The Dickinson press., 1906-03-03
RANCH AND FARM.
Bisck lss-es.se s.a c.rs.

Glendive Monitor: As several cores
pondents have recently asked for infor-
nation regarding the u and proven
tion Of black-le a short article upon the
subject nav be Of general interest. The
disease is commonly known as black.leg
or black but Technically, as svmr.
tomato anthrax. 1t is a fatally infectious
disease. affecting cattle under two years
of age and apt to recur upon the same
pastures year after year. The u is
a short spore.forming bacillus known as
Bacillus Chauvoei which usually finds
entrance; to the blood circulation by way
Of a scratch or wound Of the skin. The
bacillus is difficult to destroy and under
favorable conditions retains its virulence
for wears. 1t is most apt to be found
upon old. tainted cattle pastures, in
wild pastures, or in wet. low-lying areas.
Strange to say it usually attacks young
cattle when they are taken from pas
ture and suddenly put upon a rich
rations which causes them to thrive
apace. 1t sometimes, however. may
even attack calves sucking their dams,
but as a rule it is most fatal among
weaned calves and yearIings. While it
can scarcely he doubted that the true
cause of attack has been discovered in
the bacillus mentioned, it remains a
conundrum why cattle, doubtless ex-
posed to the germ for months, rarely
snccnmb before being fed highly. 1t
would appear that the germ may re-
quire a %plethoric condition of the body
to proliferate successfully and for this
reason cattle fed a surplus OF nutrients,
over and above their requirements for
maintenance and growth, offer the germ
its most fitting breeding place. There
are many old time veterinarians who,
despite the fact that they are fully
of the claims of science, prefer
to believe that the disease is purely due
to excess Of unused nutrients in blood
They also claim that they have better
results in preventing the disease by
setoning and due precautionary meas
ures relative to feeding than by EN-.
.ployment of the commercial ~vaccines
so widely disseminated for purposes Of
prevention.
Symptoms-lt is an easy matter to
determine black-leg by its symptoms.
The most striking symptom is the sud-
d n appearance ola large swelling upon
either the front or hind quarter. On
pas ing the hand over this swelling, a
cracking sound is produced, as if the
skin were distended with gas, which is
the case. On making an incision
the tumor more or less gas is lib
erated and dark, bad-smelling, frothy
blood escapes. Death may occur be-
fore the characteristic swellings become
apparent. but in most cases that have
under our observation the swelling
has proved characteristic. In addition
to the symptoms noted, the animal is
dull, loses appetite. has high fever and
soon becomes weak. Lameness is
FUSED by the swelling. The attack
may prove promptly fatal or the animal
finger for two or three days. As true
anthrax attacks cattle in similar manner
and is even more Immediately fatal, the
two diseases should not be confused. In
anthrax there is a bloody discharge
from the natural o~riices of the body
after death; this is not seer in black
leg. The swelling sometimes present
does not give forth a cracking sound
when handled. After death the blood
OF the animal that has died of black-leg
.coagulates freely and the spleen is
normal in appearance. On the contrary
the blood of the anthrax victim does not
CnaguIate, is dark colored and tarry in
consistency, and the spleen is enlarged.
dark, and filled with black, tarry blood.
B~lAck-leg is peculiar to cattle but an
thrax at each outbreak usually spreads
to horses and hogs, ETC., and NAV even
affect man in the form of "%malignant
pustule', possibly caused by fly bites or
by incubation of the skin when he re-
moves the hide of carcasses.
Preventive Observation-Disclosures upon
which the disease has been experienced
should be avoided for young cattle, or
dressed with crushed rock salt. Care
should be taken to gradually accustom
young cattle to change of food and to
avoid sudden plethora due to rich feed
ing. Vaccination is now largely adopted
as a preventive, there being a number
OF commercial vaccines upon the market
and one being distributed by the Bureau
of Animal Industry of the government
Department of agriculture. The vac.
clues are furnished in various forms
tablets, powder. liquid and threads
and full instructions for use are sent GU,
BY the manufacturers.
Where the vacclnes cannot be had
without loss of time, and danger is i'm
minent, Cattlemen are advised to intro.