THE AIR SAC MITE OF THE FOWL 
1'9 
filled with a dirty brownish serosity, usually turbid. This peri¬ 
tonitis does not appear to be a sequel to the enteritis by ex¬ 
tension of the inflammatory process through the intestinal walls, 
but rather the direct effect of the same factor which induces the 
enteritis. The liver is usually somewhat enlarged and pale in 
color. The heart, kidneys, gizzard and anterior portions of 
digestive canal are normal. The lungs are in some cases in¬ 
flamed and hepatized ; the bronchi, too, are not seldom the seat 
of some irritation, causing a mucous discharge from the 
nostrils. 
To these we add the actual presence of the parasites in great 
numbers in the air sacs and their dependencies. They are so 
large as to be readily recognized by the unaided eye if a proper 
search be made. They are found chiefly in the air sacs within 
the abdomen, and are readily seen as small, partly transparent, 
glistening, white or yellowish white globular bddies like fine 
grains of meal, adhering either singly or in groups almost count¬ 
less, to the fine, thin, transparent bladder-like walls of the air 
reservoirs ; more readily still are they seen upon the smooth, 
dark surface of the liver or kidneys, the dark background mak¬ 
ing the white parasite conspicuous. The parasite is readily 
lifted from its position on the point of a knife or pin, and can 
be examined on a piece of glass or a smooth black surface, where, 
if w^atched, its movements may be observed without the aid of a 
microscope. 
CASES. 
No. I. A two-year-old partridge Cochin hen, property of the 
Experiment Station, became unwell early in March, 1895, was 
noticed to be somewhat dull, laid no eggs, her comb became a 
dark bluish purple, as though the bird was partly asphyxiated, 
the anal feathers were matted together with yellowish, glutinous, 
stringy, diarrhoeic faeces. If made to move, she at once began 
to breathe rapidly and heavily, the mouth being held wide open 
to facilitate respiration. 
The hen was destroyed April 5th by bleeding and an au¬ 
topsy made at once. The body was found very fat. All inter- 
