FOWL CHOLERA 37 
In the case of infection by ingestion the organisms are believed 
to penetrate the uninjured mucosa of the intestines and gain access 
to the lymph and thence to the blood. Death is undoubtedly caused 
by toxins. There is however, lack of unanimity of opinion as to 
whether the toxic effect is due to intracellular or to extracellular 
toxins. 
Prognosis. Prognosis is serious, for 90 to 95 per cent of acute 
cases succumb. 
Symptoms. In the peracute form, the bird either drops dead 
suddenly or more often dies on the roost at night. 
In the acute form the first noticeable symptom in the fowl is 
the yellow color of the droppings. The yellow material consists 
of urates and is usually found on the feathers near the vent. Di- 
arrhea follows later. The discharge varies considerably in color 
and consistency. It may be a greenish mass of pasty consistency, a 
brownish red mucus or a viscous transparent fluid. The yellow 
color of the urates is the most constant character. 
Evidence of sickness is afforded by the unnatural attitude of the 
feathers and by disinclination of the bird to move about. During 
the later stages, no food is taken, but very sick fowls may drink 
copiously. Drowsiness is marked in the later stages. Frequently 
a mucous discharge drips from the mouth. The temperature varies 
from 109° to 112° F. 
Death usually occurs within three days from exposure to infec- 
tion but has been observed to occur within eighteen hours after in- 
gestion of material from the carcass of another bird dead of the 
disease. During an acute outbreak, sickness is seldom noticed more 
than twenty-four hours before death. 
The chronic form of the disease generally appears at the end of 
an outbreak. The birds are dull, depressed and show persistent or 
intermittent diarrhea. The mucose are pale and emaciation is 
marked. Arthritis may develop in one or more joints, and leads to 
ankylosis. 
Morbid anatomy. A reddening of the skin of the breast and 
abdomen is frequently observed. The comb often is dark red in 
color, but may be pale. There is a general congestion of the blood 
vessels of the visceral organs. The heart, in almost every case, is 
studded with punctiform hemorrhages. Less frequently are observed 
a fibrinous or a gelatinous exudate in the pericardium. One of the 
lesions occurring most frequently consists of hemorrhages in the first 
and second duodenal flexures. They may be so deep seated as to be 
