Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-30

ccptible to the attacks of the various
microbes which cause disease in adult
fowls, and the conditions of infection
the symptoms and the preventive
measues to be adopted vary to such
an extent that they must be given
special consideration.
White diarrhea is a condition which
has as its most prominent symptom
more or less profuse diarrhea, the
droppings consisting almost entirely
Of mucous from the intestinal tube
and the white secretion of the kid
news. The diarrhea results from irri-
tation of the intestines and the in
creased secretion of mucous, while the
large quantity of the white material
secreted by the kidneys is due to
fever and rapid breaking down of the
elements of the tissues. This condi-
ton is most frequently seen with in
eubator chicks, but is also common
with those which are Matched under
hens.
1t has been found by investigation
that the white diarrhea of young
chicks is caused by at least four diff
ferent kinds of infection, and each of
these needs to be studied separately.
All of these microbes also infect adult
fowls and are generally communicated
directly or indirectly from these to
the chicks.
Cause of White Diarrhea.
The most common cause of the
disease is a bacillus called bacterium
pmlIorum. This often infects hens
and also the eggs which they lay.
Such eggs produce chicks which have
the germs of the disease within them
when they are Matched, and these
chicks show symptoms within the
first few days of their lives. inc
contagion may also be communicated
from chick to chick by means of the
microbes scattered with the drop
pings. which contaminate the food
and drink. and cause the appear
ance of the symptoms when the
birds are from one to two weeks old.
The chicks are most susceptible to
infection during the first twenty
four hours of their lives, are more
resistant during the second and thlrd
DAVIS. and are practically insuscept-
ible after the fourth day. Those that
sicken later must have taken the NIL
erobes into their bodies BEFORE they
reached that age. Incuoators ana
brooders, as well as coops, become
and preserve the contasloli
Adult fowls are resist
ant to this microbe, and do not
show any symptoms. even when they
are laying infected eggs.
The cholera bacillus may also pc
carried by laying hens and 1ntect the
epg before it is laid. The young
chicks Matched from such eggs soon
show symptoms of disease and COM
the contagion to others at
all ages. ,.t,
The coccidia, which cause a chronic
disease in adult fowls, may also IN
feet the eggs and cause disease with
similar symptoms in the chicks.
The aspergillus fungus is the
fourth cause of white dlarrnea' ~
is included in the egg
when it is laid, but it may also pehes
trate the shell when eggs are packed +
in moldv chaff. straw or grain or
allowed to get damp.
All of these microbes may also De
carried on the outside of the SMELL
and NAV infect next boxes, lncupa-
tors brooders. and yards where /
chickens have been. !
White Diarrhea Symptoms.
The SYMPTOMS of white diarrhea
are seen in young chicks which are
from a day or two to three or four
weeks old. In the most acute form
they NAV die suddenly after having
shown but slight symptoms for
short time Generally however, there !
is frst observed a disposition to hud- |
lie together and to remain under the !
hover or under the hen more than /
Young chicks should. Very soon they |
appear Istless, indifferent to what is !
going on about them, stupid and
sleepy They stand in one position /
or sit still with the eyes closed. and |
the few efforts which they make to /
pick up food appear mechanical and /
Their plumage looses /
its lustre, the wings droop or project |
slightly from the body, and the char
acteristic diarrhea soon appears The |
droppings which are voided may be |
white and creamy. mucilaginous and |
glairy, or they may be mixed with a |
brownish material. Often the sticky |
eXcrement adheres to the downy |
feathers about the vent, dries, and |
continues to accumulate until it COM
pletely covers and plugs this opening. |
This condition, known as "pasting up !
behind" will, unless soon relieved,