FOWL CHOLERA 69 
FOWL CHOLERA 
Synonyms. Chicken cholera; cholera gallinarum; Huihner cholera; 
Pasteurellosis avium; choléra des poules. 
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 weakness 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, turkeys), 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 less susceptible. 
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 frequently been observed in France where it caused enormous 
losses in 1830, in 1850 and in 1860. About 1830, it became known in 
Russia, Bohemia and Austria. In 1851, Benjamin considered it to be 
a contagious 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 coun- 
tries 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. 
Perroncito was among the first to describe the specific cause of 
the disease. This was followed by the contributions of Pasteur, 
who, in 1880, cultivated the bacterium in chicken broth and showed 
that its virulence might be reduced to such an extent that it could 
safely be used for vaccination. This was the first time that a viru- 
lent organism was successfully modified in a laboratory and used as 
a vaccine. It was the forerunner of the preparation of vaccines 
for a number of diseases, more particularly for anthrax, black 
quarter, and rabies. 
