SYMPTOMS 243 



bacillaires et une nouvelle espece de pseudotuberculose. Ann. de I' Inst. 

 Pasteur, Vol. VIII (1894), p. 231. 



8. SivoRi. Sur une broncho-pneumonie caseouse du mouton, 

 causee parle bacille de Nocard-Preisz. Rev. denied. vH. ser. 8, Vol. 

 VI (1899), p. 657. 



ASTHENIA IN FOWLS AND PIGEONS 



§ 172. Characterization. This is a disease especially 

 of chickens and pigeons in which there is marked emaciation 

 and a failure to take on flesh even when fed on the most 

 nourishing food. Because of this, the disease has received the 

 popular name of " going light." 



§ 173. History. Although this condition or disease has 

 been recognized for a long time, it seems to have been first 

 described in 1898 by Dawson. He gives a brief account of the 

 symptoms, morbid anatomy, etiology and a somewhat 

 extended description of the specific organism which he isolated 

 from the diseased chickens. The writer has studied this 

 affection in pigeons but did not succeed in finding the organ- 

 ism isolated by Dawson. 



§ 174. Etiology. Dawson found this disease to be due 

 to the presence of a certain species of bacterium which he 

 obtained in pure culture from the duodenal contents. He 

 described it as Bacterium asthenice. This organism varies 

 from I to 1 . 3/< in length and about 0.5/i in width with rounded 

 ends. It is reported to possess the peculiarity of vegetating 

 in temperatures varying from 50 to 120° F. It is fatal to rab- 

 bits within 24 hours when inoculated into the abdominal 

 cavity with 0.5 c. c. of a bouillon culture. Chickens inocu 

 lated with this organism remained well. 



§ 175- Symptoms. The only symptoms which seem to 

 be in evidence are the gradual loss of flesh and an exceedingly 

 good appetite. It is reported by certain pigeon fanciers con- 

 cerning pigeons and the fact is reiterated by Dawson, that the 



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