The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-20
THE DISEASE AMONG CATTLE
"Black-Leg" Raging with Great Fatality
in Some of the Northern Counties.
A Doctors Description Of the Symptoms Of
the Strange Diseases and Advice for the
Treatment of the Affected Cattle.

The State Board of Health yesterday received
notification from Dr. Fulton, secretary of the
Wells county Board of Health, that cattle dis
ease is raging in the vicinity of hurry, that
county, and that in the past week twenty
head of cattle have died. Advice concerning
the disease was asked for. Dr. Pritchard will
make an investigation. He says the disease is
black-leg. and is fatal among fat cattle. but is
not contagious. 1t is usually caused by change
of pasturage. The same disease is also raging
in Montgomery. Owen and Putnam counties,
nearly 400 head having died during the past
month. The disease is entirely distinct from
pleuro- pneumonia and choose" and is caused by
blood poisoning
so far as known at present" says member
of the State Board of Health mo pleuro pneu-
mona is, or has been found within our borders.
The symptoms of hoose,' or verminous bronchi-
tbs, given by the best authorities, are cough,
short and harsh, gradually becoming hoarse and
finally assuming muf1ed sound. the animals
having the appearance of great fatigue. The
respiration varies from 70 to liz minute and is
labored and abdominal, and each breath is accom-
panied by slight cough or groan In some
cases the appetite remains good until twenty
four hours before death, emaciation gradually
taking place The pulse is weak and irregular.
The animals stand with their backs
arched, the heads down. the hind legs
drawn.under the body, and the fore feet spread
apart, with the elbows thrown outward. Frothy
secretions ooze from the nos tris. The coat is
staring, the skin shrive,ed, the eyes dull and in
some cases there is abundant discharge of saliva
In postmortem examinations, upon cutting
through the lungs there will be found large
numbers of thread-like worms, from three
fourths of an inch to and half inch in
length, in knots or massee. These worms are
immersed in frothy mucus, which fill the air
passages The treatment generally recon
mended is inhalation of fumes of burning sui
phur The cattle should bs removed from where
they have generally been kept This disease
generally attacks calves under one or two years
of age. and especially such as pastured on
lowlying lands, near rivers and subject to flood.
IAN animal having the 'black-leg becomes
languid, the ears drop, the eyes are red, the
mouth and nose hot and dry, and the pulse rapid
and feeble, from so to 120 beats per minute
In the course of short time swellings appear
about the lons, back, head, neck, brisket
legs. They cause pain or stiffness which make
the animal unwilling to move or rise up, if lying
down. The appetite is entirely lost When the
swellings mentioned are felt they are found to be
cool or cold, not very tender or painful, ana may
give out cracking sound. They are dark or
nearly black in color, having the appearance of
modification. In short time the symptoms of
exhaustion deepen greatly; TIE animal cannot
rise from the ground, the eye is fixed and star
ing, and the breathing is shallow.
1.-THE French writer's who have given this dis
ease especial study on account of its prevalence
in their country, teach that it arises from con-
taeion, from spoiled and tainted food, from pas
turing in low swamps and among stagnant pools
and from hot and damp seasons 1t is most
commonly seer in summer and autumn espe-
cially when the temperature is high and rain
frequent. NSvery successful method of treat
ment has as yet been discovered. 1t is said
however, that all bleeding, rurgng lowering
medicines are hurtful and that all local applica-
tons are useless. The best prescription is:
Chlorate of patash, half an ounce; water, one
pint Mix and give three times day This is
said to DO superior to all other medicines"