I 
POULTRY DISEASES 19 
WHITE DIARRHOEA 
*■ . V . ** . « 
CAUSES.—There are two causes of white diarrhoea, one, a bacillary 
01 ni due to a very short, plump, rod-shaped germ (Bacterium pulloruin) with 
ounded ends; and one due to a protozon, (Coccidium tenellum). The 
erm of the bacillary form has been isolated at this station from the liver, 
Pleen, kidneys, and other organs of chicks dead of the disease, and the 
rotozoon of the coccidian form, from the ulcers of the caecum and intestines. 
SYMPTOMS.—The bacillary form is accompanied by droopy wings, 
uffled feathers, sleepiness, a tendency to huddle together, and little or no 
ppetite. The abdominal yolk is not properly absorbed, and the whitish or 
whitish-brown, frothy discharge from the bowel adheres more or less to the 
ent fluff; the eyes are closed part of the time and there is apparently no in- 
Brest in life. The appearance in many is stilty, with abdomen prominent be- 
ind, and they peep much of the time. In these cases, after death, one finds the 
oik unabsorbed, or only partially so, and the intestines are more or less 
ull. Chicks that hatch in late fall, winter or early spring are freer from 
his disease than summer hatched. This may be explained by the fact that 
ens with diseased ovaries gradually become poorer layers as the disease 
rocesses advance, and hence, only lay in late spring or early summer when 
ature intends reproduction of birds. Finally the hen may cease laying 
ltogether. 
In the coccidian form the symptoms as studied by the writer are similar 
00 those of the bacillary form, except that, as a rule, the heavy death rate 
akes place later. 
MODE OF SPREAD.—In the bacillary form the ovaries of laying hens, 
iseased but still functioning, may be infected by the germ. The germ can 
e isolated, particularly from the yolk, of at least some of the eggs formed 
ii such an ovary. The chicks from infected eggs, as a result, have the dis- 
ase more or less developed when hatched, as conditions which favor hatch- 
ig also favor the multiplication of the germs to such an extent that sufficient 
Bxic poisons have already been produced in the young to cause the disease, 
r at least manifest itself within a few hours after hatching. From these 
hicks the whitish, frothy, pasty bowel discharge, more or less sticky and 
with a tendency to paste up the vent, is laden with the germ, and others of 
Ihe flock soon become infected from contaminated food picked up from the 
round. In the bacillary form, chicks may begin to die soon after hatching; 
1 the coccidian form in from three to ten days, a few dying each day. 
The death rate is high, reaching in many cases, 7 5 per cent or more, 
'hose that recover are stunted and do not make satisfactory growth. The 
reatest loss is from the first few days to two or three weeks. It is probable 
tiat the disease carriers are recovered chicks, which have established im- 
lunity, but still carry the organism, especially in the ovary, as typhoid 
arriers among people do in the infected kidneys or bowel ulcers. 
Coccidian form.—The mode of spread of this form is at present prob¬ 
lematical. It is possible that a chronic type occurs in some birds and thus 
erpetuates and scatters the organism. 
POST MORTEM.—In the bacillary form the liver in general is usually 
ale, showing areas of active and passive congestion and cloudy swelling: 
he yolk is only partially absorbed and congestion of the intestines may or 
lay not be present. The kidneys are normal size, but show congestion and 
loudy swelling, and the carcass is more or less pale and emaciated. 
Coccidian form.—Upon post mortem examination the conditions are 
Dund to be similar to the bacillary form, except that there will be noted 
lore or less congestion of the intestinal lining with ulcers in the intestines, 
rincipally the caeca. The caeca appear to be interfered with functionally, 
Bntaining considerable ingesta. Figure 21 shows a transverse section 
irough an ulcerated area. In these areas we find cloudy swelling followed 
y retrogressive changes and death of the cells. The remains of the dead 
Blls forms a cheesy mass. It will be noted in this drawing that only rem- 
