Answer:

Genuine fowl cholera is not often found. It is often confounded with some forms of indigestion that produce somewhat the same symptoms, and are generally fatal. Cholera proves fatal in about 3 or 4 days and treatment is useless.

As good a remedy as any, or one that will be as apt to produce results, is one dram of hydrochloric acid in a quart of water. Give a teaspoonful twice a day.

One of the symptoms is loss of appetite, but in exceptional cases it has been observed that the fowl will eat nearly to the time it dies.

One of the first symptoms noted is the yellow coloration of that part of the excrement voided by the kidneys, which in a healthy fowl is white, but this is present in other diseases, and in itself is not an infallible indication of cholera.

The droppings are constant and are thin and watery, changing from yellow to green. The bird droops and falls into a drowsy condition, from which it is with difficulty aroused.

The crop is sometimes distended and has the appearance of being paralyzed. There is great weakness and loss of flesh, and the bird falls over at the slightest touch.

The diarrhea is severe from the start, and the comb turns pale and seemingly bloodless. In some cases the bird dies in convulsions.

A postmortem examination shows the gall bladder distended and the liver greatly enlarged and dark green in color. Cholera is a germ disease and is generally communicated by afflicted birds contaminating the ground with their droppings and those coming in contact with food or grit taken by other birds.

The wisest course to pursue in case of cholera is to isolate all afflicted birds, kill and bury them and thoroughly clean and disinfect the houses and runs.

As a disinfectant use one pound of carbolic acid in 10 quarts of warm water. Use a sprinkling can such as is used in sprinkling flowers and apply liberal quantities of the solution once a day for at least a week.