POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. II3 



Myocarditis diptheritica. 



According to Ztirn, Bollinger has described a bacterial disease 

 of the heart and blood vessels of fowls and pigeons. The dis- 

 ease is caused by a bacterium which resembles the bacterium of 

 roup. The disease attacks the lining membrane of the heart and 

 blood vessels, causing inflammation and the breaking down of the 

 tissue. It especially affects the valves of the heart and aorta, 

 where round or oval colonies of the bacteria are found on the 

 membrane. In these patches fibrin and red and white corpuscles 

 are mingled with the organisms. The walls of the small vessels 

 of the lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys and intestines are also affected. 

 The liver, spleen, and kidneys are enlarged. The bacteria are 

 numerous in these organs as well as in the blood. 



Little is known of the frequence of the occurrence of this dis- 

 ease and nothing of methods of treatment. 



Enlargement of the Heart {Hypertrophy). 



The heart of a fowl is sometimes enlarged. According to 

 Cadeac this enlargement most frequently affects the right side 

 of the heart. The muscle may be fatty and degenerate. 



Diagnosis. — The distinctive symptom of this disease is a very 

 rapid beating of the heart. 



Etiology. — The cause of this hypertrophy of the heart muscle 

 is not known, but it is probably due to some derangement in the 

 nutrition of the muscle. The palpitations are increased by ex- 

 citement or fright. 



Treatment. — The disease is not usually recognized while the 

 bird is alive. Treatment is therefore not possible. 



Prognosis. — A hypertrophied heart may function for a long 

 time. The violent beating may cause rupture of a blood vessel ; 

 sometimes several vessels are ruptured at the same time. 



Rupture of the Heart and Large Blood Vessels. 



Internal hemorrhage due to the rupture of the heart or large 

 blood vessels often occurs in full blooded fowls. 



Diagnosis — The bird becomes weak and drowsy, passes into a 

 comatose condition and dies with the characteristic appearance 

 associated with bleeding to death. 



Etiology. — In full blooded fowls any excitement or over-exer- 

 tion which causes an increase in the rate of heart beat and an 



