126 POULTRY DISEASES 



(germs) as in chicken cholera. The irritation 

 causes active congestion followed by a migration 

 of great numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes 

 (white blood cells) and thrombocytes, constituting 

 inflammation. The liver is enlarged, dark, and 

 easily torn; it appears very full of blood. 



In many, and in fact most, of the contagious 

 diseases inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) 

 occurs. 



The following case report ■will serve to illustrate these 

 cases: 



A valuable rooster was sent to the small animal ward of 

 the Division of Veterinary Medicine of the Colorado Agri- 

 cultural College for treatment. The bird had been sprinkled 

 with some proprietary lice killer and had immediately taken 

 ill. There was a loss of appetite and it had become weak in 

 the legs and remained so till Its death. Late in the course 

 of the trouble the bird was not able to stand at all, but lay 

 on its side. It became emaciated and lived only about three 

 weeks after it was taken sick. 



On autopsy the liver was found to be enormously enlarged, 

 weighing 176 grams (normal weight would have l)een about 

 forty grams for a bird of that size). The surface had a 

 grayish mottled appearance. Upon microscopic examination 

 these pale gray, irregular areas proved to be liver areas 

 packed with leukocytes (white blood cells) and thrombocytes 

 — an aggravated case of hepatitis (inflammation). 



Another similar case was brought to the laboratory, except 

 that it did not have the history of having been sprinkled 

 with an insect powder. 



Enterohepatitis 



This is a disease of turkeys and to a less ex- 

 tent of other birds, which extends from the in- 

 testine to and involves the liver. It is discussed 

 under diseases of the liver. (See page 85.) 



Unimportant Diseases 



Abscesses and tumors of the liver appear to be 

 very rare in chickens and other fowl. Sarcomas 

 and carcinomas (cancers) of this organ are usu- 

 ally associated with similar tumors of the ovary. 



