower part of the bird's 

 body, including the vent, in a pan or bucket of warm 

 water, in which has been dissolved a tablespoonful of 

 bicarbonate of soda to each quart of water. The 

 water should be as warm as can be comfortably borne 

 by the hand and the application should be continued 

 for one -half to three-quarters of an hour and should be 

 repeated daily while the inflammation is at its height. 



