Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1913-11-22
Contagious Cafarrk of Fowls; ROup

The affections of fowls that give
the poultry raiser most concern,
especially during the fall and win
ter are those showing catarrhal
manifestations in the head. Two
kinds of catarrh may be recogniz-
ed-the simple form. or common
cold, and the contagious form,
also known as roup. This latter is
distinguished from another dis
ease sometimes called roup, but
more properly designated diph-
iberia because of it's character
istic membranous exudate in the
mouth, says u. s. Department of
Agriculture's "Weekly News Let
ter"
Simple catarrh is a common
disease of the air passages and is
associated with improper housing
that permits n damp atmosphere
and undue exposure to drafts dur
ing cold, wet weather. Weak stock
or poorly nourished birds are
more likely to be affected by
these conditions than strong,
vigorous well-fed individuals. The
affected fowls are more or less
dull, their appetites are diminish
ed, breathing becomes difficult,
and a thin watery discharge that
later becomes viscid escapes from
the nostrils or mouth.
1t is usually only necessary 70
remove the cause of the condl-
ton to bring about recovery. In
severe cases the mouth and nos
trils should be washed out once
or twice daily with 3 per cent Dor
acic acid or / per cent creoln So
luton.
Contagious catarrh or roup is
an infectious disease of great eco
nomic importance because OF its
wide distribution and the usual
severity of its attack. Briefly
stated, it's symptoms are a sud-
den and sever cold, with in
creased temperature of the head,
generally diarrhea and extreme
debility. In very acute cases
death may ensue within few
days after the bird is observed to
be sick. Usually the bad cases
linger for a week or more and
show progressively increasing
symptoms. The secretions, in
stead of remaining fluid as in
simple catarrh. become thick, pu-
rulent, or cheesy, and may obstruct
the nasal passages, causing the
mouth to be kept open to faclli-
tate breathing. The inflammation
may extend to the eye, and the
resulting secretion accumnlates
obstructing vision and occasional
ly forcing the eyeball from its
socket. The fowl becomes ema-
ciated, sleepy, and unconscious,
strength is soon exhausted, and
death follows. Milder cases may
assume a more chronic form, symp-
toms being apparent up to six
weeks or longer, when recovery
may follow; or fowls may be more
or less sick for several years,
acute attacks developing when the
vitality is lowered as a result of
cold and dampness or other I'M
favorable conditions. 1t is these
chronic cases tnat serve as car
riers of infection and furnish the
source of new outbreaks.
Roup spreads rapidly through a
flock, affecting a large percent
age of the birds and causing the
death of variable proportion
according to the virulence OF the
contagion. Young birds are espe-
cially susceptible, the mortality
reaching 95 per cent at times;
adult birds frequently recover.
Medical treatment may be un-
dertaken with good chances of
success. One of the best methods
is to plunge the fowls head into
vessel containing az per cent
solution of permanganate of pot
ash and hold ii there for half a
minute. By this method the lin
ing membrane of tne nostrils and
mouth is thoroughly bathed by the
solution. Previous to the above
treatment any secretions which
have dried over the nasal open
ings should be removed. Affect
ed eyes will respond rapidly to
argyrol in Is per cent solution.
One or two drops should be placed
in each eye twice daily. At the
beginning of an outbreak the en-