MORBID ANATOMY IO7 



health, these are a pure white though they are frequently 

 tinted with yellow as the result of disorders other than cholera. 



Occasionally the first symptom is a diarrhea in which the 

 excrement is passed in large quantities and consists almost 

 entirely of white urates mixed with colorless mucus. 



Very soon after the first symptoms appear the bird sepa- 

 rates itself from the flock, it no longer stands erect, the 

 feathers are roughened, the wings droop, the head is drawn 

 down towards the body and the general outline of the bird 

 becomes spherical or ball-shaped. At this period there is 

 great weakness, the affected bird becomes drowsy and may 

 sink into a sleep which lasts during the last day or two of its 

 life, and from which it is almost impossible to arouse it. 



The crop is nearly always distended with food and appar- 

 ently paralyzed. There is in most cases intense thirst. If 

 the birds are aroused and caused to walk, there is at first an 

 abundent discharge of excrement followed at short intervals 

 by scanty evacuation. 



With the beginning of diarrhea the body temperature 

 rises to 109 to 110° F. Ward states that in advanced stages it 

 ranges from 109 to 1 1 2 ° F. The comb loses its bright hue 

 and becomes pale and bloodless. European writers describe 

 the comb as dark blue, purple, or black, and some writers in 

 the United States have referred to it in the same terms. Sal- 

 mon reports that he never observed it. 



Di-seased birds rapidly lose in weight. They become so 

 weak that they walk with great difficulty, a slight touch causes 

 them to fall over. The fowls become very much emaciated. 

 Death may occur without a struggle or there may be convul- 

 sive movements and cries. 



This disease may run rapidly through a flock destroying 

 the greater part of the birds in a week, or it may assume a 

 more chronic form, spreading slowly, and remain upon the 

 premises for several weeks or months. 



§ 90. Morbid anatomy. The comb is pale and blood- 

 less. The superficial blood vessels usually contain but little 

 blood. 



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