326 DIPHTHERIA IN FOWLS 



abdominal organs. The disease is determined by a gra3'ish- 

 yellow, fibrinous exudate which forms upon the mucous surface 

 of the parts mentioned. The exudate may be so abundant as 

 to obstruct the air passages. In some outbreaks, it is very 

 acute, progresses with great rapidit3' and destroys most of the 

 birds attacked. It is popularly known as "roup. "S 



Fowls (genus Gallus) and pigeons (genus Columba) are 

 most commonly attacked and the)- are the only ones considered 

 in this discussion. Avian diphtheria is reported, however, to 

 attack turkeys, ducks, pea-fowls, pigeons and pheasants. It 

 is presumed that wild birds may be affected. 



Avian diphtheria is quite distinct from human diphtheria. 

 There are cases on record, however, wliich indicate that the 

 diphtheria of fowls may be communicated to children and 

 cause a serious and even fatal sore throat. On the other hand, 

 it is asserted that diphtheria of children is sometimes com- 

 municated to fowls and that the virus may be tlius preserved 

 for a considerable time and again be transmitted to children. 

 Concerning this point additional investigations are needed. 



J^ 245. History. The history of this disease is somewhat 

 •obscure. It is evident from the literature, that fowls have 

 always been subject to various affections of the head but the first 

 investigation of this class of maladies seems to ha\e been made 

 by Loeffler* in 18S4. Since that time Klemnier,t Babes and 

 Puscarin,;]: Eberlin,|| Loir and Ducloux" and others have stud- 

 ied diseases known as diphtheria in pigeons, fowls and other 

 birds. The disease was investigated by the Bureau of Animal 

 Industry in 1893-4. 



§ 246. Etiology. In 1884, Loeffier discovered a bac- 

 terium which he believed to be the specific cause of diphtheria 

 in fowls and with which he could produce the disease. It 



?The origin of this term is somewhat obscure, but it is supposed to 

 be a corruption of croup, and its application explained on account of a 

 peculiar hoarseness accompanying the respiration of the affected birds. 



*Mitt. aus deni Kaiserlichen Gesundheitsanite. Bd. II. (1SS4), S. 214. 



tBerliner thieriirzt. Wochenschrift. iSgo, No. iS, S. 13S. 



jZeitschrift f. Hygiene. Bd VIII. ( 1S90), S. 374. 



IIMonatshefte f. Thierheilkunde. Bd. V. ( 1S94), S. 433. 



1[Ann. de I'lnst. Pasteur. Tome VIII. (1894), p. 599. 



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