Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-06-09
carbuncular Fever or Black Leg.

correspondent Of the Kentucky Live
Stock Journal writes thus of black leg:
p This is one Of group Of blood diseases to
which not only horned cattle but sheep and
hogs are liable. 1t occurs in calves geDor.
ally under the age Of eighteen months or
two years, after that age it exhibits itself in
other forms, either Of congestion of the
spleen, splenic apoplexy or in an abdominal
or euteritic form where there is excessive
congestion aud extravasation OF blood in the
intestines, kidneys, and other abdominal or
gans.
In sheep the disease exhibits itself chiefly
in the form of what in Scotland is termed
braxy, chiefly involving the abdominal or.
gaDs, where there is a rapid aud fatal de-
composition Of the blood aud other tissues Of
body.
Ia the hog the disease shows itself in the
skin as we'll as other parts, aud is termed
rcd sickness, red measles, ETC. The disease
Is often internally manifested as in the OK,
u then constitutes the dreaded and fatal hog
cholera Of this continent.
The months of May and June are tho
most fruitful Of attacks of black leg, although
the writer has frequently seen it in the au-
tumn months when there has been rapid
growth Of grass after long drought.
TIE causes OF the disease are chiefly diet
etic, occurring generally after change
from dry food to rich luxuriant pasture, in
ducing thereby a state of plethora or redun.
dancy Of rich blood in the system, more par.
ticularly when the change ia condition has
been preceded by previous stinting or when
the animal has been removed from a diet,
poor and unnutritious material, to an abun-
dance Of food of highly nutritious nature
The influences Of these causes upon the ami.
NAL economy induce within the blood certain
changes which tend to grave alteration in its
composition, and to its death and decompo-
sition.
This disease is rapid in its course, sometimes
fatal in a few hours. But there are generally
some indications of its commencement. The
animal which previous to the attack has
most likely been thriving rapidly, aud is very
probably the best Of the herd, becomes dull
and listless, is slightly lame in one or more
Of the legs, is tender about the loins, ribs, or
tanks, rapid, feeble pulse, and the mouth hot
and dry. ln q short time swellings occur
about the shoulders, back, loins or other parts
Of the body. The appetite is lost, rumina-
tion is suspended, the bowels constipated and
the urine scanty and high colored. The
swelings at FIRST tender, hot and painful to
the touch, become after fow hours cold aud
without feeling, and crepitate when handled.
The symptoms OF depression increase rapidly,
and death is the result.
Occasionally the disease will take on a
sub.acute character, particularly as the ami
NAL acquires age, when the swelling will sup
purate, leaving troublesome liberated sores
difficult to heal.
When the symptoms Of the disease become
fully developed little or no good can be af-
fected, but if recognized in the earliest stages
some few cases may, however, be amenable
to treatment purgatives must be used in the
| FIRST instance, with injections. Locally the
swelling may be fomented with very hot wa
ter, and strong stimulating enlbrocation ap.
piled. Ii crepitation under the skin is felt,
free incsions with lancet should be made
and punctures dressed with turpentine to
induce suppuration later than this stage
the chances of success 10 the treatment Of
this disease is so small, that, practically
speaking, it may be regarded as iucurable.
Prevention, however, is greatly it not al.
together in the power Of the breeder, and al
this season of the year it demands his most
serious attention, The disease sometime:
assumes the character of an epidemic, and
hence has been wrongly regarded as couta
gious. The true explanation of the matter
is, that the same predisposing cause Of dis
ease will operate on all animals exposed tc
its influence. On the first appearance O.
disease the breeder should at once remove
his herd to locality where the the herbagC
is not SO luxuriant, and reduce the plethora
Of the system by the administration of aperi
ents aud juiretics.