The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-01-10

Before the Iowa STAGE Agricultural IL
;. j. l. Gibson, State Veterinary. III
afflicted with this disease should be
isolated until cured and all contamin-
ated bedding and vegetation burned be-
cause the germs live OH vegetation and
upon being taken in by animals repro
duce the disease.
Blacl-Leg
Is an infectious disease more particu-
larly of young cattle which used to be
classed with anthrax but now is known
to be the result of distinct germ
which though resembling the bacillus
of anthrax is somewhat different. The
bacillus OF black-'eg is rodlike but en-
larged at one end SO as to appear some
what clubshaped. At this larger end
will be found the spore of the bacillus
which has similar powers of endurance
and resistance to those of the anthrax
bacillus. In this disease we have tum-
ors or swelling peculiar to the disease,
hence its name. The swelling is some
times very extensive embracing the en-
tire region of the hips or shoulders. 1t
may appear about the neck or throat.
1t never extends below the knee or
hook. You are doubtless all familiar
with the peculiar rattling or cracking
sound heard when stroEing the swelling
This disease is not considered trans
missable from one animal to another
or rather is not often communicated in
that way, although to remove the hide
from an animal dying of black leg and
allow the carcass to remain the spores
may be transmitted to other animals
through the atmosphere, vegetation or
water. The disease generally spreads
from the improper disposal of carcasses
OF one outbreak which allows the spores
to sc deposited in the soil and from it
to get onto the grass and thus cause
another outbreak. Animals have been
known to develope the disease from
grazing over the grave of an animal
which died of black leg seven years be-
fore. Therefore as in anthrax all ami
mails of black-leg should be cremated
together with eXcreta, litter and con-
taminated soil. In the fall of ~ wit
messed peculiar outbreak of blackleg
few miles from this city. A gentle
man bought a number of four-year old
bulls and some steers for the feed yard.
The bulls were emasculated but did not
recover very well from the operation.
The owner said hs thought most of
them would die. After recovering
somewhat from the above condition
they were taken worse and began to
die. In answer to an Official call l
found unmistababIe evidence of black
leg in animals that are ordinarily inn
mune to the disease. explained to
the owner that having been reduced by
the operation they were made subject
to the disease while in full vigor they
would have resisted the advances of the
J bacillus. In this case three of the
steers were seen licking the pus from
the wounds and they took the disease.
This case proved conclusiyely to me
that the adult is free from the diseases
of the young because of their power of
resistance but in this case their system
Initiated and constitution weakened
they became the victim of disease
J they could have resisted had their
! health not been impaired. In blacklegthe
best preventive and curative is found
in vaccination which is believed to pro-
duce complete immunity for period OF
eight months. 1t is being used on
thousands of young cattle annually
with satisfactory results. l therefore
recommend heartily the black-leg vac.
cine as sure preventive and in many
instances it has cured animals present
: ing unmistakable symptoms OF the
} disease.
Chambers and Farcy.
Chambers and farcy are different
forms of one disease the result Of the
action of the glander bacillus. In
. CHAMBERS the respiratory system is the
seat of disease. la farcy the Emphatic
glands of the exterior of the ANNA
and more particularly of the hind legs
although sometimes first seen in one
front leg. The virus discharging from
the farcy ulcer will produce CHAMBERS
and the discharge from glandess will
produce farcy. The form developed de.
ponds upon the seat of innoculation
There is no virus which appears in SC
many degrees of virulence as that OF
CHAMBERS. We find the period of incu.
baton varying from a few days to APP.
parently years which is said to be due
, largely to the susceptibility of the ami
NAL. There are at least two we'll mark.
cd foryuo Of nIopdorc wiz oo,to on,