Evening journal., 1922-10-19
EXPERTS FIGHT
POULTRY DISEASE
DR.. Palmer Makes Report OF
Work in State During
Past Year
VACCINE HAS
BEEN GREAT HELP

ContrOi OF poultry NAStdcro - set tN
in a recent report submitted TO th'
State Board of Agriculture by DIR
c. c. Palmer, chief OF the poultr,
disease control OF the board and
head OF the Department Of Anima
Industry. University OF Delaware. DR.
Palmer also makes several recon-
mendations relative 10 continulnG
the fight TO stamp out poultry dis
eases.
Until the last year or so there wa:
little or no work done in the state
In this line. and yet poultry grow
ers lost thousands Of their fiocks
every year from various dsesses
Under DR.. Palmer's supervision dur
ing the past year 900 diseased birds
were received at the laboratory OF
the Department OF Animal Industry
University OF Delaware, for dag
nosis. More than 10000 doses OF a
specially prepared vaccine 10 combat
such disease as roup and pox. were
distributed throughout the state.
To carry on such work as men
toned the past year there was a fund
OF but $1,000. and DR.. Palmer thinks
this should be increased 10 $4,000
another year. A bulletin on poul-
try diseases was prepared by Dr.
Palmer and published, describing
the principal diseases OF poultry
prevalent in this state and this bulle-
TIN was widely distributed DR..
Palmer's report in part follows:
During the year the poultry
docks suffered very extensive out
break OF roup and pox. This out
break began In the late summer and
aontinusd throughout the winter
months To combat these diseases
a bacterial vaccine very similar 10
the Brumley-Snook vaccine that has
given such splendid results in Ohio
was prepared and distributed free
OF charge TO all owners within the
state making requests. Our records
tor the year show that 111.000 doses
OF the standard or stock vaccine and
5000 doses of special or autogenio
were distributed throughout the
state. The vaccine rendered a dis
tiDct service. and has saved the
poultry industry OF the state thous-
ands of dollars. in livestock and
eggs.
Throughout the year many dis
eased birds have been received at
the laboratory for diagnosis. These
examinations demand considerable
time on the part OF the scientific
staff. In many instances a complete
pathological and bacteriologlcal ex-
animation is required before the
exact nature of the disease in ques-
ton may be established.
we have conducted agglutination
tests on the blood of two hundred
hens for the presence OF B. pullorum
the casual agent of white diarrhea.
This organism is carried from an in
fected hen through the egg and
acts as a direct infectious agent for
the young chick. The above work
was conducted as an experiment to
determine the value of the test as
means of establishing a noD-infected
flock. Losses from this disease
occurs shortly after the chicks are
Matched.
During the past spring and sum-
mer the state has experienced a very
serious disease outbreak which ap-!
parently started in Northern New
Castle county, gradually extending
southwark. killing many birds. A
study of this outbreak has revealed
that In some instances the disease
was Fowl typhoid. although in many
outbreaks the disease appeared TO be
an acute intestinal infection which
% date has not been identified. This
disease or group of diseases has
alone caused the poultry owners of
he state loss of several thousand
ioliars.
The staff has made number
of field trips into the state for the
purpose OF investigating disease out
breaks. In this connection several
poultry vaccination demonstrations
have been given. County agents
have been instructed in the work Of
demonstrating the vaccine treatment
and we have endeavored to interest
The veterinarians in the work OF
poultry disease control.
Personal interviews and CORES.
'ondeDce with poultry emphasize
he Importance and necessity for or
yanized state aid in the matter OF
poultry disease control. Few Of our
poultry men are sufficiently trained
o solve their own disease problems,
md the veterinarians, although will
ng and anxious to assist their eli
'nts. do not possess the necessary
laboratory facilities for doing the
liagnostic work. The 1920 census
seDor Indicates that poultry are
maintained on s6.2 per cent of Del
vare's farms. The industry In the
tate IS valued at S1,000.2S7. In the
'ast ten years the industry has In
reased one hundred per cent
The chief requests coming from
oultry owners may be briefly stated
5 follows: 1-Continuation of the
Ian whereby the State Board OF Ag-
lculture will continue 10 supply the
pultry industry with vaccines for
rotecting focks against disease; =
gglutIDation test work for the
-adication of white dlarrhea: "a
ell manned and equipped labora-
ny where diseased birds may be
ken or sent for diagnosis; study I
nd investigation OF new or little
nown poultry diseases"
In concluding the report DR.
Aimsr makes the following recon-