The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-11-15
BLACK LEG IN CATTLE
BY Geo. R. White, M. D., v. S., State
Live Stock Inspector.

mai " duluudl ny Simple OuldCI DuL
the infection takes place from a com,
mon cause or ource and this common
source is the Black Leg infected soil.
Like Tetanus and may other diseases,
Black Leg follows wound infection.
This a that before Black Leg
germs a enter the animaT's body
that the skin must first be abraded
or broken by a wound. The germs
cannot penetrate the healthy normal
skin. Black Leg attacks sheep and
goats as well as cattle. 1t is a d.
sease of young cattle, rarely attacks
any acttle over two and one-half years
old. Thin skin breeds are more sus-
ceptible than those endowed with
thick skin, Black Leg has been re-
ported from about as counties in Ten
essee during the past year. The mon
ey lost from Black Leg during the past
year has been considerable less than
that Of former years. This is ac-
counted for in part, by our more in
telligent and progressive farmers pro-
tecting their herds by promptly using
vaccine whenever an outbreak Of
Elack Leg took place IN their neighbor-
hood. Our cattle owners have be-
come we'll educated to the Importance
of prompt vaccination whenever Black
Leg makes its appearance. They
have found that money spent for vac
cine is a good investment. Black
Leg usually breaks out in the neghbor-
hood about the same time or season
each year.
Symptoms.-A characteristic swell
ing which is at first small and pain
full usually makes its appearance on
one or more legs. However, this
swelling may appear on any part of
the body except the tail and below the
knee and hook joints. These local
swellings usually spread, enlarge rap
idly and may in a few hours become
enormous in size at which time they
become soft on account of the fer.
mentation, or "gas formation" within
the swelling, and they crackle on pres.
sure. If this swelling is lanced a
darkish red frothy fluid flows from the
wound. The odor is d~isagreeable
At first the temperature rises to los
F. to 107 F. but usually falls to normal
or ven sub-normal before death
There is pronounced depression, loss
of appetite, pulse 120 to $40 per min
ute. The swelling is usually followed
by stiffness and lameness. When the
skin is removed from this calf there
Is observed a blackish discoloration un
der the skin over the site of the swell
ing. This dis~coloration accounts foI
the name "Black Leg" The swelling
contains many gas bubbles and exude!
a serious bloody fluid. The duration
of tins disease is 1 to 5 days and thu
losses average about 95 per cent. o
affected animals.
Observation-Disclosures treatment i
worthless. Whenever the diseas,
has already attacked an animal NJ
form of treatment should be attempted
The affected calf should be killed AM
the carcass burned. The swelling
should not be opened and the dis
l charges allowed to infect the soil.
PreVention,-It is advisable, when
} ever this disease breaks out on a farm
l to remove the well animals from tn
infected pastures. If possible plac
: them in a small lot. Buzzards Shout
not be allowed to feed on the carcasse
- IS preferable that the skin b
2 left on the carcass. The groun
l where the animal lay at the tim
2 of death should be dl~sinfected b
placing straw or hay six or eight incl
es deep owe it and burning it of
Heat is the best disinfectant, as tn
| spores of Black Leg are very resistan
" to most chemical disinfectants, TIL
carcass should be cremated. Pasture
d upon which this disease has develope
should be cultivated for several year
r in succession before they are agai
y safe ranges for young cattle. Pr,
d vention is very successfully secure
y by vaccination. All cattle under tw
and one-half years old IN Black lie
S infested districts should be vaccinate
y once every twelve months for at lea
e three years in succession. With IL
e modern Black Leg vaccine which
e put up in a pill or pellet from abo,
e the size of an ordinary bird shot an
y an instrument made for the purpos
q of inserting this pellet under the ski
e any boy of ten years or an ordinal
y farm laborer can successfully immi
ize all the cattle on the farm fro
this disease, The vaccine pelle
are marketed In bottles of ten dos,
i each. The cost is Is cents per dos
g. The injectors can be bought for ST.
& each. I desire to direct the reade
Of this article attention to the fl
y lowing Sections of the State Regul
tions pertaining to this disease.
10 Section 2S.-"Black Leg infest,
d farms should be considered in qua
IL antine until such time as the own
IS shall all cattle less than ty
&c and one-half years old to be vaccinat,
c. with Black Leg Vaccine made eth
by the Federal Government or al
n reliable manufacturer or biologic
products. All cattle less than tv
n and one-half years old on a Ella
Leg infested farm must be vaccinat
at least once every twelve mont
n for three consecutive years befo
the farm will be considered fr
re from Black Leg infection.
Section 29.-"Carcasses of ANNA
IN which have died from Black Leg mt