FOWL CHOLERA 105 



FOWL CHOLERA. 



Synonyms. Chicken cholera; cholera gallinarum; Huhner 

 ■cholera; Pasteurellosis avium; cholera des poules. 



§ 85. Characterization. This is an infectious disease 

 of fowls caused by bacteria, and transmissable by cohabitation 

 and inoculation. It is determined by a high fever, great weak- 

 ness and prostration, and usually terminates in the death of 

 the affected bird. It is reported that it attacks all varieties of 

 domesticated poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, tur- 

 keys), and caged birds such as parrots and canaries. It also 

 attacks some species of wild birds. It is communicable by 

 inoculation to rabbits and mice. Guinea pigs are not very 

 susceptible. 



§ 86. History. This disease is mentioned in some of 

 the oldest works treating of the diseases of animals. Fowl 

 cholera was studied by Chabert in 1782, who regarded it as a 

 form of anthrax. Since 1825, it has been frequently observed 

 in France where it caused enormous losses in 1830, in 1850 and 

 in i860. About 1830, it became known in Russia, Bohemia 

 and Austria. In 1851, Benjamin considered it to be a con- 

 tagious disease but remarked that people and dogs might con- 

 sume with impunity the meat of affected fowls. Delafond 

 observed that it might be transmitted to birds and rabbits by 

 using blood, secretions, and portions of the flesh. It was also 

 recognized that the excrement plays an important part in the 

 dissemination of the virus. 



During recent years it has been observed in nearly all of 

 the countries of Europe as well as in the United States. It 

 has been reported from many places in the United States, but 

 its presence seems to have been determined by scientific 

 investigation in but a very few of these. Salmon investigated 

 it in South Carolina in 1879-80, and Higgins in 1898 reported 

 it from Canada. Salmon gave special attention to vaccination 

 and the efFect of disinfectants in destroying the virus. In 

 1904, Ward reported an outbreak in California. 



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