A NEW DISEASE OF FOWLS IN INDIA                   111

                                    SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE.

         The nature of the reaction exhibited after artificial infection is illustrated in
charts Nos. 1 to 8. From these it will be seen that the birds remain apparently
unaffected until suddenly the temperature drops to a marked degree; the fowls
then become very dull, go off their feed and die often before any further symptoms
are exhibited. The fall in temperature was the most striking and characteristic
symptom of the disease, although in a few instances this was immediately preceded
by an elevation in the temperature, as illustrated in charts Nos. 6 and 7.
Occasionally birds died suddenly before any apparent disturbance in the tempera-
ture curve was exhibited, as illustrated in chart No. 4. Chart No. 9 is that of a
fowl which contracted the disease naturally while under observation at Muktesar,
and is included for comparison. It will be seen from this chart that the symptoms
of the naturally contracted disease are very similar in all essential details to those
observed in the artificially induced infection.

         Symptoms which were exhibited inconstantly, and which are seen usually, it is
understood, in the disease as it occurs under natural conditions, are marked respira-
tory distress, without, as is noted below, any post-mortem pathological lesion in
the lungs; a profuse discharge from the beak and nares associated with a very
offensive odour arising from decomposition of the contents of the crop; diarrhœa;
marked weakness of the limbs so that affected fowls are unable to keep on their
legs, and in chronic cases inco-ordination of the head and neck is seen. This last
symptom has been observed in a few fowls which have recovered from the disease.
They stand with the head bent backwards, often appearing to be normally at rest
with the head under the wing but when disturbed the head and neck are raised and
marked inco-ordination is exhibited, the head being waved in the air with irregular
circular motions. With extreme difficulty birds are then able to pick up food, but
nevertheless birds which have otherwise recovered have been kept under observation
at this Institute for many weeks exhibiting this disability to a very marked degree.
Paralysis otherwise has not been observed to be a marked symptom in experi-
mentally induced Ranikhet disease in fowls.

                                    POST-MORTEM APPEARANCES.

         Except for an excessive quantity of saliva, or exudate, in the buccal and
pharyngeal region, associated with a highly disagreeable odour, and possibly
emaciation in the more prolonged cases, the only lesions that can be referred to as
characteristic of the disease are discrete petechiae or ecchymoses found typically
in the submucosa of the proventriculus, but also occurring occasionally in other
positions in the digestive tract and very rarely in other organs, such as the lungs and
peritoneum. A localized catarrhal enteritis is not infrequently seen in one or other
of the following positions; duodenum, caeca or cloaca. In the most acute and

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