The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-05-03
U DIP CATTLE.

-
The coming roundup season prom
Uses to be an exceptionally busy tim
with stockmen ia many parts of north
ern Montana. A law passed by tn
ninth legislative assembly provides
for the gathering and dipping of cat
tie that are affected with or that have
been exposed to mango, and prepare
tons are being made to carry these
regulations into effect. Notice has
been given that the disease exists in
certain parts of Cascade county and
dates are prescribed on which com.
pliance with the official dipping order
is required, and it is expected that
similar action will soon be taken in
other parts of the state.
The eradication of diseases among
cattle was the subject of an interesting
discussion at the recent meeting of
Montana stockmen at Miles City, a
paper prepared by DR.. A. D. Melvin,
of Salt Lake, being presented az the
views of a competent government vet.
erinarian. His remarks were in part
to this effect:
"Mange is a disease with which you
stock owners have most to contend at
this time and as the losses from it do
not fall SO suddenly as in some other
troubles, it is apt to be temporized
with. AS it is a durable disease and
can be cured quite easily under favor
able conditions, there should be no
further delay in trying to eradicate it.
All districts where the disease prevails,
and such districts should be sufficient.
ly large to include every possible case,
should be quarantined and a syste.
matte and thorough dipping given to
all cattle within these districts.
ut may require several clippings to
eradicate the disease, but it can be
done. Infection may remain sufficient.
ly long around pens, sheds and water
ing places to cause reinfectiOn after
the first dipping, and on the open
range affected cattle may not all be
gathered the first time, but in two or
three years of such effort these diff
culties should be overcome, for after
each dipping the instances of reinfec.
ton will grow less and less until they
cease altogether.
"ln addition to the general clippings,
stockmen should always be on the
lookout for infected amin ais upon the
ranges. and when found they should
be driven in and treated, not SO
much for curing the individual case,
but to prevent such cases spread
ing the infection. Some are of the
opinion that mango a even be eradi-
Gated in this manner, but the chances
of failure are SO great that it should
not be undertaken with this end in
view, for there are so many cases that
can only be detected on the closest In
spection and they would only be
reached by the general dipping.
"A utIO VI ACuICulCS nave UCcu
tried for the cure of this disease. The
bureau recommends the use of lime
and sulphur in the proportion of II
pounds lime, ~ pounds sulphur and
100 gallons water, one dipping for
exposed animals and two for diseased
ones. This strong proportion of lime
and sulphur is used for the purpose
of more curing the mango and also
kill the lice with which the stock may
infested.
"Several experiments with the use
Of crude oil have been made with good
results: this is IA more severe remedy
than lime and sulphur, but it has sew
eral important advantages, as follows:
Only one dipping is required, and it is
not necessary to hold the animal in
the vat at all, simply immerse them
once. No heating apparatus is neces-
sary, and further, it will act as a pre-
ventive for at least six weeks and
probably longer. On the other hand
more care is necessary in using the
oil, for it is much more severe than
lime and sulphur, as | have stated,
and only fairly strong animals may
be dipped in 1t. 1t should not be used
in extremely hot weather, or in ex.
tremely cold weather, but in the late
spring or early fall it can be used
with good success if the cattle are not
subjected to severe treatment inn
media,ely after dipping. | consider
it AZ absolutely certain cure for mango
in any stage of the disease. Tobacco
and sulphur are equally effective in
treating scabies in sheep. but on &C.
count Of its nauseating elect upon
cattle it has not been prescribed as
an official dip. Its use is permitted,
however. when the owner desires to
use it,"