95 



LIVE STOCK. 



Poultry Notes, 



By G. W. Sturgess, m.r.c.v.s. 



DISEASES OP POULTRY. 

 (Continued.) 



Consumption, —or Avian Tuberculosis, commonly known as "Going Light" 

 amongst fanciers. This disease is closely related to the tuberculosis or consumption 

 in man, and is caused by the Bacillus Tuberculosis. It is common in poultry and 

 attacks all kinds of birds. 



The digestive tract is generally affected, probably due to picking up infective 

 material, such as food or water soiled by the dung of diseased birds, or the sputum 

 of human beings. On postmortem examination the liver, spleen and intestines are 

 generally found to be the seat of the principal lesions. 



Small white or greyish yellow spots or tubercles like seeds are seen spread 

 over the surface of the organ affected- These may be cheesy or gritty if cut through. 

 They may be found on all the organs and membranes in the abdominal cavity includ- 

 ing the oviduct and ovaries. The lymph glands and joints may also be diseased. 



Symptoms.— Feebleness, debility, emaciation, loss of appetite, or on the 

 contrary a voracious appetite, the bird eating a great deal Avliieh does not seem to 

 do it any good. Usually there is liver derangement and diarrhoea — paleness of the 

 comb and wattles— in general a gradual wasting away. 



Treatment is useless and a waste of money. Diseased fowls are unfit for 

 breeding or for food, and the best plan is to destroy them. 



Fresh stock should be given better food and healthy surroundings and pure 

 water ; close confinement and bad hygienic surroundings are powerful predisposing 

 causes of the disease. 



Cramp is more commonly seen in chickens than in older fowls. It is princi- 

 pally due to cold or damp ; keeping chickens on a cold cement floor may cause it. 

 It sometimes occurs where chickens are kept too warm and over fed. 



Symptoms.— Stiffness and weakness of the legs, which may become so stiff 

 that the bird cannot stand up on its feet and moves along on the hocks. Hens 

 occasionally get cramp in the back and cannot stand. 



Treatment.— Hot flannels to the limbs and gentle rubbing and the application 

 of a little turpentine and camphor liniment. Dry earth or dust should be given the 

 birds to stand upon. Internally salicylic acid and Epsom salts may be given twice 

 a day. 



The food should be soft with plenty of green food. Attention should be 

 directed to the remainder of the birds and proper air, light, exercise and food given. 

 Runs should be dry. If the attack is at all severe recovery seldom take place. 



Crop Bound.— This term indicates a condition in which the crop is over- 

 gorged and distended to such an extent as to be incapable of passing on the food it 

 contains. 



It may be due to overeating dry grain which swells, but is usually due to 

 irregular feeding and giving a lot of food at one time, or it may be due to som,e, 

 obstruction to the outlet of the crop. 



