Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-17
VACCINE FOR BLACKLEG
Brownish Powder Put Up in Packets, Ten
Doses Each.
The Remedy Furnished by the De-
Issued Containing Information.

The Department Of Agriculture, through
its bureau of animal industry, has just pre-
pared vaccine for the cattle disease known
as .'bIackleg" 1t has also issued a circular
containing facts about the dis itself and
full directions for using the vaccine. 1t is
desired by the bureau that before the vac
cine Is distributed to stock owners in gen.
eral, a record be obtained of several thous-
and successful vaccinations. For this pur-
pose quantity of vaccine will be distrib-
uted to such persons who desire to make
preliminary vaccinations and report the
results to the bureau. The vaccine as put
up by the bureau consists of a brownish
powder, which is prepared in packets con-
tanning ten doses each.
Frequent reports have come to the bu-
reau for several years in reference to the
great mortality from "blackleg" among
young stock in many widely separated dis
tricts of the United States. The annual
losses. especially in some of the southern
and western states, have been SO great as
to equal or exceed the losses of cattle
from all other causes combined. They have
been felt particularly by the progressive
stock owners, as the largest percentage of
the calves which became affected we're
either full-blood or highly graded animals
which seem to be more susceptible to the
disease than the ordinary common-bred
stock.
Detrimental Effect.
The continued existence of the ''biack-
leg has had such detrimental effect upon
the cattle industry in general, and espe-
cially among those stock owners who have
endeavored to improve their herds at great
expense, that an investigation was made by
the bureau with the view to providing
in losses might be prevented or reduced as
mucr possible
The annual losses in certain badly infect
ed districts III Europe, where the disease
long prevailed. became so disastrous that
cattle raising had to be abandoned. Three
French scientists twelve or fifteen years
ago succeeded In producing a "blackleg''
vaccine. This is used extensively now in
number of countries where the disease pre-
walls. The method used is that of injecting
Into each calf two doses of highly attenu-
ated ''blackleg" virus. with an interval of
ten days between the two innoculations
A very mild vaccine is used for the first
which is called 1.-The first lymph" The SUBJ
sequent one with stronger virus, is 1.-THE
second lymph" In each case the vaccine is
introduced by means of a hypodermc
syringe under the skin of the lower part
of the animals tail. Later this method,
which is very inconven ent, especially where
large number of animals are to be treat
ed, was me dified by a German scientist He
re ;,I ID the process to single injection
with less attenuated virus and chose the
loose skin just behind the shoulder for the
point of the innocuation
Satisfactory Method.
This method was adopted very extensive
ly and very satisfactorily in eastern Europe
and northern Africa. For that reason it
has, on account of its simplicity, been taken
as the foundation for the Investigation
made by the bureau.
What is known ''single vaccine was
prepared in the pathological laboratory
Subsequently it was tested on a large num-
Der Of calves in Texas, both of high grade
stock and common. The result warranted
the conclusion that the vaccine is salts
factory in every manner. 1t is hoped at
the bureau that by the vaccine method the
'blackleg' will be effectually stamped out