POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 97 



regard the disease as quite different from the catarrhal form, 

 and call it "canker," which is probably a popular form of the 

 word "cancer." 



"Whether the disease is characterized by false membranes, 

 offensive discharges, or cheesy masses, the cause is the same, as 

 we have many times experimentally demonstrated." 



"At one or several places in the mouth or throat, these yellow- 

 ish, smooth or uneven membranes appear, and either remain 

 small and disappear after a few days or grow thicker, spread, 

 and become firmly attached to the mucous membrane ; and if 

 they (the false membranes) are removed, an uneven, bleeding 

 surface is exposed, which looks like a true cancer." 



"After the appearance of the membranes the adjacent sub- 

 mucous tissue sometimes becomes inflamed, and finally the 

 growths are found to be similar to those so often seen at the side 

 of the face — containing solid cheesy matter in the center." 



"When the throat is blocked by these false membranes, the. 

 animal's breathing becomes abnormal, and the air passing 

 through the throat produces loud noises. Gradually, the visible 

 mucous membrane and the comb turn blue.^and the fowl finally 

 dies from suffocation." 



"The Course of the Disease. The course of roup is usually 

 of long duration. A simple, putrid discharge from the nose 

 may stop in 3 or 4 weeks, and similarly false membranes may 

 soon disappear; but generally the symptoms last for months. 

 When the eyelids become swollen and tumors appear, the case 

 i.-' usually chronic. Affected birds may be better for a few days 

 or weeks, and then become very weak again. Damp, colu 

 weather usually intensifies the disease. 



"It is well known that fowls may be more or less sick from 

 roup for one or even several years and these birds should have the 

 greatest care and attention, for they are generally the cause of 

 new outbreaks. Once introduced, roup may remain in a flock 

 for many years. The first cold and moist nights of the fall 

 and early winter cause all kinds of catarrhs, which in many 

 instances are followed by roup. Roup spreads rapidly in the 

 winter time and may attack from 10 to 90 per cent of the fowls 

 in a flock. Towards spring, the disease gradually disappears ; 

 during the summer months, a few birds remain chronically 

 affected; and then the first cold nights give the disease a fresh 

 start." 



