The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-02-22
BIack-Leg-Dev and
Danger.

Stephen Bradley describes black-leg
as occurring in his calves and year
lings, and IN those of his neigh bors in
Republic Co., Kan. Swellings appear
between the fore limbs, on the hind
quarters and other parts of the body,
and after death the flesh on such parts
is swollen, black, and as if 1t were
bruised. The food in the stomache
manifold p was as dry as sawdusE. In
cases like this in which the stomach is
dried and inactive, something may be
done to ward off the disease by feed
ing laxative food, such as roots, oil
cake, cornstalks (devold of smut,j by q
free supply of pure water, or even by
laxative drugs like EPSON or Glauber
salts. These last may be given to
yearlings in doses of thrGe-Qusrters of
a pound, and to eigth-monEh calves,
half pound. If the stock is very fieshy,
or thriving very rapidly this may be
repeated weekly; or a short cord,
smeared with oil of turpentine or pure
carbOlic acid, may be passed through
not hole in the skin of the dewlap, tied
and worn there. So strong is the
predisposiriOn of young, plethoric ami
mails to such attacks, that these may
often be waIded off in great measure
by this wearing of seton in the dew
lap.
Again, every care should be taken
tn supply an abundance of pure water,
and to have the food sound, and clear
of any suspicion of mustiness or cryp-
togamic growth. A herd In which the
disease has broken out should take in
their fodder or water carbolic acid,
iodide of potassium, and bisulphate OF
soda at the rate of a teaspOOnful OF the
80 -, =
one drachm of the third, per head
daily for each yearIing. Half the dos
es may be given to six month calves.
This, with change of pasturage, and
especially to the higher, better drained
soil, and above all, exclusion from the
products of the sick and the vicinity,
of the graves OF the dead, should
promptly cut short the ravages of the
malady.
The poison developed in such cases
is q vegetable parasite, which is easily
destroyed at certain stages of its
growth, but at others is almost indie
structible, and may be preserved in
definitely in the soil, in grass, in fod-
der, on fences, trOughs, floors, walls,
etc. It will even resist q short boiling,
and thus proves most insidious enc
my, though fortunately il is fixed, and
OOeS uoG Ecduly SpECAuE 4blIOaRu the
air. This poison, moreover, is COM
naCnicable TO man, hence the utmost
precaution should be used in handling
such diseased animals or their pro-
ducts, and in disinfecting all ground,
grass, and objects with which they
have come in contact
For this purpose, chloride of lime
will prove one of the best agents
though a sprinkling with strong oil Of
Vitrioi will usually answer the pur-
pose. Grass should be fenced in, and
pastures which have been much con-
Eaminated should, If possible, be sub
jected 70 q rotation of crops. The dis
ease runs in its course so rapidly thai
treatment IL rarely available, yet Eh,
victims may be freely dosed with the
agents advised as preventives, tn,
bowels may be opened WITH full dose
of salts, and washes of one-half cunc'
carbOlic acid in one quart vinegar maj
be frequently applied on the swelli0gs
II 3 hy podermic syringe can be had
inject the swsllings with a strong solu
zion OF joiIde OF potassium and hFpO
} tsuIphiIe OF soda.-Pfotessor jaime
Law IN n. i. Tribune.