Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1913-06-06
tuberculosis In Fowls.
Disease Generally Found On
Farms Where Cattle Or dogs
Are Affected.

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Tuberculous fowls are usually found
on premises where the disease 10 pres
ent or has been present In either cat.
tie or hogs. or both. The disease IL
caused by germs or minute vegetable
organism known as the Bacterium
tuberculosis. This organism 10 strict
" parasitic. and does not ind condi.
lions favorable for growth outside Of
The animal body. but II may live In the
soil protected from sunshine for .
number Of years.
The disease or infection may be
transmitted directly from = tubercu-
lous fowl to healthy ones. but II 10 un-
Aoubtedly more frequently spread
through the foodstuffs which arc OBJ
tanned from the droppings Of tubercu-
lous cattle or hogs. The droppings Of
the diseased birds contain the germs
which serve ~ . means Of disseminat.
ing the disease through the entire
1ock.
Some Of the outbreaks have been
brought TO notice through the fading
o6 this disease among cattle and hogs,
1y means Of the tuberculin test.
The general appearance Of the fowls
affected 10 not such 40 would lead one
% suspect that they are sick with
tuberculosis or any other disease. In
some instances the fowls have . very
pale comb and are extremely thin. .
condition which has been popularity
termed going light" By poultry rails
err.
The disease develops slowly among
fowls. a. we'll 40 In other animals, and
after they are noticed to be Ill they
finger for months before they die. BE-
cause of the slowness OF the disease.
and lack Of interest and curiosity con-
corning 1t, this disease has probably
been allowed TO 90 unrecognised BY
aumber Of poultry raisers.
The chief bodily alteration arising
from tuberculosis IL a small. usually
raised spot. varying In size. and rang.
ing from 4 white to yeliowish white
IN color. This constitutes what is
known a. 4 tubercle. The tubercle is
soft At hrst. and Of cheeselike con.
sistency, later 1t becomes hard and
gritty. This can be determined by cut.
ting them with = knife.
In the chicken the liver IL the chief
organ selected ~ the point Of attack.
The liver becomes enlarged and Gov.
cred with small spots or tubercles.
which may be soft or cAlciaed gritty
depending upon the stage Of the dis.
ease. At times the intes<ines may be
covered with tubercles and they may
also be found in the sheetlike tissue
supporting the intestines. The lungs
or lights" are rarely affected.
In order to prevent this disease it
becomes necessary to provide sanitary
surroundings. The hen house or
brooder should be we'll ventilated and
should have plenty of sunshine. The
manure should not be allowed to &C.
cun,ulate in quantity. The interior OF
the house should be whitewashed
twice year. The drinking jars should
be cleansed by boiling and the feed
ing places should be cleaned regularly
When an outbreak appears the
healthy birds should be removed. II
possible. into new quarters, the sicl
ones remaining In the old quarters. I
this is not possible. then the sick fowls
should be separated from the health!
ones and the house should be thor
oughly disinfected. Tuberculous chick
en- carcasses should not be fed t
swine. as the latter may contract tn
disease from the carcasses. Egg
from tuberculous fowls should be cor
sidered as unsafe for food and shout,
not be used unless thoroughly cooked
II tuberculous fowls are placed on tn
market they should be sold subject t
insnection