The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-08-04

The Presence OF h Disease In Wyo.
ming Near Centennial. carbon
County.
The Peeuiiarities of the Dread Alice
tion. Its Causes nnd Prevention.

AT Tine Time OF DIR. Hopkins depar-
ture a few days since for Laramie City
and Centennial. the LEADER stated the
object of his journey-to investigate
into the death and cause thereof of
certain cattle which were reported to
have died from what was called by the
stock men in the neighborhood Black
leg" Such it proved to be.
DR.. Hopkins returned yesterday and
the results of Lis investigation were
CLEANED by a representative of this
paper.
The cattled infected belonged to Pc
ter Christensen and NJ. Walbol, who
have their ranch on the Middle Fork
of the Little Laramie river near Cen
tennial, in Carbon county. Together
these gentlemen " about 400 head
out of which ID head have died within
the past three weeks. The herd is
made up of cattle from 4 months to 2
years old, end the deaths were among
the younger and most hearty stock.
However one three year old steer died
among the others.
DR.. Hopkins drove to the range of
these gentlemen. and made u post NOR
tenn examination of the dead bodies,
discovering all the LESSONS peculiar to
Anthrax, or as it is commonly known,
"Blackleg."
Anthrax, as the name indicates, is a
blood poison. 1t is rot "a contagious
disease in the manner that contagion
is usually considered. That is, one
may take an animal affected with this
dread disease and place it in the midst
of a healthy herd far removed from the
scene of the disease, and the healthy
animals will not be affected by twill
not ''catch it" az the term is. Thus it
is plainly seen that it is not a conta-
gion.
The manner of the spread of An
thrax is easily explained. 1t is IA pois-
oning of the blood, and when the ami
NAL dies, if it fall ill a water course, if
it lay where the wash of storms is into
a stream, the water becomes impregua.
ted with the poisonous germs Of the
disease and through it it. ls c~ommunica-
ted to the animal which Stakes its
thirst with this infected water. More
than this, If used for irrigating puTpo-
ses this water poisons the grass, it Dur-
lures and this in turn communicates
the dread disease to the cattle which
feed upon it. Ii the animal lies unbur-
led upon the range the body becomes
a decaying heap of poison to he washed
space, and a vision Of death To all ap.
preaching kind.
The cause of the ''Blackleg'' in plain
terms, is exceedingly high living. 1t
affects animals who are grazing i'll very
rich nutritiye feed, which is partaken
in very large quantities with not suli-
cient exercise to insure perfect assimi-
~lation, thus poisoning the blood, in
stead of ladening it with life. Older
cattle are very rarely affected with the
disease, but it is almost invariably CON
fined to those from II months to > years
old.
The cure of this disease in the west
ern cattle, must be in its prevention iu
unaffected members of the herd. This
is easily effected when the causes of the
affection are known. Plenty of exer-
else and more sterile and less favorable
ranges will accomplish this. In the
cases cited at the beginning of this ar
tlcle, the territorial veterinarian, DR..
Hopkins, advised that the herd be driy-
Ell from ten to thirteen miles daily and
corraled iu n corral where they would
have no food perhaps eighteen hours
per day.
If This or similar precautions should
be taken, according To the circumstan-
ces, there would be found no
trouble in putting Il narrow
Init to the disease. Tire bodies
of the dead animals should be buried
deep or burned. In the case of the cat
tie referred to; the dead animals were
gathered together and buried deep in Il
Shnuy Waotti anu lheb oultS coNtIoi
with lime 10 hasten dissolution.
The disease ls nOt an absolutely in
durable one. Among farm stock where
remedial agents may be applied. the
diseased animals are often saved, but
owing to their wild condition, the size
Of the herd, and consequent danger In
attempting anything Of the kind, such
measures are inpracticable here, and the
cure must lie ill prevention.
DIR. Hopkins rode over the range and
carefully examined the estock, finding
all healthy, aud ventures the opinion
that ii his advice is followed further
spread of the disease will he prevented.
BEANY.
Returning to Laramie City, the ter.
ritorial v~eterinsrian stopped at several
sheep ranches TO examine into their
condition as regards the presence of
contagious and infectious diseases.
Stopping at the ranch of Edward Far
rel, on the Little Laramie river, he
found u mortality i'll the flock which
was justly causing some alarm.
On Monday last, Mr.. Farrell lost ~
sheep; OR Tuesday he lost IA aud
Wednesday, the day DR.. Hopkins mr.
rived, saw the mortality continued.