A. E. Hamerton—Diseases of Aviary Birds



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and more extensively inflamed, and deep red in colour ; the mucosa is

intensely congested and haemorrhagic, with patches of denudation,

sloughing, or ulceration, and a blood-stained exudate, or even blood,

may fill the lumen of the gut. Both conditions are frequently associated

with secondary inflammation of the pancreas and gall bladder, viscosity

of bile, and changes in the liver associated with biliary stasis.


Local ulcers of the gizzard and intestine are not uncommon,

and are frequently caused by the irritation of a foreign body, usually

a piece of wire, which may perforate the walls of the alimentary canal

and cause fatal peritonitis. Idiopathic peptic ulcers occasionally occur

in the gizzard, but more commonly in the duodenum near the entrance

of the pancreatic ducts, and may cause death by perforation,

haemorrhage, or secondary septic processes in pancreas or liver.

Intestinal obstruction and ulceration caused by impaction of chalk-like

concretions of excreta (urates, etc.) in the cloaca, and secondary fatal

septicaemia is a condition to which birds in captivity are liable. In

small birds much the same effect may be produced externally by

stoppage of the vent, due to the accumulation of hardened faecal material

on the surrounding feathers.


Little can be done in London in the way of preventing the respiratory

diseases, for they are climatic in origin, and associated with the presence

of fog, atmospheric impurities, cold weather, and stuffy, dusty rooms.

Much, however, can be done in reducing the mortality from intestinal

diseases, for they, like mycosis and tuberculosis, are to a great extent

filth diseases engendered in cages with dirty perches, sides, and bottoms,

dirty feeding utensils, and feeding with stale food. Wholesome, fresh

food, cleanliness, and the use of disinfectants are the remedies. Troubles

arising from constipation and over-feeding can sometimes be recognized

during life, and successfully treated with household remedies.


(3) Specific Infections, the cause of which is definitely known, and can

easily be determined by simple laboratory methods, viz. : Tuberculosis

(avian) ; and mycosis. It is of interest to recall that tuberculosis of

birds was first recognized by Bland Sutton when working in the

Prosectorium of the London Zoological Gardens in 1884. His material

was examined by Drs. Gibbs and Klein, then the accepted authorities

on tubercle bacilli in London. At first the disease was regarded as



