3. Diagnosis of Disease by Post-Mortem Symptoms
For purposes of diagnosis each organ must be examined. Note in each case if it is enlarged, spotted, ruptured, inflamed or engorged with blood. Observe if it is an unusual color or if it possesses any other symptom of an abnormal character.
A single symptom in a single organ, unless very pronounced and characteristic, will not be sufficient evidence for forming an accurate opinion as to the cause of death. But if the condition of the other organs and the symptoms before and attending death are taken into consideration, there will seldom be any difficulty, from a practical standpoint, in deciding upon the nature of the disease. Many points can be decided only by a pathologist with the aid of a microscope, such, for example, as the difference between coccidial and bacterial diarrhea, but it is quite enough for the poultryman to realize that one of his fowls has died of an attack of an acute form of diarrhea and that the rest of his birds may become infected.
The following notes draw attention to the main diagnostic symptoms observable on post-mortem examination, arranged under the heading of the organs affected. Other symptoms are put in parentheses.
Post-Mortem Symptoms
BRAIN
Apoplexy.—Shown by congestion of blood vessels of brain. (Staggering gait and sudden death.)
HEART
Cholera.—Punctiform hemorrhages are generally found in the heart in cases of cholera. (Yellow feces; diarrhea; sudden death of several or many fowls; inflammation of upper portion of intestines.)