Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-03
CHICKEN CHOLERA.
4 Deadly Disease Which Can he Prevene.
ed without Much Trouble.

Fowl cholera destroys every year at
least fifteen million dollars worth of
poultry. The greater part of this sum
is direct offering to the idol of filth.
While cholera is one of the most deadly
of all chicken diseases, it is one of the
easiest to prevent, and sin prevention
lies the cure" The deadly nature of
the disease has attracted the attention
of scientists and its features have been
carefully studied.
Much is now positively known of it,
and the causes tina. lead to its intro
duction, and the preyentives are plain
and simple. There can be no doubt
that the germs of this disease are gen.
Grated by filth. 1t can be carried from
place to place by sick fowls, birds,
rabbits or insects. Where it finds d
flock of hens weakened by filthy sur
roundings, impure food, or the ravages
of lice. it is far more apt to fasten it
self. The germs of the disease are
taken into the system through the
mouth. These germs are contained in
the eXcrement. the muscles. and the
animal juices of the body. The vital
ity of the germs is not destroyed for
thirty-six hours after death, and coopS.
Or other places where sick fowls are
confined, convey the disease at least
week. The virus is destroyed by So
luton of carbolic acid, by sulphuric
acid, or by very high temperature
maintained for twenty minutes. These
fact have been demonstrated by exc
pertinent, and they point to the only
reliable treatment for the disease-the
germs must be destroyed about all
places where the fowls could possibly
eat or drink.
The symptoms of the disease have
been described time and again, vet
there are still hundreds of farmers who
do not know the plague when it comes.
When it is in the neighborhood extra
prccaution will of course be taken.
Most of the hens on farms run at large
and can not be watched as carefully as
they should be. believe it would be
money in the pocket of every farmer
to keep the hens in yards. When chol-
era is near and the hens begin to get
sleepy and dull and to NOPE about, it
is time to begin active operations.
There are many characteristic symp.
toms that can not escape the eye of
close observer. The gait of the fowl
becomes unsteady, the comb changes
in color and the bird appears stupid.
There is always diarrhGa, the eXre-
ment being yellowish at first, changing
to greenish color. This celebration is
due to the urates which are contained
in the eXcrement from the kidneys.
The birds are generally thirsty, though
this is by no means a fixed symptom.
Should there be any doubt as to the
disease, an examination of dead bird
will soon settle the matter. The liver
il always greatly enlarged and very
soft. 1t is of dark-green color and
full of blood. The intestines are in-
famed and the crop is full of sour food.
When the existence of cholera be-
comes certain not an hour should be
lost in treatment. 1t is not simply the
question of losing the whole flock; the
disease germs are found all through the
birds; it can not be that the eggs are
free from the disease; surely the meat
of the chicken is not, and it is not
pleasant to think of taking these dis
ease germs as food.
The surest way to check the disease
when it once obtains foothold in the
flock is to kill the affected hens ana
bury them with quick lime; or, better
still, burn or boil them. The disease
can sometimes be removed. when taken
in its earliest stages; but there is no
''sure cure for it. as it appears upon
the average farm. l have known
chickens to be relieved by a strong dose
of pepper and warm nest by the fire:
but where the disease has firmly esta5-
lished itself ordinary remedies will do
no good, and the treatment is risky
business. The papers are full of So
called 'cures," and many of them will
do good if the disease is in mild form
and the medicine is administered at the
very first symptoms. With the badly
diseased birds out of the way, those
that appear well should be removed, if
possible, from their old quarters and
given new run. A few drops of
carbolic acid in a quart of water mixed
with their feed, or alum water. or COM
mon baking soda and water, used for
the same purpose, will generally bring
them through. They must be watched.
however, and every sick fowl instantly
removed. With absolutely clean sur
roundings and the proper use Of disin-
fectants the disease germs can be kept
at bay.
The meaning of the word "clean"
seems to differ with different persons;
what is "clean enough for hens" to
one man is mass of filth to another.
Where hens are confined to yards (and
they should be when profit is desired),
the ground should be spaded frequently
and the drinking vessels washed on
every other day. Most grain food is
best fed on the ground, where the hens
may scratch and exercise themselves in
eating it. A disinfectant consisting of
one ounce of sulphuric acid to one gal.
lon of water, sprinkled and sprayed
about the yard, house and roosts at in
tervals will prove more valuable than
the treatment of sick birds. The man
who makes poultry-keeping business
will be sure to attend to these matters,
for they represent the quantity and
quality of his bread and butter. The
great trouble with the ordinary farmer