GENERAL DISEASES 165 
Symptoms. Where the inflammation is confined to the oviduct 
no general change in the appearance may be apparent except in 
severe cases. A tendency of the fowl to make efforts to lay at fre- 
quent intervals is often noticed. Eggs which are abnormal either 
in their structure or form may be passed. These may be blood 
stained. Most frequently the eggs are small and contain only al- 
bumin. Shell-less eggs are also laid. In fatal cases the fowl ex- 
hibits symptoms of general debility, with loss of appetite, pale comb 
and leg paralysis. 
Treatment. When symptoms are apparent an effort should be 
made to locate the cause of the trouble. Manipulation with the 
finger through the cloaca or over the abdominal wall may disclose the 
presence of an obstructed egg, broken egg or egg concretion which 
may be removed after the manner described for the treatment of 
“egg bound.” The fowl should be isolated, given green food, soft 
mashes and % teaspoonful of Epsom salts. 
RUPTURE OF THE OVIDUCT 
In severe inflammation of the oviduct when a large mass of egg 
concretion is present, or an attempt to pass an egg of large size is 
made, the wall of the oviduct may be split allowing the mass or egg 
to pass into the peritoneal cavity. Other eggs or egg material 
may follow through the opening and accumulate in the eavity. 
These later induce peritonitis, or the rupture may heal and the ovi- 
duct continue its normal activities. 
The condition would be suspected by the sudden suspension of 
laying accompanied in many cases by a rapid increase in the size of 
the abdomen. Manipulation would disclose the presence of abdomi- 
nal egg concretions or accumulated eggs. 
Rupture of the oviduct is of comparatively rare occurrence. 
Treatment if advisable would be by surgical means. 
EGG BOUND 
This condition is of frequent occurrence in fowls, especially in 
young pullets. It represents an inability on the part of the bird to 
pass the egg in the normal manner from the oviduct, or cloaca. 
This failure may be due to an inflammatory condition, stricture, or 
tumor formation in the posterior portion of the oviduct, or cloaca, 
or to prolapse of the oviduct. In pullets which are beginning to 
lay, however, the usual cause is the undeveloped state of the egg 
