FOWL CHOLERA 43 
EPIZOOTIC DYSENTERY OF FOWLS AND TURKEYS 
Lucet describes a septicemic disease of fowls and turkeys. He 
differentiates the disease from fowl cholera by the insusceptibility 
of the rabbit to subcutaneous inoculation and other peculiarities even 
less convincing. 
Etiology. The organism causing the infection is a short, slightly 
motile rod which does not stain by the Gram method. It does not 
grow on potato and gelatin is not liquefied. 
Pathogenicity. The disease is inoculable from fowl to fowl, 
from the fowl to the turkey, from turkey to turkey and reciprocally. 
It is also transmissible between the two species by ingestion. The 
pigeon is insusceptible to subcutaneous inoculation. The guinea 
pig is not affected by subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection. The 
rabbit is insusceptible to injections in the same way, but succumbs 
to intravenous inoculation. 
Symptoms and lesions. There is nothing distinctive in the 
symptoms displayed while the lesions are those of fowl cholera. 
EPIZOOTIC PNEUMO-PERICARDITIS IN THE TURKEY 
Characterization. The disease is an infection of the turkey 
characterized by lesions of the lung and pericardium. 
History. M’Fadyean first described the infection in England, 
while Jowett encountered it near Cape Town. 
Etiology. The organism causing the disease is a small ovoid rod 
closely resembling that causing fowl cholera. M’Fadyean notes that 
it possesses motility, while Jowett is silent on the point. It is Gram 
negative and is readily stained by the ordinary dyes. No lique- 
faction is produced in gelatin, no gas is formed in agar shake cul- 
tures, no acid formation nor coagulation occurs in milk and no vis- 
ible growth is observed on potato. Growth occurs equally well under 
aerobic or anaerobic conditions. No unusual or striking character- 
istics are presented by the growth on agar slant or bouillon cultures. 
Pathogenicity. In the natural outbreak observed by Jowett, 
turkeys only succumbed, while fowls, geese and pigeons in close 
- contact with them escaped infection. Subcutaneous inoculation of 
the turkey with cultures caused symptoms of dullness, stiffness and 
mouth breathing followed by death in a few days. Guinea pigs 
and rabbits succumb to inoculation. Fowls are only slightly sus- 
ceptible while pigeons succumb to intraperitoneal inoculation. 
