POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 175 



which are not normal in such cases are (a) the broken egg in 

 the oviduct, and (b) the fact that the bird is dead. We have 

 had several such cases come to autopsy. They are very puz- 

 zling. In them is to be found the basis for the poultryman's 

 belief as to the fatal character of this accident. In reality it 

 seems probable that in these cases the thing which caused the 

 egg to be broken was also the cause of the death of the bird. 

 That is, a blow, or any sort of sudden shock violent enough to 

 break an egg in the oviduct might also very well be the cause of 

 death. Such cases need further study. 



Abnormal Bggs. 



Owing to various diseased conditions of the oviduct many 

 different kinds of abnormal eggs are produced by fowls. The 

 explanation of the different types of such eggs is usually tol- 

 erably clear if one gets definitely in his mind the normal physi- 

 ology of egg production as outlined above. We shall con- 

 sider here only some of the more important general classes of 

 such abnormal eggs. Such eggs are very interesting from the 

 scientific standpoint but are of relatively little practical signifi- 

 cance to the poultry keeper because of the rarity of their occur- 

 rence. 



Soft-shelled Bggs. These are eggs laid without a sufficient 

 amount of shell substance covering the shell membrane. The 

 immediate cause lies in a failure of the uterus to function prop- 

 erly. Regarding this class of abnormal eggs Wright has the 

 following to say : "Soft eggs may be caused by lack of shell- 

 material, which, if discovered, points to the remedy, the most 

 rapid being pounded raw oyster-shell. Or they may be caused 

 by the fowls being driven or frightened, in which case they soon 

 cease, and nothing need be done unless the injury has been so 

 severe as to prematurely detacli small and unripe yolks, when 

 the case becomes a real abortion, or they may Jdc caused by con- 

 diments and too much animal food, spices in particular leading 

 frequently to all sorts of trouble with the egg-organs, particu- 

 larly in the Mediterranean races of poultry. A few small doses 

 of Epsom salts or jalap, and cessation of the extra stimulus, 

 will remedy this. But far the most usual cause is simple over- 

 feeding. A little careful investigation will find which is in fault, 

 and that will indicate the appropriate remedy. Want of shell 



