The Butte inter mountain., 1901-12-18
BLACkLEG VACCINE
MONTANA CATTLE MEN MAY Sc
CURE 1T FREE.
NEED A LARGE APPROPRIATION
State Veterinarian Knowles SAYS That
Every Effort Is Being Made to
Stamp Out the Disease.
Especial to Inter Mountain.)

Helena, Dec. 1S.-The government dis
tribution of blackleg vaccine in Mon
tana during the last year has amounted
to more than 100000 doses In addition
to this large amount of vaccine has
been supplied Montana cattlemen by the
manufacturing chemists.
An estimate is made by DR. NJ, E.
Knowles, state veterinarian, that IS per
cent of the calves in Montana are vac
cinated and comparatively shall num-
Der OF the cattle of the state have not
been submitted to the tes., which makes
them immune from the ravages of
b.ack!eg.
While many stockmen have availed
themselves of the government offer Of
free vaccine, the lary ryest outfits have
purchased their vaccine from the manu-
featuring chemists.
The government only furnishes what
is known as the single dose vaccine, and
many cattlemen prefer to be on the safe
side, and therefore purchase the double
dose vaccine.
Manufacture vaccine at Home.
a pan has been projected which looks
to the manutacture by the state of it's
own vaccine Cor distribution among the
stoclmen. TO make the scheme practi-
cal it VIII be necessary for the legisla-
ture to make quite an appropriation to
purchase the necessary apparatus for it's
manufacture. 1t would also require the
services of a number of people.
The niftter has been discussed by
a number Of ca:l;elnen, but TO action
has been taken officially by the Montana
Stock association, a.thcugh it is lelieved
that stockrnen generally are heartily in
favor Of the plan.
Zach ycar the government distribution
o: vaccine in the Western cattle states
has steadily increased. The demand for
Naccii G in Montana has been larger
than in other cattle states with the pos
sible exception of Texas.
"Cattlemen are rapidly appreciating
the necessity for vaccination and there
are but few cattle in Montana that have
not been vacciuated." said DR.. NJ. e.
Knowles discussing the matter today.
Each year has seen a greater amount
of vaccine used ard Of necessity less loss
from blackleg."
Montana stOckmen are embrac cling
every opportunity to improve and pro-
tect their herds. For time there was a
prejudice against vaccination, but it's
necessity has become well established
and it will be but a short time until
every head of stock in the state will
have been vaccinated.
May Secure Vaccine Free.
1.-THE loss from blackleg this year has
been comparatively small. indeed, insig-
nificant. This is due very largely to the
fact that great numbers of the cattle in
Montana have been made immune from
the disease, and that everywhere the
stockmen are pursuing the most intelli-
gent and up to date methods.
Il have just ordered from the govern
ment $4,000 doses of vaccine that will
arrive in Helena within a short time.
Cattlemen who have stock may secure
the vaccine free Of charge by writing
me.
1.-THE same result may be obtained by
writing to the department of animal in
dustry at Washington. 1t usually re-
quires about two weeks to get orders
sent to Washington filed.
Zone. Of the principal arguments in
favor Of the establishment of state
distribution of vaccine is the fact that
it could be supplied on short notice. and
cattlemen could at all times procure a
fresh supply from the state department.
There are other advantages which
would doubtless develop after the plan
had been in operation for some time."