The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-08-02
Poultry T. B.
Is Spreading
Expert Warns

| BOlSE.-IuDercu mas Deen
found to be. making rapid inroads
upon the poultry of Idaho, according
to C. H. Workman, assistant bacteri-
ologist of the University of Idaho
experiment station, and a campaign
to get rid of it already is under way.
Under auspices of the extension di-
vision of the university, Professor
Workman is devoting two months
study of this disease in the state in
cooperation with the county farm
bureaus. His work began in north
ern Idaho counties and will continue
| in the southeastern and southern
counties, where he has been sched-
uled with the respective county
agents for periods of from one to
three days in counties in which tu-
berculosis is especially problem. :
Description of the disease to enable
poultrymen to recognize it and eradi-
cate it from their flocks is given
| by Professor Workman in the fol-
lowing statement:
"The symptoms which bird pre-
sents depend to a considerable de-
gree upon the type of tuberculosis
injecting the fowl. In the more gen.
eralized tuberculosis in which the
viscera will be involved there is a
progressive emaciation, gradual
wasting away. This is not always
true, as well-fed birds having great
susceptibility to the disease may be-
come heavily infected before wasting
and emaciation appear since tuber-
culous birds usually eat ravenously
until near death. Usually, howev-
err, a marked wasting away devel-
ops, leading to thinness and pale
ness of comb, wattles and the visi-
BILE mucous membranes. The feath-
ers become ruffled, the bird exhib-
it's weakness, and lack of desire to
forage. A diarrhea may set in, pro-
ducing great weakness. Birds show
ing symptoms should be killed and
a post norton examination made of
the viscera, since it is impossible to
absolutely diagnose tuberculosis
from external characteristics. Upon
laying bare the visceral organs,
close scrutiny of the liver, spleen and
intestines should reveal cheesy, dir
ty white to yellow nodules or tuber-
cles varying in size from those just
visible to tubercles the size of pea.
These nodules consist of coagulated
necrotic lesions, soft, cheesy dead
tissue surrounded by thick connec-
tive tissue capsule.
tuberculosis often involves the
joints, characterized by lameness
and swelling. In this form it is
commonly termed rheumatism or
limping disease The swelling may
rupture and dirty yellow material
exude, containing germs of the dis
ease.
tuberculosis may be transmitted
through the droppings, from open
LESSONS on the skin or from the nose
or mouth. Transmission through
the egg exists, though is probably
not of great Importance. The dis
ease is commonly contracted from
tnfective drinking water, dust baths,
roosts, scratching pens and nests.
From these the germs gain entrance
into the intestinal canal, thence to
the circulation and are carried to
various organs.
There are no medicinal measures
that will give results, neither has
serum therapy offered cure or pro-
phylactic. Prevention is of the ut
most Importance. The best sani-
tation practices must be employed
to prevent the infection.
IF the disease is already present
there are onlystwo methods open to
use. First, an attempt may be made
to eradicate the disease by killing
off all birds showing symptoms Of
the disease. New runs and well
cleaned and thoroughly disinfected
houses should be furnished the
healthy appearing birds. All yards