Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-27
Two Diseases Which
Bother POultrymen


AT this time Of the year there
are two diseases OF particular in
terest and concern to poultrymen,
one Is chickenpox, an old disease
which is pretty generally known and
TOO often experienced: the other is
infectious bronchitis. or, as some
poultrymen call it, the "fue." I'm
fortunately, In many cases it is not
recognized as a different malady.
ChicKen-pox goes by various
names, among them diphtheritic
Group, sorehead and canker. The
easily recognized specific symptoms
IN addition to general evidence of
debility are hard, dark. wart-like
sWellings on the comb, face and
wattles and sometimes extending
over the body, and the formation of
white patches in the mouth or q
yellowish-w white growth of canker at
the CLOTHS or opening to the wind
pipe.
Treatment for pox Is of general
rather than specific, nature. Badly
affected birds should be isolated
from the flock. Some ought to be
DESTROYED. particularly when they are
poor birds and the pox is complicated
by roup. Badly affected birds worth
saving may be individually treated
oy pulling off the layer scabs or
pock-marks, painting with iodine
and rubbing on carbolated vaseline.
Mouth canker should also be remov-
ed from the sore tissues beneath
swabbed with iodine or a 20 per cent
solution of argyrol or some similar
preparation.
When pox appears a flock treat
ment is advisable. It's purposes are
to improve the condition of the
birds and increase their resistance or
hasten their recovery. One of the
best general flock treatments for
such an exigency is to:
% Change the litter. check pos
sible drafts, eliminate dust and make
sure of adequate ventilation.
ca. A physic of epson salts fed in
either drinking water or wet mash.
at the rate of about one pound to 100
hens.
CD The use of a disinfectant In
the drinking water, or better still
substituting the so-called Douglas
Mixture for drinking water. Doug
las Mixture is made by dissolvine
one-half pound iron sulphate coop
peras) in 10 gallons of water and
adding one-half ounce sulphuric
acid. This may be given undiluted.
(G The addition of to per
cent sulphur to the dry mash.
60 Giving a tonic, preferably the
home made mixture composed of one
pound pulverized gentian. one-quart-
er pound ginger, one-quarter pound
saltpetre and one-half pound sui
phate iron. This mixture may also
be put in the dry mash at the rate
of one tablespoon to 10 quarts of
mash. or when larger mixtures are
desirable one pint in 100 pounds of
mash.
Infectious Bronchitis
Infectious bronchitis or the flu
is quite a different disease. 1t is
often confused with pox, because it's
outstanding symptom. is labored
breathing and grasping for breath,
which also may occur in pox when
the CLOTHS becomes partially filled
with canker. In bronchitis, however,
there are no false membranes or
growths in the mouth, although
some white exudate may accumulate
about the mouth of the windpipe.
bronchitis extends way down the
windpipe and into the bronchial
tubes. The mucus is usually, if not
bloody. Rather positive
diagnosis may be easily made by in
sorting a primary feather in the
windpipe for a few seconds, with
drawing it quickly as the bird gags
and attempts to sneeze or cough 1t
out. Pox seldom kills many birds
unless it is complicated with other
diseases. On the other hand, bron-
chitis Is exceedingly fatal. Many
f1ocks have been half wiped out in
just a few days. 1t spreads rapidly.
Treatment must be prompt, for or
dinarly few hours elapse between
the time difficult breathing may
be noted and the bird chokes to
death.
With infectious bronchitis individ-
ual treatment is almost a necessity.
It must be done promptly too. Blk
bacillus killer is probably the best
material to use, although there is
possibility that Sterilac, Geruix, or
some similar preparation may do
quite as well. Strong solutions of
these materials may be used on a
feather inserted in the windpipe.
Follow up treatments are made by
using the same materials in an oil
can or medicine dropper or by hold
ing the birds head for few seconds
partially submerged in a can full of
AS substitute, kero-
sene. followed by argyrol, may be
employed, but not with as satisfac-
tory results. The drinking water
should also be indicated and a san
itary program similar to the one
to pox put into practice.