Diseases Due to Indigestion
In this class may be included degeneration, inflammation, congestion, enlargement, and atrophy of the liver. There are more or less distinct differences in these diseases, but the only possible methods of treatment known at present are very much the same.
Symptoms. There are no definite external symptoms. The poultryman’s suspicions should, however, be aroused if fowls apparently in good health die suddenly. A post-mortem examination will reveal a liver of abnormal size, or somewhat shrunken, and of unhealthy texture.
Cause. The cause is generally something wrong in the feeding. Fowls may be eating too large a proportion of heat-producing foods and not enough green food. If an enlarged liver is associated with an excessive layer of fat covering the internal organs, it points to too large quantities of carbohydrates.
Treatment. Correct errors in feeding. Give more green food and let the fowls scratch for some of their grain. If errors in feeding and general management are not obvious, make experimental changes.
Diseased Livers Due to Specific Diseases
Tuberculosis, coccidiosis, gout and other specific diseases are responsible for spotted or diseased livers. (Fig. 24.) The section on diagnosis by post-mortem examination gives further information on these subjects and shows how the principal diseases may be distinguished.
The term cancer is sometimes applied to cases in which there are tumors on the liver.
MAGGOTS
Occasionally found in flesh wounds of poultry
Symptoms. A flesh wound that instead of healing develops into a sore with a slight running. On examination, maggots will be found.