DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT 97 



submucous layers are invaded by the germ (protozoon). In 

 Fig. 35 the section B has been magnified 900 times. 



As explained under the cut, all stages of the coccidium 

 tenellum are observed in a mass of dying and disintegrating 

 cells — the remains of the diseased mucous lining of the bowel. 

 Repeated examinations have been made of healthy chicks 

 killed for the purpose,' and chicks dying from other causes, 

 and thus far no case has shown these conditions. 



Treatment. — The most of our experimental work 

 with various remedies has been with the coccidian 



Fig. 34 Fig- 35 



Fig. 34- Section Through Cecum (Magnified loo times) 

 From a chick that had died of coccidian white diarrhea. A, Muscular 

 layer. B, remnant of gland. C, degenerated disintegrating mass. 

 There is complete destruction of the mucous membrane. 



Fig, 35. Section "B" in Fig. 34 (magnified 900 times) 

 Shows various stages of the coccidium tenellum. A, Oocyst. B, Sporo- 

 blast, first stage. C, sporozoit, first stage. D, schizont, merozoites 

 within, surrounded by a disintegrating cell mass. E, polymorphonu- 

 clear leukocyte. 



form. In one outbreak, referred to above, 80 per 

 cent of the first hatch of 2,000 chicks had died. 

 "We began trying to improve sanitary conditions, 

 and administered various" dilutions of permangan- 

 ate of potash, copperas and carbolic acid. The 

 loss was unaffected. By this time the writer had 

 examined many dozen birds in his laboratory, and 

 in about fifty per cent of the cases, the Bacterium 



