I70 POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



Diagnosis. Salmon describes the following symptoms: 

 "When fowls are egg bound they at first go frequently to the 

 nest, making efforts to lay but are unable to accomplish this 

 function. They are restless and evidently in more or less dis- 

 tress. Later they become dull, with rough plumage and are 

 indisposed to move. On examining the bird by pressure of the 

 finger about the vent, the egg can be distinguished as a hard 

 body in the posterior part of the abdominal cavity. In case of 

 prolapsus, the everted oviduct may be easily seen." 



In this connection, however, it should be noted that these gen- 

 eral symptoms- which Salmon describes are observed in mild 

 form in a great many cases with birds which subsequently lay 

 the egg without trouble. In many instances the extrusion of 

 an egg which is finally successfully laid is attended with a good 

 deal of difficulty. There are all degrees of gradation between 

 this somewhat difficult but still normal laying and the condition 

 of complete obstruction of the oviduct where the egg cannot be 

 passed at all. The practical consideration to which this leads 

 is that one should not be too hasty in applying treatment for the 

 egg-bound condition. A diagnosis of the trouble, in other 

 words, should not be finally settled upon until there remains no 

 doubt that the hen is not going to pass the egg without help from ' 

 the outside. 



It must also be remembered that in many cases of obstruction 

 of the oviduct, the obstruction is so far up that it cannot be felt 

 from the outside. In such cases the diagnosis must be made 

 upon the general behavior of the hen, and in particular in regard 

 to going frequently on the nest without laying. 



Etiology. In considering the causes of obstruction of the ovi- 

 duct it is necessary to distinguish between several different sorts 

 or categories. This may be done as follows : 



I. Simple "egg bound" condition, in which a normal egg is 

 lodged in the uterus or vagina and cannot be expelled. This 

 inability to expel the egg may be due to any one or a combination 

 of the following causes acting together: 



a. Egg of too large size, so that it is mechanically difficult 

 or impossible to force it through the natural passage. Robinson 

 regards this as the most common cause. 



b. Exhaustion (true physiological fatigue) of the muscu- 

 lar walls of the oviduct. This condition results after long con- 

 tinued and unsuccessful attempts to expe Ithe egg. It leads to 



