ON THE EPIZOOTIC DISEASE AT CHOISI-LE-ROI. 237 
several houses situated in different quarters of the hamlet. During 
the first days of the disease the number of deaths had been very 
considerable, after which period the birds were killed by the owners 
on the occurrence of the first symptoms. In one fowl-yard, of 
eighty cases, one or two alone recovered. Many remedies, amongst 
others bleeding under the wings, had been in vain resorted to. A 
considerable quantity of the diseased fowl had been eaten by the 
inhabitants without any bad effect. 
The causes of this malady appear to me altogether unknown, 
and I saw no reason for supposing it to be contagious. Neverthe- 
less, when a single death occurred in a fowl-yard, the mortality 
only ceased when it had no more victims to destroy. The most 
cleanly poultry feeders suffered as severely as the most filthy. 
The kind of food had no influence on the disease. The fowls at 
large in the streets of Choisi were attacked with equal seve- 
rity with those perpetually confined or occupied in incubation. 
Rabbits , geese , and ducks, however , lived with impunity in the 
same yards where the hens were universally perishing , and three 
turkeys only were affected. 
The disease, generally speaking, commenced in the morning. 
The hens were noticed to be dull and weak, their wings drooping, 
and their crops distended with undigested food. In a few cases 
the disease commenced during the day, and lasted four-and-twenty 
hours. The respiration was short and hurried, the motions of the 
heart accelerated, and diminished in force in proportion to their in- 
crease in velocity. In almost every instance there had been nu- 
merous whitish liquid dejections. The gullet was distended with 
thready mucus, which escaped from the beak. The combs were 
of a livid red colour, and the tint deepened to a violet as death 
drew near. After the disease had lasted from two to five hours, 
convulsions usually finished the sufferings of the animal, and death 
was rapid in proportion to the quantity of the evacuations. In 
many cases I have learned that the coldness of the sick birds was 
very remarkable. A few recoveries were noticed towards the ter- 
mination of the epizootic. As far as I can find out., about five 
hundred fowls died of the disease, or were killed in consequence of 
the development of its symptoms. 
After death the colour of the skin was the same as in fowls 
strangled without being bled. The bodies were warm for at least 
three hours, and the cadaveric rigidity was very remarkable. 
I have taken much pains in seeking for any pathological altera- 
tions which might explain the cause of the disease, but my research 
was quite in vain. The brain was white, and free from congestion. 
The heart was bloodless, and of its usual consistence. The aorta 
VOL. XVIII. K k 
