70 POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



up and burn all litter used in houses or runs occupied by in- 

 fected birds. Spray the runs and all parts of the buildings 

 with a strong solution of creolin, or a i per cent solution of 

 sulphuric acid in water. Do not use any litter until you are 

 sure that the disease is eradicated. Thoroughly disinfect every- 

 thing that could possibly be contaminated by the infected fowls, 

 and repeat this as often as you find a new case. The runs or 

 yards should be thoroughly- disinfected and should be ploughed 

 up often." 



In connection with his work on an outbreak of fowl cholera in 

 California, Ward points out the following important conclusion : 

 "Cholera and other infectious diseases may exist in a fowl in 

 a sort of inactive chronic condition and there is no doubt con- 

 cerning the agency of such a case in spreading the disease. 

 Thus, fowls not suspected of being diseased may have the dis- 

 ease smouldering among them. The fact that occasionally a 

 single fowl dies of cholera means that a severe loss may occur 

 at any time." 



The practical recommendation for an outbreak of fowl chol- 

 era then is to kill and destroy all sick birds, confine all well 

 birds to small runs. Disinfect these runs' and the houses daily. 

 After the outbreak is over and the birds have ceased dying it 

 is best to market all flocks in which the cholera appeared. This 

 latter precaution will often prevent a second outbreak some 

 months later. 



Methods of prevention are always the most satisfactory. The 

 careful poultryman will guard his flock against all infectious 

 diseases by methods of quarantine, disinfection and general 

 cleanliness. At the same time the birds should be fed to keep 

 them in the best of health. On these points read Chapter II. 



Through the kindness of Dr. Philip B. Hadley the writers 

 have had the opportunity to read the manuscript of Bulletin 144 

 of the Rhode Island Experiment Station dealing with fowl 

 cholera. ■ On the basis of his experimental work Dr. Hadley 

 recommends subcutaneous injections of 5 per cent carbolic acid 

 as a treatment for individual birds. In the summary of this 

 bulletin Dr. Hadley says: "At the Rhode Island Station at- 

 tempts have been made to prevent the development in fowls 

 of cholera artificially produced by inoculation with the fowl 

 cholera organism. The protective inoculations have involved" 



