The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1893-09-30

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prevailed among the cattle and horses
on the Truckee Meadows and other
low-lying meadows east of the Sierra
Nevada, causing the loss of many head.
In March, 1892, my attention was
eslled to the trouble and since then /
have spent much of my spare time in
yssiigating the subject. Cattle men
and rsachers have called the disease
murrain, blackleg and various other
names, but it is determined that the
disease is anthrax, or Charlton. Post
norton examinations have been held
on number of animals, and after
numerous microscopic examinations,
have no hesitation in making de-
cided diagnosis.
It is blood disease caused by the
multiplication and development Of in
Vulnerable germs, known TO bacter-
biologists as bacilli of anthrax. These
germs become so abundant as to COM
pletely clog and burst many of the
smaller blood vessels, resulting in the
formation of numerous blood splotch-
es on the surface of the intestines and
other internal organs. Frequently
these become SO numerous as to run
together and form large areas. The
spleen or melt usually becomes en-
gored with the bacilli and decomposed
blood SO that it becomes greatly en-
larged, loses its normal structure and
consistency, becomes black and pulpy.
From the fact that the spleen is so
Frequently effected, the disease is
widely known as splenetic fever. The
disease may manifest itself by exter-
nal swellings on various parts of the
body, especially 50 in horses, where
they appear usually about the throat
or neck, or along the middle line of
the belly. These swellings increase
in size until it seems that the horse
died from strangulation. Animals
affected usually have fever, are much
depressed, becoming very weak, the
heart beats rapidly, breathing becomes
difficult and they usually die in agony.
In cattle, the disease may kill like a
shot, or the animal my live for few
hours, or may inger for several days.
Death almost invariably results.
The subject is too extensive for a
full discussion of its symptoms and
characteristics in newspaper article,
and a bulletin is in course of prepar-
alton that viii be issued Z. few
weeks by the Agricultural Experiment
Station. Any citizen of the State
DESTROYS Of securing one of these bulle-
tins may obtain it free of cost by
making written request and send
ing his address to the Agricultural
Experiment Station, Reno.
The diseaes has doubtless existed in
low lying meadows throughout the
whole western country since its ear
hest settlement. A few years ago it
became epidemic in Southern Califor-
MIA, killing thousands of cattle. 1t is
known to prevail in the lower Mississ-
ippi Valley and is reported epidemic
from various sections of the United
States. 1t is world wide In distribu-
ton, and was know as murrain in the
time of Moses. 1t is an infectious dis
ease and for its development must de-
pend upon the introduction Of the germ
into the system In the strict sense
of the term, it is not contagious, as
is Pleuro- pneumonia in cattle or scar
let fever in man. Like typhoid fever,
it is usually indirectly communicated
from one animal to another through
the natural discharges Of the body.
As in typhoid fever, the germs passed
with the discharges may find favor
able conditions outside the body for
their multiplication and development,
consequently disseminating the dis
ease.
The usual mode Of infection of an
thrax in animals is through contami-
mated grasses and water, and through
wounds and insect bites. Horses, cat
tie, sheep, hogs ldoubtfulIy) and man
are susceptible to the disease. In man
the usual mode of infection, is through
accidental wounds and through the eat
ing Of flesh and products Of animals
affected with the disease.
Great caution should be used in
handing animals that are sick or dead