18 
W. L. WILLIAMS. 
its breathing becomes quick and labored, the month being held 
wide open. The comb and wattles show inarked but variable 
changes, becoming either very dark bine, cyanotic, chiefly in fat 
fowls, as a mark of asphyxia, or of a pale whitish color in the 
poorer ones, as a result of extreme anaemia. In all cases these 
parts are much reduced in size, as they are essentially sexual 
attributes, and diminish in size with the decadence of sexual 
powers, which supervenes early in the affection. 
In adult birds it usually runs a somewhat chronic course, 
extending over several days, not infrequently two or three weeks, 
and in some cases a like number of months. In some cases 
there may be remissions of the disease, continuing severely for 
some days or weeks, then abating for a time, to almost surely 
appear later. It is fatal in nearly every case. Birds two months 
to one year old are rarely attacked, bitt well-marked cases have 
been observed. Sex has an apparently well-marked influence, 
so that while the disease existed in the Experimental Station 
yards it was almost impossible to keep breeding cocks, and so 
far as I can learn these suffer most. 
Breed has little influence, the heavy Asiatic varieties appar¬ 
ently suffering somewhat more severely. The disease occurs 
chiefly during rainy months, either in fall or spring. 
The post-mortem appearances vary somewhat, but are char¬ 
acterized chiefly by enteritis and peritonitis. 
The enteritis is of a disseminated character, extending 
throughout the greater extent of the intestines, but affecting 
most intensely the posterior portions of the bowels, the mucous 
membrane suffering chiefly, extending to the other intestinal 
coats if the enteritis is very severe. The mucous membrane is 
swollen, reddened and gives a general injected appearance to 
the entire affected bowel. The intestinal contents in the in¬ 
flamed portions are thin, yellow or yellowish white, and stringy. 
The mucous membrane is covered over with a considerable 
amount of slimy mucous. 
The peritonitis, when present, is diffuse, the peritoneum of a 
reddish or dirty gray color, the peritoneal cavity more or less 
