The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-11-27
= Farm and Stock -

. o o o 8 O @ o o o @ o 9 o @ 90 6
IN URING the past four years a
lily great revolution of sentiment
uU concerning the use of blackleg
vaccine has occurred among
the stockmen of Montana. When State
Veterinarian NJ. E. Knowles intro
duced it in 1897, it was looked up
on almost with suspicion by the ma
jority of Montana owners of cattle.
Now it's use is general all over the
state and is increasing every year.
Figures demonstrate this without
question. Last month, by actual
count, 1910 doses Of the vaccine
were ordered from the government
bureau of animal industry at Wash
ington, d. c., through the Office of
the state veterinarian alone. This
does not represent more than third
of the amount probably used during
that time.
DR.. Knowles says that the orders
sent to him, which he forwards to
Washington by wire, are only the
''hurry-up" orders, sent in cases of
great emergency.
Most of the ranchers order the vac
cine regularly from the Washington
department without waiting for the
appearance of blackleg; SO they have
it on hand when the disease does un-
fortunately make it's appearance.
They fill out blank and forward to
the department, and the vaccine is
forthcoming in due course of time.
If those who have none of it on
hand see their calves begin to die,
they appeal to Dr. Knowles for as
sistance and he orders for them.
"In 1897, when introduced black
leg vaccine into Montana" said DR..
Knowles, "only twenty doses came
into the state. got that many sim
ply to show cattlemen what it would
10. It's use, however, has been rap
idly increasing unil believe at least
100000 doses are distributed through
out Montana in a year.
"Those who use this vaccine once,
generally continue it's use, and such
have no losses from blackleg. 1t is
only necessary to vaccinate wean-
lings, yearlings and 2-year-olds. The
disease very rarely attacks older cat
tie, perhaps once in hundred thous-
and times"
Discussing other questions coming
up in the routine of his Office, DR..
Knowles also said:
For the past six weeks there has
been a mild type of Influenza pre-
vailing among horses in Montana. 1t
is a type from which the animals
get we'll if they have any sort of
care. The only fatalities from it I
have known were where the horses
were worked during the sickness.
Il have just received from Ger
man firm something that will great
ly interest the sheepmen, if it does
all they claim for it. 1t is a sheep
dip, and they claim it will cure the
scab with one dip. It will be great
thing if this is true. They send some
good testimonials from two German
veterinary professors.
They sent me enough to dip fifty
or sixty sheep. will give it a thor.
ough test and will make known the
result to the sheepmen. The great
trouble will be to find any scabby
sheep on which to try it.
In beginning this test, l realize
that German conditions are very diff
ferent from those prevailing here
Over there the man who owns fiji
teen or twenty head of sheep is con
siderei big sheepman. Here the
man who has thirty or forty thous
and head is an average owner. Ir
the one case they can spend half &
day dipping eight or ten sheep, while
a dip of twenty-five hundred a day
here is considered fairly good work
But if this new dip will do all tina
is claimed for it, and save the sheep
men from all but one dip, it will
mean a saving of a good many dol
lars to- them in the course of I
year."