Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-06-06

forms of influenza in the larger ami
mails and in man. 1t attacks prin-
clpally the membranes lining the eye,
the sacs below the eye, the nostrils,
the larynx and the trachea. 1t is at
tended with high fever and is very
contagious.
Roup appears to be a strictly con-
tagious disease; that is, one which
arises only, so far as known, by con-
tagion from other diseased birds. Tho
nature of the microbe which consti-
tutes the virus is not known. The
contagion is generally brought into
the poultry yard by infected birds.
Sometimes these are birds which are
purchased from other focks in which
the disease exists; sometimes they
are birds of the home flock which
have been to exhibitions and there
exposed to sick fowls, and sometimes
they are wild birds or pigeons which
fly from one poultry yard to another.
The saliva and the discharge which
escape from the nostrils carry the
contagion and soon contaminate the
drinking water and feeding troughs
so that all the fowls are infected.
Even the flocks in adjoining yards
are infected by the particles of mucus
projected into the air when sneezing
or by the contagion carried on the
feet of persons, animals or small birds
that pass from one yard to another.
Delicate birds are inclined to severe
attacks and to recover slowly, and
: often chronic condition persists for
a long time. Birds so affected may
carry and spread the contagion for a
year or more and become the cause
1f Tn M 10 Of ha
Symptoms of Disease.
The symptoms first seen are very
similar to those of an ordinary cold
but there is more fever, dullness and
prostration. The discharge from the
nasal opening is at first thin and
watery, but in two or three days be-
comes thick and obstruets the breath
ing. The Inflammation, which be-
gins in the nasal passages, soon ex-
tends to the eyes and to the spaces
which exist Immediately below the
eyeballs-infra- orbital spaces. The
eyelids are swollen, held closed most
of the time, and may be glued to-
gether by the accumulated secretion.
The birds Sneeze and shake their
heads in their efforts to free the air
passa ges from the thick mucous. The
appetite is diminished and the birds
sit with their heads drawn in, wings
dropping, and having a general APP
pearance of depression and Illness.
When the Inflammation reaches the
spaces or sacs beneath the eyes it
causes the formation of a secretion
very similar to that of the nose, and
as this becomes thick it collects, dis
tends the walls of these spaces and
produces a warm and painful swell
ing, which is seen just below the
eyes and may reach the size of u
hickory nut. This swelling presses
with much force on the eyeball,
which is displaced and more or less
deformed; and in extreme cases even
the bones of the head may give way
before it.
The closure OF the eyes prevents
the badly affected birds from find
ing food; the accumulation of mucus
in the nostrils completely obstructs
these passages so that the beak must
| be kept open in order to breathe; the
! obstruction of the windpipe and the
smaller air tubes causes loud breath
| ing sounds and difficult respiration.
In the severe and advanced cases
I the birds sit in a somnolent or semi
conscious condition, unable to see or
to eat: their strength is rapidly eX-
hausted, and many of them die within
a week or ten days. A part of the
affected individuals recover, but
others continue weak and have a
chronic form of the disease for
months, during which time they con-
tinue to disseminate the contagion.
This disease is distinguished from
diphtheria by the absence of the
thick, tough, and very adherent new
INFORMED membranes Galse mem
branes) in the nostrils, mouth and
throat, which are characteristic of the
latter. There may sometimes be a
deposit of yellowish material on the
walls of the mouth and throat, but it
is easily broken up and removed.
Treatment May be Successful.
The medical treatment of this dis
ease may be very successful if prop
erly applied. The sick birds should
be removed from the flock and put
in a warm, dry and well-ventilated
room. which is free from drafts of
air. The affected mucous membranes
| should then be treated oy applying
antiseptic and healing mixtures. The
best method is to use a good spray
| ing apparatus, but, lacking this, a
small syringe, an oil can, or even a
medicine dropper can be made to
answer the purpose.
II has been recommended that the
| birds head be plunged into basin
| or bowl of the mixture and held there
| a. few seconds. but not long enough
to cause suffocation.
The remedies most suitable for such
| treatment are: Boric acid, ounce;
water, / quart. Or, permanganate OF
| potash, / dram; water. quart. Vt,
| boric acid. IL ounces; borate of soda,
| 1 =
| ide of hydrogen, / ounce; water, 3
! ounces.
Where the Inflammation has pro-
| crossed to the eye excellent results
have followed the use of argyrol.
One or two drops OF 10 per cent
solution is introduced between the
eyelids twice daily for period OF
several days.
Before applying these remedies 1T
| is we'll to wash the eyes ana mouth
with warm water containing one tea
spoonful of common salt TO quart
| using a pledget of absorbent cotton
and rubbing gently, While at the same
tim pressing and massaging about the
nostrils and under the eyes to loosen
the accumulated secretion. If there
Is much swelling under the eyes 1t
must be carefully opened with a
sharp. clean knife all the Secretlons
removed, and the cavity washed with
one of the aforementioned solu-
tons. A pledget of cotton molsteneo
with the solution may be left In the
opening for an hour or Two, OF IL
NAV be busted with iodoform powder
When the swelling under the eye is
not very large or hard it may often
be reduced by massaging it in such
manner as to press the contents
toward the nostril. After treating
The birds in this manner the head
should be we'll anointed with pure
.;tl, % rnrhorated vase