POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 1 53 



cells that have in them 'greasy' refractive bodies that stain yel- 

 low with picro-carmine and the nuclei of the epithelial cells be- 

 come 'reddish brown' in color. Nearly all the epithelial cells in 

 the nodule appear larger than norm.al and contain the refractive 

 bodies. In the younger epithelial cells these bodies (young coc- 

 cidia) are relatively small and occupy J4 to 1-3 of the epithelial 

 cavity. In the older or outer or cast-oif epithelial cells these 

 refractive bodies are said by Freidberger and Frohner to occupy 

 the entire cavities of the epithelial cells. The invaded or in- 

 fested epithelial cells are unusually larger than the epidermal 

 cells of the healthy neighboring skin. Among the cast-off mass 

 of epithelial cells are found round refractive bodies and numer- 

 ous nuclei of leucocytes or pus cells. The subcutaneous con- 

 nective tissue is hyperaemic (congested) and is infiltrated with 

 cells (leucocytes and nuclei of disintegrated cells). Possibly 

 some of the small nuclei-like bodies among the cells in the sub- 

 cutis may represent one stage in the development of coccidia. 

 Many observers have, also, found various bacteria in the nodule 

 and subcutis." 



"In the diphtheritic membranes on the mucous surfaces of the 

 mouth, pharynx, larynx and oesophagus, the epithelial cells are 

 sometimes invaded by refractive bodies in the same manner as 

 the epithelial cells of the skin and in the mass of diphtheritic 

 exudate and cast-off cells on the mucous surface may be found 

 the well formed coccidia * * * * g^t the refractive 

 bodies are not found in the epithelial cells of mucous exudates 

 of skin nodules in every case. I have found them only in the 

 early development of the nodule and the diphtheritic exudate, 

 and have never found the mature coccidium in the nodules of 

 the skin." 



"When the exudate on the mucous surface or the crust of the 

 nodule of the skin is torn off the raw surface bleeds rather 

 freely and a fresh mount of this blood contains a short oval 

 bacillus, numerous round bodies usually said to be nuclei of 

 leucocytes; and a few polynuclear leucocytes. Repeated inocu- 

 lations in the comb, wattles, skin and conjunctiva and oral mu- 

 cosa of healthy chickens of various ages, with this blood, fresh 

 from under a nodule or a diphtheritic exudate, has failed to 

 produce positive infective results. I have also tested it on 

 pigeons with like negative results." 



