Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-01-14

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preservation and probably for its con-
tinued multiplication. Some pastures at
least seem to be permanently infected.
The manner in which this germ gains en-
trance into the animal body is through
Wounds about the feet or mouth. On
gaining entrance to the circulation, the
micro-organisms are carried to the mus
cular tissue nearest by, in which are
found the nutrient materials which are
especially favorable for the growth of
these particular germs. The gaseous tu-
mors never develop in the lower part of
the leg, which is tendinous and almost
free from muscular tissue, although the
incubation may have occurred at such
point.
Burn the Dead.
Since the diseased flesh contains mil
lions of the germs of the disease, and
these germs can live in the soil Of the
pastures and barnyards, it is important
that every calf that dies from this dis
ease should be destroyed by fire. 1t is
an exceedingly bad practice, and poor
economy, to remove the skin and drag
the carcass across the pasture to the
hog lot to permit these animals to scat
ter the seeds of the disease over the
grounds. Such a practice is liable to
yield in years to come an increased har-
vest of this same very expensive hog
feed.
1t is not a difficult matter to burn up
the carcass of the diseased animal, nor
does it require a great amount of fuel.
1t is always best to burn the animal
where it has died if this can be done
without danger to buildings or other
property. If necessary to remove the car
cass to some distance, it should not be
taken away in the usual manner of drag
ging over the ground by means of a
strong rope or chain looped around the
head or horns; as infectious matter may
be left along the track. A low sled will
be found very convenient for removing
carcasses. This can be easily and quickly
made by using a couple Of two-inch by
ten-inch joists, eight feet long, for run
ners; and notching in and spiking on
three or four two-ilch by four-inch cross
pieces. A few stout boards nailed across
the top completes the vehicle. II a
bloody discharge issues from the mouth
or nose, wrap an old grain bag about
these ~orifices before removal of the car
cass.
In order to burn up the carcass com
pletely and with smallest amount of fuel,
a few old rails or useless fence posts
should be laid on the ground a foot or
more apart and covered with a bed of
straw. The carcass should be dumped
temporarily alongside of this Oh another
heap of straw, the back of the animal
toward the rails. The carcass should
then be cut up in the following manne
By means of a sharp butcher knife re-
move the front and hind legs that lie
uppermost, cutting through the skin and
muscles and close to the body of the ami
NAL. Lay the legs on the straw across
the bed of rails and make a number of
cuts lengthwise of the leg through skin
and muscle. Next open the chest cavity
by cutting through all the spaces between
the ribs, running the knife from the
junction of the ribs with back bone
downward to the cartilaginous tips. In
a calf these cartilages are easily cut
through. The ribs can then be broken
back or cut off with an axe or Ratchet.
The walls of the belly should then be
opened so as to fully expose the paunch
and other organs. A few cuts should be
made into the paunch and liver. Make
several deep cuts lengthwise through the
skin and muscles of the neck. At this
stage a half gallon of coal oil should be
~sprinkled over the exposed lungs, heart,
paunch and other viscera and muscles of
this side. The carcass is now turned over
into the bed of rails and straw and the
other front and hind leg removed and
cuts made through the skin and muscles.
The ribs of this side may be left in posi-
ton, but the spaces between them should
be freely slit through. The skin and
abdominal wall of this side should also
be cut through in several places and the
skin and muscles of the neck slit up
freely. This side of the carcass should
then be sprinkled with a half gallon Of
coal oil. A few armsful of straw, brush,
old rails and other litter should now be
piled upon the heap and a match applied.
When cut in the manner described, the
fat Of the animal supplies a considerable
amount of fuel.
If the knife is kept sharp and the direc-
tions given above followed, the carcass
can be cut up In less time than is re-
quired to describe the procedure, and
with but little soiling of the hands.
Lookout for Yourself.
The hands, or gloves, and the knife
may be disinfected by washing in a FIVE
per cent solution o. carbolic acid or-creo-
lin. 1t may be mentioned that no we'll
authenticated case is on record Of black
,eg" affecting man. Care. however,
should always be used in handling dis
eased animals, and~gloves used il the
hands have any abrasions.
What to Do to Prevent Blackleg.
The calves thai have not yet shown any
symptoms of the Disease should be re-
moved at once from the Injected pasture
and put on short feed for q week or
more. The old-time practice of giving
each calf a dose of glaubers or EPSON
salts and a little salt-petre is also to be
recommended. Full reliance, however,
should not be put upon these measures;
the calves should be vaecinated as soon
as possible. The vaccine matter is pre-
pared from the products of the diseased
muscular tissue, and when properly made
and applied causes no appreciate reac-
ton in the vaccinated calf, yet gives to
the animal a marked degree of immunity.
The vaccine can be secured from the U. s.
Bureau of Animal Industry, through the
State University at Columbia. 1t is sup
piled free, in exchange for data to be
returned upon printed blanks. Direc-
lions for use accompany each lot of vac
cine. Blackleg vaccine may also be had
from several commercial producers
whose advertisements are to be found in
the farm and stock papers.
In a week or ten days after v~accina-
tion, the calves may be safely returned to
the infected pasture. When calves a few
weeks old are ~vaceinated, it is we'll to re-
vaccinate them six or eight months later.