The independent., 1907-03-14
LIVE STOCK

fected through skin wounds more Of
ten than by any other method.
After these bla:kleg germs enter the
animal system, they find lodgment and
at once begin to multiply in vast num-
Der, producing the blackleg disease
generally within two days from the
time they enter the system. By the
process of reproducing in this way,
they generate a gas, which collects
beneath the skin, where the so-called
blackleg tumor is found. 1t is this gas
that causes the cracking sound when
tho hand is rubbed over such a tu-
NOR.
Symptoms: The symptoms of black
leg are very characteristic, and for
that reason the disease can be easily
recognized One of the first indications
of the disease that may be observed
is lameness in any one of the four
limbs, or a general stiffness of the
gait. The animal appears duh, and il
the temperature be taken at this time
1t will be found above the normal.
Very soon rumination ceases, the ap-
petite is lost, and there is a marked
depression in the actions of the affect
ed animal. Usually a swelling appears
either en- the lame leg or some other
part of the body, but never below the
hook or knee joint. At first this swell
ing is very sensitive, but otherwise
presents no special characteristics.
soon, however, gas collects at this
point, as previously mentioned, and
then the tumor presents the character
istics described above. At this point
the tumor loses its sensitiveness and
may be cut without producing any
pain TO the animal. The fluid that
escapes from the incision is a frothy.
dark-red exudate, having the odor Of
rancid butter. 1t may happen that 4
fatal case occurs without the develop
ment of the characteristic tumOr,
though such cases are rare The usual
length or duration of the disease is
from few hours to a day, or some
times longer.
Post mortem appearances: On ac-
count of the ease with which blackleg
may be distinguished by the ante
mortem appearances, and on account
Of the necessary scattering of infec-
tion resulting from the holding of an
autopsy, little space will be given the
topic Of post-mortem appearances, ex-
cept to enable the farmer to distin
guish between the disease in question
and anthrax. The following characters
generally suffice to distinguish the
two In blackleg the tumor contains
gas, while that of anthrax is solid.
The muscles involved in a blackleg .u-
NOR have peculiar odor resembling
very much that of rancid butter, which
is never the case with the anthrax
tumor In blackleg the blood forms a
firm clot, while In anthrax the clot is
absent The spleen is normal in black
leg, while In anthrax it is considerably
enlarged, and possessed of the proper
ty Of gravitation, that is, if the spleen
be suspended by one end. the contents
will flow to the lower end like fluid in
a bag.
Treatment: 1t is admitted by all who
are experienced in this line that there
is no agent known that will cure
blackleg. Some medicines seem to have
been used with success in a few cases
but so soon as they were given a thor
ough trial 1t was found that they were
of no avail. In the western part OF
Nebraska the stockmen often make
deep-seated incisions into the tumor
and apply strong caustics or disinfect-
ants to the wounds thus produced, but |
it is stated by men who have tried this
treatment that it is of little or no
value. And even il it were of some
value, 1t should be practiced with the |
utmost care, If at all, as the fluid
which must necessarily escape from |
the open wound would infect the soil |
1t happened to drop.
Preventive treatment: The blacl1leg |