The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-03-21
Prevention Of Animal Disease.


subject of the prevention of disease in
animals, and gives some valuable hints
worthy OF the attention of all live stock
owners. After abiding to the wide dam
age caused by disease, the article SAYS:
There is no doubt that the losses of
sheep, swine and cattle, that might be
prevented by proper precautions and
care, amount to one-fifth of the whole
value of these classes of stock. One
hundred million of dollars yearly would
not more than cover these losses. The
greatest misfortune is that much disease
is spread by infection and contagion
among herds and tlocks that would other
wise escape. Animals are subject to all
the dangerous influences which affect the
health of human beings. Miasma, ma
laria, exposure to sudden and severe
changes of temperature; the consump-
ton of innutritious or indigestible food
or impure water; overlooking, underfeed-
ing, or irregular feeding; exposure to
foul air or tilth-all these affect mans
beasts as quickly as they would injuri-
ously affect himself. The instinct of
self. preservation and the well.known re-
suits of these causes tend greatly to Sc
cure mankind from danger from them,
and where the individual fails to preserve
himself the public safety prompts effects
i've legal measures to compel him to OBJ
serve proper precautions. But as regard
our domestic animals, when an individ-
ual fails to preserve his own property it
is only in few cases that any legal pro-
visions are in force for the protection of
that of his neighbors. Thus disease
among cattle of all kinds may spread I'M
checked through an extensive district
from one seed bed of pestilence and con-
tagion. 1t is time that this risk which
farmers are obliged to encounter should
be removed. We do not propose, how
ever, at this time to consider this view of
the case, but only to offer suggestions
which are pertinent at this season for the
preservation of the health of animals
that may be exposed to danger. The
present season is peculiarly full of risk.
1t is one when sudden changes of tenn
perature occur; when the surface soil is
highly charged with decomposing vege
table matter, the gases from which are
absorbed by water or mingled with the
atmosphere, and thus have an active eff
feet upon the systems of animals; and,
also, a period when the heritage is hard,
innutritious, indigestible, or positively
hurtful from partial decomposition. The
stratum of air resting upon meadows and
pastures, either drained or undrained, but
more particularly those in the latter con-
lition, is filled with miasmatic or mala-
rial germs which are breathed by ami
mails and enter into their circulation.
The water they drink is also highly
charged with these minute destructive
organisms. Although these may not OF
themselves in all cases induce disease
directly, yet they enfeeble the vitality
and create q more sensitive condition,
in which animals become an easy
prey to contagion or infection. Human
beings, under these circumstances, avoid
all dangerous or deleterious articles of
food or drink; they ventilate, disinfect,
and purify their dwellings; they observe
caution as to changes of clothing and
fortify themselves with medicines or ton
les against the approaches of disease, and
avoid with greatest care all danger OF
contagion. But what owners of animals
observe these precautions3 Very few, II
any. Nothing is done until the animal
il stricken, and then the worst has already
happened. To treat an animal that gives
no sign until it is at the point OF death is
useless.
There is no help for these cases but
in precaution. If such sanitary rules are
observed in the stables and yards as are
practiced in dwellings, the danger of dis
ease would be greatly reduced. If pre-
cautions as to food and water were taken,
il unwholesome pastures were lett unoc-
cupied, if cleanliness in feeding were
practiced, and no animal was permitted,
much less obliged, to drink or eat filth of
any kind, the natural robustness and
hardness of our cattle would carry them
safely through multitude of milder dan
gers. At this change Of the seasons,
when so much dead matter is going to de
cay.it is necessary to exercise great watch
fulness in regard to these things. Not
only so. but the animals themselves need
close watching, that the first indication
that there is something amiss may be OBJ
served. and immediate treatment be
given. In case anything is observed to
90 wrong, the first thing to be done is to
clear out the bowels by an active saline
purpstiye-S to 10 ounces of EPSON salts
is generally the most effective and the
safest that can be given. After this, CO.
pious drinks of very thin Cruel of bran,
iinseed. meal or oatmeal, may be given
with benefit. Asa rule bleeding is to be
strictly avoided as dangerous resource
and an almost, if not altogether, fatal