Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-02
European Fowl Pest
And Other Diseases

Auu OlUcf diseases
During the past few months poul-
trymen have been considerably
stirred up because of the epidemic Of
a disease among poultry known as
European Fowl Pest. This has caused
widespread embargoes TO be placed
against the transportation Of poultry
from state to state.
Another disease Of poultry which is
hardly less important but which
takes its toll in the death of chickens
is what is known as Bacillary White
Diarrhea. This disease Is widespread
and causes the death Ct millions of
chickens every spring and sum-
mer, yet there has never been
any development Of national means
of controlling this disease.
White diarrhea is much more prev
alent in some of the other states
than it is in Maine yet IL is one of the
widespread diseases causing heavy
losses to the chickens IN this state.
so far as external symptoms are
concerned there is little difference
between what Is known as white
diarrhea and ordinary. indigestion
caused by overlooking, chilling,
over eating or from various other
causes. In either case there may be
high death rate but there Is one
great difference between the results
as caused by the differ ent troubles
Bacillary white diarrhca is caused by
specific organisms which result in
high mortality among the chickens
but which does not kill all of the
chickens which have the disease.
Those which recover are likely to
carry the disease germs in their sys-
TENS as adult birds and when these
adult birds are used in the breeding
pen the disease organisms located in
the ovary becomes incorporated in
the yolt If the eggs which are laid
and. therefore. transmits the disease
to the new chickens which hatch
rhea resulting from ordinary causes
is not transmitted from one year to
the other. 1t is the parent stock. there
fore, which is the important car
riers of white diarrhea. There Is no
known cure for it at the present time.
The only means of controlling the
disease Is to remove TIE birds carry
ing the disease germs from the
breeding flock. This can be done by
what is known as an agglutination
test of blood sample from each
hen used as a breeder.
Although for number of years
past there has been a high mortality
among chickens due to this disease
there has been no melted of making
the test until four years ago.
During the summer of 1921, through
the cooperation of tho Agricultural
Extension service of the University
Of Maine and the Department of Bac-
teriology,and Veterinary Science. ar
engagements We're made to make the
tests at the Bacteriolosical Labora-
tory of the College oil Agriculture.
POultrymen very readily awaited
themselves of the opportunity to
clean up their flocks of this disease.
The aim in doing this work is to &C
credit flocks which are found free of
the disease by consecutive non-react-
ing tests. During the spring Of 1924.
twenty foul flocks were on the &C
credited list and it is gratifying to
know that most of these f1ocks are
again on the accredited list this year.
Thus far this year more than $4,000
hens have been tested by the De-
Department of Bacteric!ogy and Vet
Urinary Science and several thousand
more will be tested during the next
few weeks.
Because Of the number of disease
free fiocks in Maine u satisfactory
day old chick business is being de-
veloped. Poultrymen who are selling
day old chickens fully understand the
Importance and value of selling
chickens which are free from disease,
and many of them arc putting out
chickens which they can guarantee
from this standpoint. Because of the
cost involved in having the stock
tested it, is usually necessary to
charge more for accredited chicks
than for those not tested, but for the
purchaser it is usually much cheaper
to buy chickens which he can depend
on as being free from the disease
than to take a chance on INFESTED
chickens.
The following persons have already
had their floeks. accredited for this
year and during the next two or three
weeks several other persons Will I'M
doubtedly have their names added to
this list.
Rhode Island Reds-Frank Lor l.,
East Lebanon; Peter Thaanum, Jr.,
Winthrop: +. p. Sutton. Orono; F. H.
Wylley, Thomaston; Foster D. Jami-
son. Waldoboro; Sadie A. Hill. e..
Wakefield. n. H.: Mrs. Hannah Ray
mond, Winthrop; University Of
Maine. Orono; Mrs. J. II. Sanborn.
Winthrop. r. 81; +. NJ. Piper, Rock
land; Mrs. Elmer hawkes., South
Windham, r. J.: n. G. Emery. Kit
terry; w. H. Cruiser. Waldoboro;
Walter Lord, e. Lebanon: Hiram
Lord, F.. Lebanon; Mrs. A. w. Childs,
Whitneyville; Mrs. w. T. Adams.
Winthrop; 9. c Clements. Winter
port.
Barred Plymouth Rocks-Guy Bill
lings, Bluehill; University of Maine.
Orono; Mrs. J. II. Sanhorn. Winthrop.
r. 81; c. l.. Dreamer. Greene; Ward
Hatch, South Penobscct.
White Leghorns-Universit OF
Maine, Orono.
White Wyandottes-Mrs. Hannah
Raymond, Winthrop.
Wanted Very Little
ewardess-Madam, I've attended
to you the best l know how. supplied
every want, but you are still unsat-
isfied. What do you want now?
Seasicll Lady Passenger-I want
the carth.-StraY Stories. ~