Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-29

|
with spotted liver typical. A post-mor-
tenn decides doubt. 1t is akin 20 white
diarPhOea. Sparrows, gamebirds and
fowls scatter the germs. Inspection of
new stock, frequent change of range,
and use OF turpentine are recommend
ed.
| Fortunate is that turkey-raiser
whose flock has never been menaced
| by blackhead. This Hercules among
ailments is formidable because no
| treatment positively counteracting it
has been discovered. 1t is comparative
| ly recent pest. a quarter of a CEN
tury ago it was nameless. Now we
hear of its ravages from every section
where the turkey has its habitat.
Sometimes it is recognized for itself;
again, it is confused with some simpler
disease of similar symptoms. Probably
many promising flocks have succumb-
ed to an anonymous ailment unfamil-
| lar to their distressed owners, yet
wearing their livery of blackhead.
| The first reports of the activity of
this disease came from Southern New
! England. Massachusetts and Rhode Is
| land in the late '90s were beginning to
drop below their usual production of
turkeys for which they had been fam
ed. From estimating their shipment
by the ton, they began to count them
| by the pound. To-day that New Eng
land industry is not to be compared
with its once huge proportions.
Turkey-raisers in general complain
| ed of a fatally effectual disease which
attacked the birds at all ages, killing
off the majority before they were six
weeks old. Few reached maturity.
Losses were calamitous singly and in
the aggregate. The Rhode Island EX-
pertinent Station began an inVestiga-
tion. The result was the first authori-
I TOT ~ mt Of tfa oil hai1
findings are generally accepted. Since
then the disease has travelled to be
the bane of turkey-raisers in nearly
every State.
characteristics of Infection
One need not be pathologist to sus-
pect or to recognize blackhead. In
! turkeys of varying ages it has various
manifestations and durations, but cer-
tain symptoms are always present.
They are loss of appetite, consequent
emaciation and weakness, and a white
or yellowish diarrhea. In very young
birds the heads are grayish or pale;
! in those whose wattles are beginning
to color and in adults, the head turns
dark due to congestion, which gives
the disease its name. In a typical case,
| the turkey first declines food or picks
Iindifferently, and develops diarrhoea.
After a day or two, it gives up trying
to follow its mates. 1t has distressed
look and sometimes it stands and
swallows as though it were endeavor-
| ing to rid it's throat of an obstruction.
1t has an inveterate thirst. In three
| days or a week, according to its age
and vitality, it yields the battle.
| The post-mortem decides definitely
whether the trouble is blackhead. In
an older victim, or one in which the
| disease has most stubborn resistance,
/ the liver exhibits spots, white or gray
| ish, autograph of this infection. Be-
sides, the caecum or blind pouch is en-
! Ilarged to several times it's diameter
/ and contains a core. If the turkey
has drunk much water, it will be col
| lected in the pouch, while the remain
ling intestinal tract is empty. This lat
ter condition is always present in cases
| of short length, and in little turkeys,
| though the liVer-spots may be lacking.
J Occasionally in an acute attack, the
gizzard is discovered filed with undi-
| gested food. This condition seems to
be responsible for the symptom of con-
| tinually swallowing observed in some
affected ones.
To be sure, the victim of blackhead
must be dead. that there may be no
doubt as to the disease, for the un-
scientific observer. Yet, if an ailment
of this nature invades a flock without
! explanation and is resistant to all
treatment the raiser may reasonably
/
first step is to take measures to pre-
vent it's spreading. This depends up
on a knowledge of the ailments origin.
The Persistent Parasite
! The cause is a minute parasite. En-
| fering its host by way of the mouth, it
finally reaches the liver and intestines
where it establishes its little laboratory
for reproducing itself and disintegrat-
ling the tissues. Infection of the older
birds is not always fatal. The mature
turkey of rich vitality may maintain
an equal struggle for months, mean
while remaining constant menace 10
it's healthy fellows; a feathered Ty-
lphoid Mary. Fattening such a turkey,
especially on corn, often turns the
! balance. 1t succumbs at last to the
enemy within. For this reason, turkeys
| in which the infection is semilatent
may seem to sicken unaccountably and
die at fattening time. The germs of
new individuals cast off in the eXcre-
ment of infected fowls, remain dor
mant in the ground from one season
to another for several years ready to
enter business actively the moment
they find a stand. For this reason. es-
ltablished turkey-runs are taboo with
the experienced raiser. Other fowls
are acceptable hosts, but resist more
sturdily.
How BIaclzhead Travelled
How this parasite has finally journey
ed from New England throughout the
States may only be conjectured. 1t is
reasonable to believe that turkeys
shipped from one point to another
have been responsible in part. Pigeons
and quail are susceptible to its infec-
ton, and rats and mice are carriers.
Perhaps among it's other activities the
sparrow has fastened the prevalence
of this pest. Certainly they may bear
germs from farm to farm in their
free-lance feeding. Some intelligent
people believe that certain farm seeds
and commercial fertilizers share the
responsibility for its dissemination.
The parasite once settled on new ter
ritory exercises the right of squatter
sovereignty. It is difficult to dislodge.
1t is said that the soils of certain New
England States are so impregnated
with the parasite that even the game
birds are being depleted.
Scientists declare there is no cure
for blackhead. knowing these facts
concerning it, how can raisers protect
themselves. Prevention, is the reply.
Since it attacks all poultry, turkeys
should be raised apart and never al
lowed to feed where fowls run. Fresh
turned ground, as far as possible, is
recommended for turkeys. Their habit
of ranging abroad may be encouraged.
Naxnr ctoply cbOtt1d q lUave ba 1hiact 70