The Springfield herald., 1898-02-11
Blackleg Ill Cattle.

The following is from Il letter
read at the State Convention
recently held in Denver:
"Ihe subject of this letter Is
quite old. Much was seen of 1t
before the davs of baclerloloey
when it was considered as a form
of anthrax. But the real nature
of the disease and its dilferentia-
ton from anthrax proper date
back some Is wears, when the or
ganism caused the disease was
discovered. 1t is known as ''black
quarter, ''black leg 'chnrbon
symptomatlque' of the French and
'rauschbrand' OF the German. 1t
exists in the low lying lands and
is more or less restricted to certain
pastures, thereby closely resemb-
ling anthrax. Undrained and
swamp pastures are more infected
than higher, better drained lands.
In fact the cases which have
seen have been confined exclusive
ly to these lands. There is one
section nt the state of MARYLAND
where it appears every wear and
this land borders river and is
low. This, l think. is the general
observation of veterinarians
throughout the country, though
unfortunately collective statistics
are not at hand upon the subject.
The cattle attacked are in good
condition. One of the first symp
toms seen is gass in the areolar
tissues inside OF the thigh, which
extends very rapidly around the
leg and up over the quarters. The
hind legs are rarely effected below
the hook and the front legs below
the knees. "Fully 80 per cent of
the yearling calves and those under
IS months old die. If, when it ap.
pears in a herd they are lmmedi-
ately changed to high pastures the
disease stops with those already
affected. and in very exceptional
cases there NAV be cure of some
of those affected. Death occurs in
from one to three days after the
appearance of the disease. AS to
the cure the suiphate of iron
seems to have as good effect as
anything, and it has been recon-
meuded that If an animal be kept
on the run when first affected a
cure will be brought about. just
why this should be it is hard TO
say, unless the mechanical irrita-
ton has something to do with the
absorption of the germs. 1t has
also been recommended to make
bold inclsions into the swollen
parts and to dress the cuts with n
strong solution of carboiic acid. 1t
is we'll to make deep incisions
where the parts are swollen from
infection, but the efficiency Of the
carbolic treatment may be some
what doubtful. The disease Is
very rapid in its development and
heroic measures must be resorted
to quickly If anything is to be done
for the patients affected. There
fore 1t may be we'll to try the
above treatment. While the meth
ods of cure are not at ali satistac
tory, we have at hand for this dis
ease sure means of prevention
III the inocculatlon of modified
virus. This is the method discov-
cred by three French veterinarians
Arloing, Covnevin, and Thomas
1t consists of the drying of the
muscular tissues from the site OF
the swelling, and then its mixture
with two parts of water, and the
whole mass raised to certain
temperature in ovens. Two vac
clnes are thus prepared, the one
by raising the temperature to 202
degrees Fahr. for SIN hours, and Il
second, or stronger vaccine, by
submitting to Il temperature of ] St
degrees Fahr. for the same length
of time. These vaccines are ground
up in water and the second IN
Jected 10 days after the first. Both
are inserted through the skin OF
the tail. The post mortem changes
in this disease are blackened
plSeOus condition of the parts