The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-06-12

month OF age. After this few stray
Cling deaths may be expected, and II
complications set in, high mortality
may be observed. The chicks which
have had bacillary white diarrhea
seem to be greatly weakened in con-
stitution and fall an easy prey to dis
orders which would be resisted easily
by normal chicks.
Those which survive remain more
or less stunted in their development.
Frequently they are misshapen. with
long beaks and Grow heads" and
with imperfect feathering. In every
way they impress one as being weak
and lacking in vitality. This condi-
ton may persist indefinitely, or the
bird may slowly regain vigor and VI
tally and finally make fairly salts
factory development.
The trap nest records of individual
hens, when studied in connection with
the results of egg examinations, seem
to indicate that infected hens are COM
paratively poor layers. This is es-
pecially true OF those hens which are
in their second and subsequent lay
ing years. Apparently such hens lay
regularly only in the spring and sum-
mer, the natural breeding season.
In order to secure further practical
information on this point, an extended
trip was made among poultrymen who
make 1t a practice to raise winter
chicks. In very few cases there
seemed to be evidence OF white diar-
rhea infection, but the large majority
of the men interviewed agreed that
the chicks which are Matched in late
fall, winter or early spring, are com,
paratively free from this disease.
The question has frequently been
asked as to whether infection may be
spread from one hen to another
through food which has become con
taminated with infected droppings
On this point we have no direct evil
dence, but in view of the fact that in
fected and non-infected hens have
been kept in the same pens for many
months without any apparent spread
ing of infection, it seems highly i'm
probable that the organism is con
veyed from adult to adult in this
manner. Experiments are being con
Quoted to determine this point con
clusiveiy
The question also naturally arises
May not the male bird carry the or
gansm from one hen to another
The same course of reasoning may BIZ
followed here as in the previous in
stance, and although we do not regart
the evidence as conclusive, 1t is quite
probable that the organism is not car
ried in this way.
Whether or not adult male bird
may be infected with the germ, is an
other matter which is still undecided
We have on several occasions ex
amined the testes of half-grown ant
adult males, with negative results
Such tests, however, have been toC
few to justify any definite conclusion
Should the possibilities of the trans
mission of the organism from hen t.
hen, and through the agency Of thu
male birds, be actually eliminated
there is apparently but one explana
ton for the presence Of the organism
in question in the ovaries of adult fe
males. We have already demon
strated that chicks may have the dis
ease when Matched, or acquire 1t yer!
soon after Matching. The infected fe
male chicks which survive the disease
continue to carry the organism IL
their bodies, not in the various organs
as when they are young and visibly al
fected, but locally, as in the ovary. Ii
other words, such chicks have be
come permanent bacillus carriers. Gu
! examination of the ovaries Of hall
) grown pullets has given US strong ev
dence in support of this theory.
AS to the means of preventing tn
spread of infection from chick t
chick, segregation Of chicks durin
the first four days after hatchin
SnOulu prove effective. IL ID eHIlrel
probable that keeping chicks in sma
: groups in the incubator for forty-eigf
hours after Matching will material
reduce the chances Of few infecte
individuals spreading the infectio
3 through the entire hatch, For divi
: ion into small groups we suggest II
use of pedigree trays, wire baskets,
9 bags made of mosquito nettin
8 Naturally, the smaller the group, Il
|. less the chance of spreading the
d lection.
Il From the time the chicks begin
/. hatch until they are removed to u
g brooder, the incubator should be Ike
/. dark. This will largely prevent Il
n chicks from picking at the dropping
% The shortening of the work d.
II on the farm will accomplish thr
Is results: 1t will give more time I
70 social pleasures; 1t will make
sr easier to obtain farm labor; it W
p. keep the boys and girls on the far