Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-07-30

ton of fowl cholera. In the report oil
the commissioner of agriculture, ID. r.
Salmon, for that year is given par
tial report of the result of the expert
ments. A part of this is as follows:
1T has long been evident'th an ex-
ceedingly fatal contagious disease OF
fowls has become distributed over the
whole country, and that it causes enor-
nous annual losses. This disease is
popularity known as chicken cholera.
A similar, if not identical, malady
causes extensive losses among the poul-
try of Europe. In France this is also
called cholera cholera des pou!es).
Some investigations of it's nature were
made some years ago by NJ. Reynal, anu
quite recently it has been carei"li!
studied by NM. Toussaint and Pasteur'
| AS long ago as December, 1873. com
menced investigation of the epizoot'c
diseases from which fowls were dying.
At first was unfortunate in hXlng my
attention on enzootic diseases evident
ly due to local causes. OF three separate
outbreaks thus investigated not one
| proved to be the result OF inoculaple
diseases. and it was not till July, 1881,
that succeeded in obtaining virus OF
what is undoubtedly the true chicken
cholera, by which so many fowls are
swept away. This disease existed at
the house of Mr.. R. NJ. Miller, who IN
formed me that he had lost on his farm
nearly five hundred chickens from II
during the year. At the time OF my
visit his Plymouth Rocks, which he
kept at his house in the city, were sui
fering. l at once inoculated two spring
chickens with excrement from living
sick birds. and with blood, bile and
= pieces of liver from the dead ones.
After five days they were still perfect
ly we'll. The French investigators hav-
ing determined that death occurs with
in three or four days after incubation.
and most frequently within twenty-four
hours, l had nearly concluded that our
chicken cholera was not an inoculable
disease, but in order to be absolutely
certain requested Mr.. Miller to allow
me to bring a hen in the first stages
. of the diseases to my own farm. more
than one hundred miles away. and on
:, which no contagious disease had ever
, existed. This he consented to do, and it
was with virus obtained from this bird
. that my experiments were made. The
disease proved to be inoculable, and the
period of incubation so much longer
than with infection as it exists in
France as to explain why the chickens
inoculated at Charlotte did not sicken.
l have not learned If they contracted
the disease later. as l was unable to
- bring them with me-"
Here follows the relation in detail
=. of the various experiments in which
about ninety-five fowls were inoculated
He found that the disease required a
d, much longer time for incubation than
= in Europe, varying from six days to two
!, weeks. 1t was also found that germs
were not carried by air, but that the
y usual way in which farm fowls are in
'. oculated is by means Of the excrement
- and food. The hens that recovered from
the disease seemed to be proof against
= subsequent attacks. He also finds that
some birds will not take the disease
at all, and from his experiments draws
Is the conclusions that II one hundred
n birds are inoculated seventy-five would
n die, seven would take the disease ant
10 recover and eighteen would resist TIL
l. disease altogether. This ratio is no
r fixed, since some of the groups of fowl
1t showed a greater number of susceptible
t. birds than other groups, and this diff
le ference was evidently due to the man
d. ner in which they had been previousl.
IN handled by their owners. What thes
I'd differences were Is not known. In col
Is weather the fowls are more susceptible
a to the disease than at other times. w
es again quote the commissioner:
1T is demonstrated by these expert
e: ments that we have in the United State
Us a contagious and fnoculable disease q
IN fowls. popularity known as chicken chol
ns era; that this disease is characterize
by a yellow or even greenish colora
II. ton Of that part Of the excrement this
OF is separated from the blood by the kit
neys; by elevation of temperature, Ell
10 largement and softening of the live
~" congestion or Inflammation of the inte
tines and mesentary; by diarrhe
sleepiness, dropping, and early dealt
-. The germs of this disease are probabl
spread through the excrement, and al
taken into the body through the foe
inspired air. Unclean habitations col
cts vey the disease nine days at least aft
he the last case Of sickness. Sometim
is the bird dies within twenty-four hou
ne. after the first yellow celebration of Il
ear urates and when but one or two liqu
ap- objections have occurred. In 9th
in cases life is prolonged three, four
ing Ave days, and occasionally for even tv
ten weeks. The crop is generally distend
es; with food and loses the ability to for
wn this onward to be digested. In me
at cases the birds are very thirs
uld throughout the whole duration Of t
Sc disease. Sometimes, however. I
the thirst is not more than normal, and
Of few cases the birds scarcely drink
the all-Farmers' Review.