The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-04-04
ANTHRAX AT GARDEN GROVE.
Several Farmers Have Lost Cattle
and Horses From This D..
Fatal Disease.

The farmers of this section are
much alarmed over an outbreak OF
a disease known as Anthrax, and we'll
they may be as this is one of the
most fatal diseases known to stock
| says the Garden Grove Express
I About three weeks ago Geo. Rosen-
grant had some horses get sick and
we learn that he has lost five and
has four more sick with the disease.
E. o. Lovett has lost steer, Lutte
Scott and Mr.. Rex each a COW.
The disease is known to be raging
in the Dakotas and there has at
times been little of it at Lamont.
The way diseases of this kind break
out SO suddenly with apparently no
reason is that they are carried by
birds and especially crows, it may
also be carried by stock and persons
going from one farm to another. We
have talked the situation over with
DR.. McNay and he says that every
effort should be put forth to check
it. The state veterinary is expected
here tomorrow Thursday and it is
probable that the cases will be quar-
antined. The only way to prevent
the disease is to vaccinate, so say
the veterinaries. DR.. McNay gave us
the following to publish in regard
to this disease which will be of great
benefit to the farmers:
What is anthrax? 1t is a germ
disease which attacks horses, mules,
cattle, sheep, goats, and smaller an
:mals. Man may also become infect
ed with it from any of these animals
or from the hides or portions of the
carcass: The germs aye found in i'm
mense numbers in the blood, internal
organs and the excretions of the af-
fected animals and is called the
Bacillus of Anthrax. The germs are
not easily destroyed and one animal
Ill with the disease may contaminate
whole barnyard or pasture and the
contamination may continue for
years in the same locality. It is not
easy to detect as there are other ami
NAL diseases which develope some
what the same symptoms, viz: black
leg, malignant Edna and Texas
fever. When you vaccinate it is we'll
to consult veterinarian to be sure
it is anthrax you are combating be-
cause vaccination for this will have
no effect against any other disease.
Some of the symptoms without
local swellings are: Very acute at
lacks resembling apoplexy in their
lack of symptoms. The animal may
lie found dead or fall dead in the
pasture and die in commissions witt
in an hour. These cases are mostly
found among cattle and sheep and
are usually the first tc die in an out
break. Ordinarily acute cases re-
semble either congestion of the
brain, (restlessness, excitement, fol.
lowed by quiet, stupor and sudden
death) or congestion of the lungs
(rapid difficult breathing, rapid
Pulse, bloody discharges and death
from suffocation). Animals may
live from two to twelve hours or
even day. Sub acute cases, seen
chiefly in horses and cattle usually
last from "a to 4S hours, but may
continue for several days. The
ymptoms resemble those of the
acute cases, but more prolonged,
Collie MAY also be noticed.
With swellings: These are caused
by the germs gaining entrance to the
body through the skin. They are
:alled malignant carbuncles and ar,
at first hard, hot and painful and
later become soft and painless.
These cases usually last three to
seven days. The follow changes in
addition 70 the above are usually
found:
1. A more or less extensive edna
Or swelling in the tissues just under
The skin, or about the internal or
cams frequently associated with
hemorrhages.
2. Spleen enlarged to two or five
times it's normal size, soft and very
dark in color.
3. Liver dark colcred and friable.
4. Lungs congested.
5. Blood dark or black, will not
does not brighten in color
upon exposure to the air.
All symptoms point to the fact
that the disease In thls locality is
anthrax. The blood has been exam
med under microscope and re.
vealed the germs in countless num-
bers.