154 POUI.TRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



"The exudates on the mucous membrane of the throat, mouth 

 or larynx appear to be very much dike in all forms of the 



rlisc3.SC 



"The -period of incubation is said to vary all the way from 2 

 to 20 days. In December T placed a newly-purchased barred Ply- 

 mouth Rock cock (18 mos. old) in a yard with my chickens, many 

 of which were recovering from sore-head, and in 24 hours this 

 cock developed a good case of sore-head on the wattles, comb 

 and eye-lids. There were mosquitoes in the roosting house. 

 The period of incubation varies with mode of transmission, viru- 

 lency of the virus, the weather (rapid in damp warm weather 

 and slower in cool and dry weather), and the age and condition 

 of the chicken or pigeon. Chicks from broiling size up to 7 or 

 8 months old seem to be most susceptible. Chickens with large 

 combs seem to be more susceptible than birds with small combs 

 and wattles." 



Treatment. The introduction of diseased birds into healthy 

 flocks should be avoided. The same precautions should be prac- 

 tised in the isolation of sick birds and disinfecting the houses 

 as is advised for roup (p. 99). When the disease is local- 

 ized a small amount of individual treatment cures many cases. 

 The crust or nodules should be removed and the places treated 

 with creolin (2 per cent solution) or corrosive sublimate 

 (i-iooo) (p. 29) and dusted with iodoform. The iodo- 

 form may be put into the eye. When the disease is not far 

 advanced one such treatment may be followed by daily greasing 

 with the ointment recommended on p. 30 or with vaseline or 

 lard. In bad cases the iodoform should be used daily for a 

 few days and then the ointment. When cases have roup or 

 diphtheritic symptoms treat as recommended for roup (p. 100). 

 Prognosis. "The mortality is said to vary from 50 to 70 per 

 cent of the affected birds. I judge this a low per cent of losses 

 if birds are left to themselves with proper care or treatment. 

 But if individual treatment is patiently and regularly applied the 

 m.ortality can be cut down to less than 20 per cent. If only the 

 skin of the head, and the comb and wattles, are involved, one 

 should lose less than 10 per cent. If the mouth and pharynx 

 are also involved, less than 10 per cent should die. But if the 

 nasal passages and trachea are involved, or the intestines become 

 involved, — good care and treatment may save 50 to 80 per 

 cent." (Cary). 



