The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-18
ISSUES A
BULLET TIN
ON VACCINE
Experiment Station Tells What
Has Been Done
ALL REQUESTS ARE HEEDED
Cattle Over Three Years of
Age Are immune

Guthrie. o. T, June 1.-THE Oklahoma
experiment station AT Saltwater has IS
sued an interesting bulletin on the dis
tribution OF vaccine for blackieg among
cattle. An appropriation was made by
the legislature for the distribution Of
vaccine in Oklahoma.
The bulletin sa/s cattle over three years
of age are practically immune to black
leg, while younger and rapidly growing
cattle are very susceptible. Inc some
localities the general opinion prevails
that calves under six months of age will
rot have the disease. This is mistake,
as numerous letters received VIII show.
There are maEy cases CT the disease
in young calves ana unmistakabie cases
are occasionally reported in three and
-year-olds. Range cattle are not IS
susceptible as wCn bred animals and
this may explain the fact that blackleg
is more cOmomoa among well bred ami
mails than on ranges where no 2ttenticl
is given to the Improvement of the stock.
The disease is also more common, III
proportion 10 the number OF animals, in
the agricultural portions of the. terri
tory than ii the portions devoted entire
ly-so range purposes.
The germ that causes blacl<leg is a
short. rod-shaped body, about one-three-
tbousaudth Of an inch in length. They
are always found in large numbers IN
the bloody fluid and black muscle at
the seat Of the disease and for this rea-
son the material shoould be buried and
rot allowed to get scattered over pas
ture. The germ will grow only when
oxygen Is kept from it and the growth
is always accompanied by gas procuc-
ton. Numerous experiments have been
conducted to determine the length OF
time the germ win live under varying
conditions. the results always showing
the germ to be very resistant, principally
on account OF the sports that are formed
1t is practically impossible to duplicate
in an experimental way. the conditions
existing in pastures and TO which cattle
are exposed. Experiments conducted II
the laboratory show that the germ Is
killed in twenty to twenty-five days when
exposed TO direct surssght. The SANG
results would occur in pastures if all
of the infection could be acted on direct
~ by the light. The germ is not easily
killed by either heat or chemicals and
the cold OF winter has no effect whatever
in Kidding a pasture of injection. One Of
the surest means of freeing pastures Of
infection is to burn them in the early
Spring. lhis applies not only TO blackleg
infection but to any infection that may
be present. \ two per cent solution or
carbolic acid Will not kill the germ in
dried material in less than fifteen TO
twenty hours. For disnfecting purposes
a five to eight per cent solution Of car
bolic acid shoould be used or a solution
Of corrosive sublimate one to one thou
sand Lime thoroughly applied to an in
fected area. as where an animal has died
in the pasture or barn, will generally
kill the infection. The temperature OF
boiling water acting FOR twenty to twen-
tv-five minutes is necessary TO destroy
the germ in fresh material. while the
dried virus will not be killed by the
same temperature in six hours. the diff
ference being caused by the formation
Of spores in the dried material.