The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1913-11-22

WEST anu VI the bLIdIl per cent O
tubercular cattle coming from til.
open ranges. The two chief rea
Sons are the additional opportunities
for infection when animals are
brought together in large numbers
and On closely adjacent farms, and
Isecond, to the accumulation of the
INFECTIOUS material around constant
Ily inhabited premises.
Because Of the fact that a great
lshare Of this loss may be prevented
makes this a subject that may well
Iengross the attention of progressive
I%stockmen who take a leading part in
Itheir community's affairs. For in
Istance, there are diseases which APP
pear, apparently spontaneously, af-
Ifecting probably on a single animal
in a herd. This class of disease is
spoken of as a sporadic disease and
is caused chiefly by injudicious wa
tering and feeding and by placing
animals in unsanitary environments
with regard to atmosphere, water.
lair. light and temperature. Tt Is
mot a matter o. luck that some
Breeders escape this class Of diseasls
while others have their animals "
fected, but simply a matter of juk-
ment.
1 Tho cnnnpl n1nrr >e Is1-n Sos, a.
known as infectious or contagious
diseases, the cause of which is a
Specific infective substance usually
a micro-organism. No condition of
feeding or handling animals can
produce this class of disease without
the specific cause, though of course,
~unsanitary conditions may SO lower
Ithe animals resistance to infection
that they will be more readily in
fected. Infective material as we
have said usually consists of micro
organisms or bacteria which are
minute living plants. AS the nat
ural habitat for corn to
is a rich. moist soil, so the proper
soil for the development of these
organisms is the tissues and tissue
juices of a animal SUSCEPTIBLE to
this particular disease.
When infection enters an animal
it d~evelopes and ~propagates until.
when a sufficient number has deyel-
oped, the disease is produced. Du-
ring the course of the disease and
even, before this, the organisms are
constantly being eliminated from
the animal. Should these COM in |
contact with other susceptible ami
mails they again produce the disease.
in this way disease is Disseminated
through a herd or from one animal
to another. It remains outside the |
anlmaIs body for a, CONSIDERABLE
length of time though in most cases
It does not grow outside the body.
Ihese organisms vary in their resist
to destructive agents.. xa
though as a general rule, sunliaht t
Is very destructive to bacteria whte
dark warm, moist environment
preserves them for a longer time.
infective organisms are elimi-
mated from infected animals In their
expectoration, in their excrements,
heir expired air and from their de-
laying carcasses. Infection NAV
anter an animals body either
.hrough wounds ON the exterior or
Interior, through the bites of in !
'ects or other parasites. through the !
digestive, respiratory or other mu- !
'uous membranes. 1t may be car !
led from animal to animal by par :
lsltes, air current, infected food or !
water, contaminated soil, harness. !
eedlng places, combs and brushes .
he attendants person or in num- !
.rous other ways. A short time or
considerable time may elapse be- '
ween subsequent appearances of tho =
-1sease. Agents that may carry in {
from n herd to another y
re rodents. dogs, birds, stray ami 9
1ais. wheel of vehicles. the feet of N
ttendants, infected food or ~fertili- p
err, railway cars, and ~running e
treams. II
Some considerations in MINIMIZING u
disease would include IN
first place, abundance of nura :
II. 1t is not advised to expose an |
mails to the vicissitudes of . re- !
climate at all times. but the
nimal that has the privilege If
Inside air and sunshine stands . /
etter chance of escaping infection
IAN has the stabbed animal. Ono
the first considerations in the COZ,
OF a stable, should be liglt
~ ventilation. The next shoua
J the Immediate and proper dispo-
II OF all material that may be IN
cted. This will include the care
and complete removal of all ex-
and accommodating litter as