The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-10-15

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Preventive Against Blackleg.

Preventive Against Blackleg.
For several years frequent reports
have come to this bureau concerning
the great mortality from blackleg
among young stock in many widely
separated districts of the United States.
In some of the Southern and Western
states especially, the annual losses
from this fatal disease have been sc
great as to equal or exceed the losses
of cattle from all other causes combin.
ed. These losses have been particular.
ly felt by the progressive stock owners
as by far the largest percentage of the
calves which became affected were
either full-blooded or highly graded an
imals, which seem to be more suscept-
ible to this disease than the ordinary
common-bred stock. AS the continued
existence Of this disease has q very
detrimental effect upon the cattle in
dustry in general, and especially upon
those stock owners who, through un.
firing efforts and great. expense, have
%endeavored to improve their herds, an
investigation has been made by this
bureau with a view of devising some
measure through which the steadily In
creasing losses might be arrested or re.
duced as much as possible. In Europe,
where this disease has long prevailed,
the animal losses in certain badly in
fected districts became SO disastrous
cattle raising had to be abandoned.
About fifteen years ago three French
scientists, Arloing, Cornevin and
Thomas, succeeding in producing a vac
cine against blackleg, which is now ex-
tensively used in many countries where
the disease prevails to a serious extent.
The method consists in injecting into
each calf two doses of highly attenu-
ated blackleg virus, with an interval OF
ten days between the inoculations. The
first incubation is made with a very
mild vaccine, the so-called FIRST
lymph" and the second one with the
stronger virus, the Second lymph"
and in each case the vaccine is intro
duced by means Of a hypodermic
syringe under the skin Of the lower
part of the tail. This method, which
Is very inconvenient, especially where
q large number of animals are to be
treated. was later modified by a Ger
man scientist. Kilt, who reduced the
process to a single injection with less
attenuated virus, and who chose the
loose skin on the side of the chest Just
behind the shoulder, for the point OF
incubation. kits method. has been
adopted to a very large extent in east
ern Europe and northern. Africa with
very satisfactory results, and 1t has,
for that reason and on account OF its
simplicity, been taken az the founda-
ton for the Investigations made by this
bureau. A single vaccine has been
prepared in the pathological laboratory,
and subsequently tested on = large
number Of calves In Texas. both COM
mon and high grade stock. and the re-
suits warrant the conclusion that. this
vaccine il in every way satisfactory.
It 10 desired, however, before distrsb-
uting this vaccine to stock owners In
general to obtain a record OF several
thousand successful vaccinations. For
this purpose q quantity Of vaccine Will
be distributed to such parties % mai
desire to make preliminary vaccina-
lions and report the result to this bu-
reau. Those stock owners will be pre-
ferred who already have experience IN
vaccinating stock for blackleg and are
in possession Of q vaccinating outht.
Explicit instructions will, however, be
sent with the vaccine to secure uni
formity Of operation and to assist those
without previous experience In vaccin'
ations. Persons lacking the necessary
outfit to test the vaccine should procure
one II they propose to test the vaccine
1t consists Of q graduated s C. c. syringe
with detachable needles. a small por'
celain mortar and pestle, a glass fun
!, mel and some filters. This outfit can
not be supplied by the department. bu'
must be purchased of some house which
} supplies such articles.s
Upon applying for vaccine please an
, swer the following questions:
) l. To what extent does blackleg pre-
vail in your part of. the country ant
how great is your animal loss from THU
disease?
O.. What experience have you had !,
fascinating calves against blackleg?
g.. How many head do you wish t
5 vaccinate and what class of cattle ar
they, common, graded or full blood?
4. What is your express office
sThe outfit is prepared in accordanc
ar A.. a1onu ~ thio hlroau tn NEE