Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-28
Prevention Of Fowl Cholera.

Although the cholera Of fowls is
an exceedingly virulent and fatal dis
ease, destroying vast numbers Of
birds of different species, and remain
ing on premises for years after being
once introduced, we are satisfied, after
a long series of experiments, that
there are points in its natural history
which enable us 10 control it with
comparative ease and with a consid-
cradle degree OF certainty. These
points are:
|. The utrits IL not diBusibie.-That
is, the disease germs are seldom If
ever taken up by the air and carried
any considerable distance to produce
the maIady. The virus remains in
the fixed form, and is generally, if not
always, taken into the body with the
food it is distributed over the
grounds, feeding places, etc, in the
eNcrement Of affected birds, and the
food, drink and gravel are thus con-
taminated. Healthy birds may be
kept in coops within few feet Of the
sick ones for months without CON
tracing the disease; but If the former
are now placed in the same Enclosure
with the latter they sicken III few
days.
2. The rirus NUT be curricd upon
he gromds frequented By fo,rks Jetorc
they contract me dscdsc.-It is not
probable that this disease originates,
in any considerable number OF cases.
IN any other way than by coutagion.
There is possibility that it may
originate in occasional instances by
filthy surroundings if closely conGn-
ed, or by feeding on dccomposing
substances but there are few facts
10 support such a conclusion, and it
appears certain that in the vast ma.
jority Of cases the disease is import
ed and kept up 10y cuntagion alone.
It's thus brought upon farms either
N) with sick or infected fowls newly
acquitted. t2) with The blood or parts
of the bodies of dead birds carried on
the feet of people or brought hy dogs
or other animals, (3) with infected
manure or feathers. or G) by Wild
birds, animals (rabbit-J. or even in
scots that have contracted the disease
or have eaten the blood OF bodies OF
affected birds recently dead. The
origin Of the disease can generally bc
traced in country di,t-icts, where
houses a:v CgHsI!gias.y distance
apart, to recc"tly acquired poultry.
II IS only IN district, more thickly
pcoplcd, AMI then IN exceptional in
stances, that the germs nrc carried hy
Wild birds at amin al ur hy insects.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES TrR GROUNDS
ALREADY INYECTLp.
!. IL tie dl.r,'sc cdp',ga Fowl.
frequently die in considerable mum.
bers from diseases that are not con.
'ngluus, aud hence it is matter OF
primary importance TO decide a. 10
lac nature Of the affection when chol.
era is suspected. In my oan expc.
ricBcc ! have found that this might
he done with comparative certainty
hy inspection of the cxcrcments
With fowls the cxcrclions Of the
Kidneys are joined in the cloaca viii,
The nndlgcSted parts OF the food. and
both solid and liquid cxcremcnt are
constantly voided together. They
are not mixed to any great extent.
however; the part cxcrctcd hy the
kidneys is easily distinguished, as
during health it is Of a pure white
color, while the bowel discharges are
of various hnes. The kidney cxcre.
ton will be hereafter referred to as
The uraies, and it is the only part
which claims our attention.
Aftcr a fowl takes the contapion
into its body the first and only relia.
bic symptom is a coloration of the
urates. AT first these have only n
faint yellow tint, which rapidly
changes, however, into n deep yellow
color; un to this time the bird shows
no other signs of the disease. its TEN.
pcrature is unchanged and its excre-
ment of normal consistency. In one
or more days after this yellow color
appears the urates are greatly in.
creased in quantity and constitute
tue whole or greater part of the
discharges and an obstinate diarrhna
sets in; in few cases the urates now
become greenish, and exceptionally
they are of deep green color.
The only lesion seen in post.mor.
tenn examinations that is likely 10
attract The attention OF non-profes.
sional observers is the enlarged liver.
which Is nearly constantly may be
OF various shades of color. Besides
this the presence of yellow urates In
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