The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-03
By MRS. JOHN c. MOSES


 Fowl cholera-a poultry disease rather rare in this country except in the far western states-demands department speed in combating it. Drug treatment or home remedies only waste the time of the poultryman and allow the malady to spread. Strict sanitary measures must be applied at once to control this infec- tious disease of poultry which spreads pidly through the flock with high nor tality. Turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons, cage birds and chickens are all suscep- tible to fowl cholera.
 Cholera is transmitted from flock to flCcll by means of sick or recently reoov- cred fowl which have been placed in the flock without being subjected to a period Of quarantine. The disease is also spread by wild birds or by persons, animals or utensils which have been on infected premises. A yellowish coloraton of the droppings is an early indication of the disease. Soon diarrhea develops, consid- erable fever is shown, and the bird loses it's lively appearances, separates itself from the rest of the flock and appears dull, dejected and sleepy. It no longer searches for food, but sits with head drawn down to the body or turned back ward and resting in the feathers about the wing The plumage soon loses it's bril- liance, the wings droop, the appetite is diminished and the thirst increased; the comb and wattles may be a dark bluish red from engorgement with poorly oxy- genated blood, or they may be pale and hloodless on account of the congestion of the internal organs, especially the liver.
 ! SYMPTOMS OF STRICKEN BIRDS The affected birds soon become very weak, drowsy and often sleep so soundly curing the last day two of their lives that it is difficult to arouse them. If obliged to move they stagger forward for few steps in an uncertain manner and with dragging wings. The crop is generally distended with food and ap- parently paralyzed. The weight and strength of the bird rapidly diminishes, it breathes with difficulty, sits with bealS open and the breathing may be heard at some distance.
 i Finally the weakness is such that the | beak is rested on the ground, and lit tie later the bird dies. In very acute i cases no symptoms are seen; the birds | may be found dead under the rcsostS or ] they may fall at the feeding trough and
 die in a few minutes. Cholera may de ] stroy the greater part Of flock Tn a 1 week, and then disappear, or may finger i for months, only occasionally killing 8
 bird. The time between exposure to the l C.cntagion and appearance Of symptoms
 is from two to five days, while the dura- | tior of the disease is from 24 hours te 1 10 days Most characteristic changes l seen after death are red spots on the sur
 face of the heart. which give 1t the ap' i I ca rance of having been sprinkled witt i blood congestion of the intestines. en-
 largement of the liver and swelling ol the spleen.
 STOPPING INFECTIONS SPREAD ] Since treatment of the affected bird | is almost futile, the aim should be te l prevent so far as possible the spread o1 | infection. The first fowls showing acute
 feverish symptoms should be destroyed by a method guarding against contamina
 ton of the premises by infected blood
 The carcasses should be burned or deep
 ly buried The healthy fowls shoulo be moved to new quarters, if possible and carefully watched for signs Of dis | ease Houses and runs should be thor
 oughly cleaned frequently and dlslnfect | ed with per cent solution of carbolit | acid a 2 per cent solution of compound
 cresol or a reliable coal tar disinfec 1 tant in proper dilution. The drinkln4
 water may be made antiseptic by addlnt
 one dram of permanganate of potas' to each gallon This serves to proven the spread of disease through the wate and also is a convenient means 'of ad ministering an internal antiseptic Ere 1 yertion and treatment to control TOW cholera by means of anti-5erum and vac
 cine have not proved sufficiently satls