Arizona republican., 1922-05-14
RO0P AND KINDRED
DISEASES MENACE
POULTRY INDUSTRY

If the poultry keepers OF the valley
were interviewed and each were sep
arately asked what in his or her
opinion was the greatest drawback to
profitable poultry keeping here, 1t is
q pretty safe bet that nine out of
ten would say "roup." This has been
true for many years, and we are very
lithe nearer the solving of the cause,
or prevention, or the curse of the
disease than we were, maybe, ten
Years ago. Each season 1t takes its
toll of the chicks that have grown up
halfway to maturity. The heaviest
loss is among the young chicks. This
may be partly due to the fact that
some that have it in their early days
as chicks may become somewhat re-
sistant to it. and probably are not
as susceptible to it as chicks that
have never had it. Some claim that
in flocks there are some that are
naturally immune and that no matter
how virulent the epidemic may be,
and how heavy the losses, there will
still be some that will not take it.
No Accurate Data
Probably ns one has any accurate
data on this phase of the question,
because anyone with ambition enough
to keep records of the fowls that die
and those that do not take it at all
would most assuredly have ambition
enough to attempt to save at least
part of the flock before it had run
its course. No one likes to make the
sacrifice in an experimental way, but
for the benefit that it might be to
the poultry interests of the state, we
believe that Professor Thompson of
the poultry department of the Ex-
pertinent station can do no greater
service to the poultry interests Of the
entire Southwest than to make a
thorough study of this disease. Some
isolated place could be selected where
flocks, not necessarily large, could
be kept and the disease introduced
(provided it did not come spontane-
ously). A study of the disease could
be made beginning with the first
birds to show symptoms after dis
eased birds were introduced to the
flock. Records could be made Of the
birds that seemed least resistant,
and different methods of treatment
could be tried out. although this is
of perhaps less Importance than to
learn just what can be done TO pre-
vent 1t and to learn if some birds
are more resistant than others, and
If, as claimed, some are entirely i'm
mune, and if so. will these immune
birds breed birds that are also i'm
mune?
There is so much that we do not
know about this disease that the
things which might be learned are
almost limitless Other stations
have done some work in trying to
find a remedy. California has dis
covered a vaccine which is used with
considerable success. In a recent is
Sc of the Country Gentleman, Prof
Xsmes Dryden gives the result of the
experiments conducted by DR.. Beach
of the veterinary department of the
University of California. This, how
ever. is no particularly new thing,
as bulletin on this subject was pub
Hshed by DR.. Beach in 1915.
Try Vaccination
1t is claimed that by vaccination,
as near as can be estimated, it has
been possible to save one-half the
birds that under other known meth
DDS of treatment would have died.
1t is not claimed that vaccination is
perfect, not yet; but it does seem to
be the best thing known.
An important point for us IS that
what we commonly call roup is called
Il khicken-pox in California. From the
description of the disease in the pub
Ished reports and bulletins, it would
seem to be the common chicken -pox
which we have and along with it
what we call roup, but which they
insist is not Calling a disease by
one name does not make it more or
less destructive. and If chicken pox
suits the poultry people of California
better than roup, far be it from us
to attempt to rob them of any spe-
cial pleasure or glory. over there,
they do not consider roup TO be so
very serious. Here we do not worry
much about chicken -pox. but since
their description of chicken-poX tall
lies fairly closely with our roup plus
a bad case of chickenpox as we know
it. we can't blame them for getting
somewhat nervous about the trouble,
whatever it may really be.
The vaccine which they use Is
made from the eruptions from the
combs Whether this would help any