132 POULTRY DISEASES 



times results in a rupture of the wall. When this 

 occurs the usual sequel is peritonitis (iiiflamma- 

 tion of the serous lining of the abdominal cavity) 

 and the death of the bird. Disease processes 

 sometimes so weaken the wall that it gives way 

 under the stress of natural contraction. 



Symptoms. — The hen ceases to lay, the abdomen 

 becomes larger and often one or more eggs can 

 be felt by palpating the lower portion of the ab- 

 domen. Often the hen is noted to sit up penguin- 

 like-fashion, walking with tail and posterior por- 

 tion of the abdomen dragging the ground. There 

 is nothing to do except to kill the bird. At au- 

 topsy there will be found many yolks in the abdo- 

 minal cavity, possibly one or more with shells 

 and possibly an inflammation of the lining of the 

 cavity (peritoneum). 



Broken Eggs in Oviduct 



Eggs in the oviduct, as well as ova still unde- 

 livered, are often found broken as a result of a 

 kick of a large animal or of the hen being stepped 

 upon. Death usually follows, if not immediately 

 from the injury, which breaks the egg, after sev- 

 eral days as a result of complicated obstruction 

 of the oviduct resulting from the fibrous exudate 

 thrown out aboiit the broken yolk. 



We have also studied cases of ruptured ova due 

 to heavy hens roosting on high roosts and by 

 jumping upon the hard floor, causing rupture of 

 the larger forming yolks or ova or of eggs in the 

 egg canal. 



Prolapse of the Cloaca 



This may occur in heavy laying hens that, roost 

 on high perches and fly a long distance to the 



