The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-09-18
Chicken Cholera.

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fowls. affecting any or all the organs OF
the digestive apparatus, 'and due to a
certain bacillus, or fungus, which the
birds receive either in their food or
from the droppings of other affected
fowls.
The disease seems to affect all fowls.
Some suffer more severely than Others
but it may safely be said that none are
immune. Probably chickens are the
most readily affected, and the disease
runs in them a severe course. Ihe
higher bred birds, which are the Mi
norcas, Light Brahmas, Barred Ply
mouth Rocks, and the Wyandottes,
succumb most readily. A serious mis-
take of chicken fanciers is in-breeding
their stock too closely. The practice
produces birds which will contract any
disease or ailment to which poultry are
heirs
The causes of chicken cholera are
predisposing. or are active The pre-
disposing causes may be said to be ex
posture to the disease, close breeding,
confinement in unhealthful houses,
roup, continued diet of unspecitic
food, and lack of exercise. While
the predisposing causes do not OF them
selves introduce the cholera germ into
the system. they render the fowl SO
susceptible that it is ready to receive
and to assimilate any poison.
The active cause of chicken cholera
is the Introduction of the germ into the
system. The period of incubation,
however, varies considerably The
common fowl will keep perfectly well
long time, while the beautiful Minor
ca or the Lang.shang will succumb in
few days. Once established, the dis
ease runs rapid course.
Chicken cholera is most common in
southern countries, particularly where
there is rainy season. The fowls are
continually pend up, they get little or
IU CAtTClSC4 anu biCti 'ood oSSoLANo
damp and musty. In winter, in cold
climates, when the poultry is housed
during a snow-siorm, their food snoud
be buried so that they will get suffici-
cient exercise by scratching fer it, and
1t should be scattered about in clean
hay or straw. With the first svsmptom
of cholera the chicken steals off by it.
self, or remains in the hennery after
the other chickens have gone out. 1t
will try to isolate itself completely. If
food be brought to it it will eat, but it
will not mingle with the flock. The
birds eyes grow dull and listless: the
comb has dull, purplish tinge gradu-
ally becoming gray. The plumage is
dull and ruffled. If the fowl be lifted,
it is startling to note its lightness. On
the second or third day diarrhoea be-
gins, which gradually becomes gray in
color. 1t is singular fact that hen
affected with cholera is invariably COW
cred with lice. Some writers declares
that chicken cholera is only a comb
nation of lice and indigestion.
The vermin are doubtless a means of
spreading the contagion, and, as the
fowl has not the strength TO resist
them, they make combined attack on
the sick bird.
The disease will run for three or four
DAYS before the relief of death. In some
cases the diarrhoea will abate at the
end~of the second day. and the bird
will be on the high road to recovery;
but not until it is practically well will
it reioin the flock. Then again the
disease may come on more quickly and
be more violent. During an outbreak
of cholera 1t is not uncommon to see
the entire flock perfectly well in the
morning, and at least one-fourth of the
number dead by night.
The treatment of chicken dholera
must he preventive rather than curat-
i've. As soon as sick bird is discov-
cred 1t must ue removed from the flock;
or. better still, the healthy birds should
he removed. The cholera germs are
likely to be everywhere in the chicken
house. and insects are the most CON-
mon carriers When the flock has been
removed examine the food carefully
and feed only what you are sure is the
best quality. Add five drops of creo-
sote. of carbolic acid, to one quart OF
boiled water, and do not allow the