POULTRY DISEASES 
21 
that it gives in diarrhoea in colts and calves. Instructions were given to 
fumigate the incubators and the nursery trays with formaldehyde gas, as 
recommended under “chicken cholera,” before filling with eggs. 
After the chicks were hatched they were not to receive any feed for 4 8 
to 72 hours as the yolk contained in their abdominal cavity will furnish food 
for that length of time, and an engorgement of the intestines might interfere 
with its absorption by pressing on the absorbing vessels. The following dilu¬ 
tion was kept before them from the time of hatching to four weeks of age, 
and then given twice a week for the next few weeks: One of the 30 grain 
sulphocarbolates tablets as used for fowl cholera, and bichloride of mercury, 
6 grains; and citric acid 3 grains. This quantity was dissolved in a gallon of 
water. The result was that 8 0 per cent of the next hatch was saved. The 
problem of obtaining the proper solution seemed a serious one. It was 
finally solved by the Abbott Alkaloidal Company, who kindly made up a 
quantity of the tablets, each containing the above proportions of ingredients 
for this experiment. 
OTHER DISEASES OF THE INTESTINAL TRACT 
ARSENICAL POISONING.—We have had cases brought to our atten¬ 
tion in which birds became poisoned by eating poisoned grasshoppers. In 
these cases the grasshoppers were given arsenic in bran. The birds devour¬ 
ing large numbers of grasshoppers, became ill, and many died. The symptoms 
were dullness, loss of appetite, black comb, sitting, moping and unsteady gait. 
The birds must have been in considerable pain although they did not show 
it, but birds do not manifest pain as most other animals do. The autopsies 
showed the livers to be normal, except a trifle dark. There were no notice¬ 
able changes in the other abdominal organs except the intestinal tract. Upon 
opening the intestines there were noted patches of hemorrhage and areas of 
congestion and inflammation. 
PTOMAIN POISONING.—In one flock there were 24 hens. A can of 
spoiled corn, that had been left sitting in the basement in a glass container 
with top removed, was given to the birds at 11 o’clock, and at 6 o’clock five 
were dead. At 2 p. m. next day, thirteen were dead and three more showing 
symptoms of poisoning. A flock of small chicks with the old hen, as well as 
three sitting hens that had not eaten any of the corn, were not in any way 
affected. There was no visible evidence of great pain, as spasms were absent. 
The birds had, at first, an unsteady gait with incoordination of movement. 
Prostration came quickly. The comb turned black. In some cases diarrhoea 
appeared with occasionally a small amount of blood. The birds lay on the 
ground in a relaxed condition, with head and neck curled over toward the 
breast, but not rigid. Whenever they were disturbed, they made a struggle. 
Death occurred in a few hours. 
At post mortem the crop and gizzard contained some corn of a sour odor. 
The only tissue change noted was a congestion of the intestines, liver and 
kidneys (active and passive congestion and cloudy swelling). This condition 
is often due to rotten meat or other food stuffs and is called “limber neck.” 
As a remedy, give a tablespoonful of castor oil and one-fifth grain doses 
of sulphate of strychnine, the latter every 4 to 6 hours. 
TYMPANY OF THE CROP.—Birds sometimes have enormously dis¬ 
tended crops, which, upon examination, are found to be filled with gas. This 
condition often affects young chicks as well as older birds. It is due to a gas 
forming germ. 
As a remedy, give intestinal antiseptics, such as 1 to 500 carbolic acid; 
1 to 10,000 bichloride of mercury; or sulphocarbolates compound as recom¬ 
mended in diarrhoea. 
CROP BOUND, OR OBSTRUCTION OF THE CROP.—This is due to 
foreign bodies, such as hog bristles, small feathers, straw, etc., closing the 
opening of the crop to the proventriculus, or stomach. A case came to the 
laboratory which may be of interest to the readers of this bulletin. Two 
incubator chicks, just old enough to begin to feather out, had been given 
