DISEASES OF POULTRY. 191 



and probably also from mice, rats, rabbits, cats and 

 dogs to birds. On the other hand, it may probably 

 also be communicated from birds to these animals and 

 to children. Some authorities consider the poultry 

 favus a distinct form of the disease and not communi- 

 cable to mammals, but the weight of evidence favors 

 the conclusion that the disease in all of these species 

 is identical and intercommunicable. Apparently a 

 v/ound or abrasion of the skin is necessary to enable 

 the fungus to obtain a foothold. The filaments and 

 spores suspended in water have been placed upon the 

 combs of poultry without effect, until the surface of 

 the skin was scratched or abraded. As fowls come 

 into close contact with each other and often have 

 wounds of the skin from fighting or other causes, the 

 disease spreads rapidly among them and unless proper 

 measures are adopted for its arrest the results may be 

 disastrous to the flock. Young birds appear to be 

 more susceptible to this disease than old ones, and 

 large birds particularly of the Asiatic breeds are pre- 

 disposed to it though no varieties are altogether 

 exempt. 



Treatment. — Favus yields readily to proper treat- 

 ment if it is not allowed to develop too far before 

 remedial measures are applied. When confined to the 

 parts of the head that are bare of feathers, it is not 

 difficult to manage, but when it spreads to parts cov- 

 ered by feathers and also affects the plumage it be- 

 comes much more serious. 



It is important that the remedy used should pene- 

 trate beneath the crusts to the skin, and to secure this 

 the crusts may be rubbed off as thoroughly as possi- 

 ble with a blunt instrument such as the handle of a 

 spoon. This should be done gently so as not to cause 



