The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-10-19
Agricultural Department.
BY ALBERT CHAPMAN
Veterinary.

splenc apoplexy, black tongue and
malignant pustule. are terms all of
which are used to describe disease ola
malignant typhus character, which may,
under certain condition, or from inocu-
lntion, occur in any of our domestic
animals, or in man himself and which,
copying from the French, veterinarians
have come to recognize as "Charbon,"
simply from the fact that in whatever
part of the body the disease may be
located that part is always colored
black. The disease consists in special
alteration of the organic elements of the
blood, which becomes fluid, dark, coag-
ulates imperfectly, and contains the
elements which unite to form fibrin in
diminished quantity, or in an altered
condition. 1t may appear at any time,
but is less prevalent in winter than dur
ing the other seasons. Perhaps the
spring, from causes which will present
ly be shown, may be said to be the pre-
vailing time. 1t may occur in single
isolated case enzootically, that is
amongst certain herd, or epizootically,
attacking animals of any age-the fat
and vigorous as well as the lean and
feeble. cit is a remarkable fact that
wounds simple in themselves in cattle,
subject to the influences of Charlton,
although not suffering from it, often
become mortal"
The history ofcharbon is very ancient;
il "was well known in Asia Minor at
the period of the siege of Troy-and has
very well defined and exceedingly
fatal record since the early part of the
eighteenth century; has been, especially
in France, q matter of profound inyesti-
cation by veterinarians, medical socie-
ties and special governmental commits
sions.
The causes are arranged by the
French writers under four heads, viz.
LIST, influences of temperature; I'd, the
presence of swamps and stagnant ditch
es; Sd, food tainted with decomposing
animal and vegetable matters; and 4th
contagion. In support of this it is said:
LIST, that certain years which have been
signalizcd by excessive heat during the
months of July and August, have also
been signaized by the prevalence of
Charlton, therefore it is concluded ''that
high temperature, especially if pre-
coded by damp or moist atmosphere,
is very favorable to its development"
I'd, statistics show that Charlton is most
frequent in localities where swamps oc-
cupy large surface; and in countries
that are exposed to foundations, and
where animals are made to stand in
stagnant waters, the disease commits
great ravages; therefore it is concluded
that the examinations which are disen-
gagged from morasses or stagnant waters
produce the disease" Sd, even amongst
the French writers themselves, there
seems to be doubt rs to what extent
the food is actually to blame for the
occurrence of Charlton. That fungi will
sometimes produce it is proved, but that
they will as often or oftener produce
collie and Indigestion, is equally as well
founded; SO that it may be said that
mouldy food should always be avoided,
as likely to produce disease of some
sort, but il cannot be said that this is
entirely likely to be Charlton.
English authors on the other hand
"almost unanimously agree that the
malady is caused by errors in diet;
more particularly TO sudden and violent
changes in the feed, whether that
change be from poor to highly nutri-
tious, especially heterogeneous diet; or
from dry good food to watery, unripe
provendcr; to damaged food of any
kind; the influence of undrained lands;
defective drainage and ventilation of
stables; and to food and water contami
mated with the morbid products of
animals, which have died of blood
disease" AS far as contagion is con-
cerned, they say that whilst the disease
may be propagated by direct inocula-
ton, or by the introduction of the virus
along with the food, experience has
taught them that contagion by volatile
virus never occurs. And this last opin-
ion comedies, so far as | am aware,
with the experience of practitioners in
this country. We may have amongst
herd of cattle, that has been subject to
the same condition of care, ventilation,
food and water, an outbreak from which
several animals may die, one after the
other; but this must not be called con-
tagion, for it really is an enaootic out
break, and probable dependent upon
some one of the causes already named.
In animals under eighteen months or
two years old, the disease usually as
sumcs the form Of black leg, or black
quarter. The victim, generally the best
of the herd, and which before the attack
had been doing well, becomes listless;
has vague expression about the eyes,
and his ears hang; the pulse is rapid
and feeble, numbering from eighty to
one hundred and twenty beats per min
ute; the breathing somewhat labored
and quickened; the mouth hot and dry;
the animal stiff, lame and sore about
the loins, ribs and TANKS; he is unwill-
ing to move about, lies down much
and dislikes to rise. The appetite is
nearly or entirely lost; bowels consti-
pated; urine scanty and sometimes
high or even coffee colored; soon swell
lngs appear upon one or more of the
limbs, or on the loins, back, neck or
brisket; these increase rapidly in size,
evince but little sensibility, are cool or
cold to the touch, and if the disease has
existed short time, will be found to
give when handled slight cracking
noise. Depression increases very randi