ENTERITIS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1188, 7 December 1894, Page 27

ENTERITIS.

Fowls are always subject to rcup and colds, and various other diseases; but amongst the worst is enteritis. This is a disease which affects every organ, of the body. We are sorry there appears to be 1 a large number of cases at the present time. It is well for all poultrydceepers to be prepared for disease) more particularly if they keep a lajxge number of fowls. When first attacked the fowls usually stand against the Water-trough drinking a great deal, the comb turns black, and the birds walk very stiffly. When they stand still they shut their eyes, as though they were sleeping. Whatever thej 7 eat for the meal preceding the attack of enteritis still remains in the crop ; no oil of any kind \y*ll move it. A dose of Epsom salts will remove it slightly, and will also help to purify the birds which have not got the disease. One ounce should be given to every ten or twelve birds; but not one bird in a hundred ever gets over the attack. This is a disease which is much easier to cope with, if taken in time, than many: people think. Although the birds cannot; be cured,,the disease can be prevented! from spreading, if the owner or attendant' knows how to set about it. The germs of the disease lie in the fowl about six days' before thp disease ' shows itself. j Whenever enteritis, breaks out in a poultry-yard the affected J>irds should be killed and burnt, or buried at once three or four! feet deep.j Each case should be served inthe same way. The others should be put in covered rUns or large coops, where a-lot of dust* can be iised—-viz., very fine moss peat/; road dust| or anything of that sort, i Wood ashes, where they can be very fine.The dust;covers the directly, which will soon prevent the disease from; spreading.. Whenever the birds are: allowed to run in open pens or on the grass it means perhaps a month before the disease is got rid of. As soon tts a bird

which is touched with enteritis drops any excrement it should be covered with slack lime. All the pens and. houses should also be washed with slack lime and disinfectants. Enteritis spreads much tbe same amongst fowls as cholera does -in human beings. Every organ of the body is affected; the intestines and egg organs are inflamed, the liver and spleen become very dark and congested, and the lungs usually turn quite grey. Where sfcrict attention has been paid to the precautions we have named the disease has often been prevented from spreading, aqd only perhaps a few birds lost; -When- it has once been allowed to go on for days without any attempt being made to check it, it spreads very Rapidly; ' The attendant walking from one pen to another spreads the germs of the disease all through the poultry yards. The symptoms seem to show themselves very quickly, and come on suddenly, almost like influenza in human beings. When the birds are shut up it is best to feed them in troughs, and not throw the food down where the excrements are, even if there is plenty of dust about. As soon as they have done eating, take the troughs away. We mention this precaution because it is possible for the fowls to peck the germs of the disease from the excrements when they have to peck the food, off the ground. Wherever the disease breaks out not a single bird should be removed from the place.—W. Cook, in Farm and Field.