24 
W. L. WILLIAMS. 
fected birds, this would facilitate the escape or expulsion of the 
parasites. Experimentally the parasites are readily transplanted 
and multiply rapidly. For this purpose we make an incision 
between the last two ribs as if for caponizing and introduce the 
parasites in salt solution by means of a dropper. 
The constantly increasing importance of our poultry in¬ 
dustry suggests the need of a more extended study of this 
parasite. It seems possible that at any time the parasite may 
attain a wide and serious distribution in various parts of the 
United States, and that poultry breeders should consequently be 
on their guard. 
No treatment of a reliable kind has yet been found, and in 
fact in the present state of our knowledge any attempt at indi¬ 
vidual treatment is dangerous except in properly controlled ex¬ 
periments. Eike other maladies due to the invasion of numer¬ 
ous animal parasites, an apparently sound bird may conceal in¬ 
numerable mites and act thereby as a centre of infection in new 
flocks into which it may come. 
The only profitable measures at present consist in the exter¬ 
mination of affected flocks and the careful disinfection of houses 
and yards. So far as we are able to judge, the killing of all 
birds in the flock, thorough cleansing of habitations and leaving 
them unoccupied for perhaps ninety days, afltords our safest and 
most economical means for eradication. The refilling of poultry 
yards offers a renewal of danger which may be effectively met 
by the use of the incubator. This appliance, whatever may be 
said of its demerits and eccentricities, constitutes the poultry 
raisers safe, convenient and impassable barrier against this, as 
well as numerous other dangerous parasites. This method does 
not involve a complete change in stock and the throwing away 
of valuable results already attained in breeding. The eggs for 
artificial incubation may be safely taken from the infected flock, 
hatched and kept widely apart from the old birds, until when 
enough have been obtained the parent stock is destroyed, their 
habitations disinfected and the fresh uncontaminated young 
stock ot the same lineage is ready to take their places. 
