Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-15
DAILY HINTS ON
FARM TOPICS

Contagious Catarrh of Fowls.

The affections of fowls that give
the poultry raiser most concern, es-
pecially during the fall and winter
are those showing catarrhal manifea
tations In the head. Two kinds Of
catarrh may be recognized-the sim.
RE form or common cold. and the
contagious form, also known as roup
This latter Is distinguished from an.
ether disease sometimes called 'roupr
but more properly designated diph-
iberia because of its characteristic
membranous eXudate In the mouth.
Simple catarrh is a common dis
ease of the air passages and Is asso-
riated with improper housing that
permits a damp atmosphere and un.
due exposure or drafts during cold
weather. Weak stock or poorly
nourished birds are more likely to
be affected by these conditions thar
strong. vigorous, well-fed individuals
The affected fowls are more or lesi
full. their appetites are diminished,
breathing becomes difficult. and
thin watery discharge that later be-
comes viscid escapes from the nos
trils or mouth.
II is usually only necessary to re-
move the cause of the condition ia
bring about recovery. In severe
cases the mouth and nostrils should
10 washed out once or twice daily
with per cent boracic acid or l pei
cent creolin solution.
Contagious catarrh or roup Is ar
infectious disease Of great economic
Importance because of its wide dis
tribution and the usual severity OF
It's attack. Briefly stated, its symp'
toms are a sudden and severe cold
with increased temperature Of the
head, generally diarrhoea and ex.
treme debility. In very acute casei
death may ensue within a few days
after the bird 10 observed to be SICK
Usually the bad cases linger for
week or more and show progressive
" increasing symptoms. The secre
lions, instead of remaining fluid as In
simple catarrh, become thick, puru.
lent, or cheesy, and may obstruct the
nasal passages, causing the mouth tc
be kept open to vacilitate breathing.
The inflammation may extend to the
eyes, and the resulting secretion &C.
cumula:es, obstructing vision and
occasionally forcing the eyeballs
from its socket. The fowl becomes
emaciated. sleepy, and unconscious,
strength Is soon exhausted, and death
follows. Milder cases may assume
more chronic form, symptoms being
apparelSt UP to six weeks or longer,
when recovery may follow; or fowls
may be more or less sick for several
years, acute attacks developing wlen
the vitality is lowered as a result OF
cold and dampness or other unfavor-
able conditions It is these chronic
cases that serve ~ carriers Of in
lection and furnish the source OF new
outbreaks.
Roup spreads rapidly through a
flock, affecting large percentage ot
the birds and causing the death Of a
variable proportion according to the
virulence OF the contagion. Young
birds are especially susceptible, the
mortality reaching 95 per cent at
times: adult birds frequently recov-
| err.
Medical treatment may be under
taken with good chances of success
One of the best methods is to plunge
! the fowls head into vessel contain
Ing a 2 per cent solution of perman-
| ganate of potash and hold 1t there
| for half minute. BY this method
The lining membranes OF the nostrils
and mouth is thoroughly bathed by
the solution. Previous to the above
| treatment any secretions which have
| dried over the nasal openings should
| be removed. Affected eyes will re-
spond rapidly to argyrol in IL per
! cent solution. One or two drops
! should be placed in each eye twice
daily. At the beginning of an out
break the entire flock should be Civ.
eli Epson salts In the proportion OF
one-third teaspoonful to each adult
bird. A convenient way OF admins
ration Is to dissolve the salt in wa
ter and use the solution In mixing q
mash.
| AS the treatment of a large num-
Der of fowls takes time and Is rela-
lively expensive for ordinary stock, II
Is apparent that the best method oil
combating roup Is prevention. This
san usually be accomplished by OBJ,
serving proper sanitary precautions.
To successfully guard against rour
the poultryman or farmer must an.
prec1ate the fact that roup Is ar
infectious disease resulting from the
localization in the head Of certain
specific germs or micro-organism,
which by their rapid increase n
number and toxic action on the svs
tenn produce the abnormal symptom,
above mentioned. These germs ma,
be spread by various agencies, The,
may be brought to uninfected ward,
on the shoes or clothing of person,
who have been among infected fowls
or on implements. incu bators, etc
previously exposed; or they NAV b,
introduced by free-flying birds. How
ever, by far the most direct nm,
usual method OF introduction +
through the acquisition of infecte,
fowls, or the exposure Of heath,
fowls to infected birds or cages a.
poultry shows. :"
1t should be the practice OF th,
poultry shows when buying new stoc,
to ascertain as far AZ possible vheth
or the birds have boen exposed I,
IN infectious disease Of any sort. ant
% further protect his flock by isolat