Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-06-22
REDUCE ANTHRAX LOSS
Responsible for Death of Large
Numbers of Live Stock.
Disease Affects Chiefly Cattle and
Sheep, But None of Domestic Ami
mails Are Exempt-vaccina-
ton Is Favored.

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
Losses from anthrax, or Charlton,
which at the present time is RESPONSE
BILE for the death Of large numbers of
live stock in low, moist lands of more
or less mucky character, may be mini
mixed by the proper use Of protective
vaccine and the proper disposal OF the
carcasses of infected animals. This
disease affects chiefly cattle and sheep,
but none of the domestic animals Is
exempt, and even man is sometimes a
victim. Some centuries ago 1t is known
to have caused the death Of more than
10000 persons in southern Europe.
Since that time the disease has appar-
entity become less virulent, but 1t Is
still the cause of considerable loss to
stock owners.
In Farmers Bulletin No. 784, detailed
directions for the administration OF
the vaccine are given. Stock owners
are warned to obtain the serum and
vaccine from reliable manufacturers
only, and not to administer the treat
ment unless the disease has already ap-
peared in the vicinity, or the pastures
on which the animals are to be turned
out are known to be infected. Care
less handling of the vaccine may result
in spreading instead of controlling the
disease.
The cause of anthrax is minute
germ which multiplies rapidly In the
body, especially in the blood, and pro-
duces poisonous substances which or
dinarily cause death. The symptoms
of the disease resemble, in certain re-
spects, those Of tick fever and black
leg. The differences which will en-
able stock owners to distinguish 1t
from them are described in detail in
the bulletin already mentioned. In
acute cases, however, medicinal treat
ment is seldom effective. For this rea-
son the best methods of combating the
disease are to vaccinate all animals
likely to be exposed to the infection
and by deep burying or cremating OF
infected carcasses. to make certain that
the infection is not allowed to establish
itself in pastures.
Under certain conditions and In GER
tain forms the germs of the disease are
remarkably resistant to heat, cold and
drought. They will remain for long
time in a pasture and be capable Of in
fecting any animals turned out on It
Ordinarily the disease Is taken into the
body through the mouth with food. II
may, however, be absorbed through q
wound or even an Insignificant scratch
1t is in this way that human beings
usually become infected, and the name
"woolsorter's disease" is derived from
the fact that men engaged in sorting
wool are particularly liable to contract
the disease through infection Of
scratches or other small wounds OF
abrasions on their hands.
In burying carcasses useful precau
ton is to cover them with Quicklime
Where the bodies are burned instead
Of buried, great care should be taken t.
see that the operation is thoroughly
done. Even the earth upon which thu
carcass has lain should be thoroughly
and deeply burned over so that the
heat will penetrate to depth suflcien
to kill the germs that may have passet
into the soil with fluids from the body.