Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-28
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f'tCii ~ liz NCtSi IIlll
ilns. A few have reported good sue
cess with the vaccine treatment, 9TH
erS no success. Carhouc acid
mcthylene blue ard other advertised
remedies have leen used but in most
cases the contagion has gone through
tho herd before any halt was made.
We are Informed that whenever
treatment has been successful, q
change III sanitary conditions, disin-
tcctantS, douchCs. and Z better caro-
and cleanliness were the require
ments. Sanitary conditions and dis
infection are many times more than
drugs and medicines.
During my administration the dis
ease of contagious and infectious
abortion in cows and heifcrs has
caused me moro study and investiga-
ton than any other disease among
animals, knowing we'll that from Il
financial standpoint it has caused
more direct and indirect loss TO Maine
dairymen than all other diseased ami
mails combined. True, an animal
seldom dies with the disease but
when once herd becomes infected if
viii remain two and perhaps three
Years and the owner is without a
profit, and many times leaves his best
cows only fit subjects for the butcher.
The dairymen knowing this will
sometimes sell or trade suspect TO a
fellow dairyman, which very wrong
to do. as it causes others to suffer be-
sides himself
E!ackle9.
For the first time in MANY wears. if
ever before, our State has been Wis
tied with n small outbreak of black
les. 1t was discovered in the town
OF Bancroft. Aroostook county. on the
farm of Thomas Fitzpatrick and also
on two or three adjoining farms.
For several years in succession
several young cattle have died in the
pasture; on the above mentioned
, farms and the cause was attributed
10 pasture poisoning. on July list
I DIR. Hendersons attention was called
70 The death Of q young heifer and by
post norton decided it to he black
/ Leg. and SO reported it to this depart
ncnt.
1t is a critical situation and this
disease must be kept under control.
Before the cattle 80 to pasture in the
spring of 1919 all cattle in the i'm
mediate vicinity Of thu infected farms
should be vaccinated by competent
veterinarian.
Parasitic Pneumonia,
parasitic pneumonia, Nerminous
bronchitis or lung worm is consid-
cred by veterinarians as practically
u,
/ known in the state of Maine or at
! least only two cases have come TO the
notice OF this department at this writ
ing, but it is the belief of some
, veterinarians that the disease pre-
walls TO some extent in the State.
koduiar Disease.
"NoduIar disease i'll sheep prevails
to an alarming extent throughout the
State. We believe it to be one cause
why the number and tlocks have di-
minishcd in the last decade. Good
sheep men who have in years past
! had unlimited success with sheep
I have lost the l,nacl, become dis
couraged ana sold their flocks with
! out knowing the real cause OF their
| failure.
THE rotation of pastures for modu-
lar disease is being experimental
with, demonstrations, post mortems
! and discussions arc being held. and
the results cannot but awaken a
greater desire and interest for better
and larger 1oCks of sheep throughout
the state.
Hog Cholera.
from, hog f.holor1 d1IYir q
the past year are not unusually
heavy, but VIC believe have increased
slightly over previous years. Many
of the cases are not reported to this
department but where we have been
informed of an outbreak the State
has furnished anti hog cholera serum
to vaccinate all Wei hogs Of the herd
free. and in some cases saved hogs
which otherwise would have died.
The double or simultaneous
treatment, which claims to immune
the well hog for life from this disease
has been used in a number OF herds
and with good success. We are not
encouraging tho use Of this treatment
to any great extent for the reason
that virus is very dangerous when
IbdCSU III tlit HdiiuS VI incompetent
persons, while serum alone immunes
the pig or hog from six weeks to
three months and is q good promoter
to the health of the growing pig.
The Maine Agricultural and In
dustrial League have brought into
Maine 10 carloads Of pigs from four
to eight weeks old and distributed
them to the Boys and Girls Clubs Of
the State and to the farmers who
have expressed n desire to Keep them
for breeding. All of these pigs were
examined by an agent from this de-
partment and vaccinated with serum
as fast as they were shipped into the
state. This was 10 guard against any
disease to which swine are subject.
Distinction.
THE disinfcction Of stables, tie
ups and places where condemned
horses and cattle are taken from is
a serious problem. Many do net real
izc the importance Of thoroughly
cleaning and disnfecting the stable
after the diseased animal has been
removed.
when horses and cattle are con-
demned, the inspector is instructed
70 recommend the best method Of
destroying the germs that are left in
the stable after the animal has been
removed. for unless the germs are
destroyed IL would be useless to re- !
move and slaughter the diseased ami |
mails !