Fowl Fever. 



357 



-dairy produce and other perishable goods, as well as the 

 inspection of the sources of milk supply, should be made 

 compulsory. 



Other subjects included improved methods of distribu- 

 tion, the refutation of allegations made in England as regards 

 the export of diseased meat from the Colonies, and the 

 reduction in freight on the importation of live stock. 



Fowl Fever [Enteritis). 



In a pamphlet issued by the Congested Districts Board for 

 Ireland it is stated that fowl enteritis, commonly known as 

 " Hen Fever," or Fowl Disease," is a deadly dirt-born 

 disease. The germ of the disease reaches the ground in the 

 droppings of sick birds. It reproduces itself rapidly in dirty 

 pools, puddles, and manure heaps, and thence it is carried 

 about on the feet of passers by, or by animals of the farm. 

 The smallest particle of the droppings of sick fowls may 

 produce thousands of poisonous germs, and it is only by 

 swallowing one of these germs that fowl fever can be pro- 

 duced. Ducks and geese are not liable to this disease, but 

 turkeys and pigeons are, and it affects all ordinary barndoor 

 fowls, irrespective of their breed or of their vigour of con- 

 stitution. 



The first signs of sickness are observable three or four days, 

 not longer, after the disease germs have been swallowed. 

 They are indicated by a tired sickly appearance, staggering 

 walk, ruffled feathers, the comb and wattles sometimes turning 

 black, great thirst, and constant droppings of the consistency 

 and colour of fluid mustard ; these last two symptoms are always 

 present, even if the first mentioned are not observable. In 

 severe cases the bird will die within twelve hours after the 

 symptoms appear, but the usual course of the fever occupies 

 =three days. 



There is no remedy that can be relied on to cure a bird 

 suffering from this disease. The best course is at once to 

 •destroy any bird attacked ; and as the disease germs are 



