The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-08-20
(By w. j. Butler, State Veterinary
SurgeOn.)

| oS~'/
BlackIeg is an acute infectios, but
not contagious, disease of cattle and,
exceptionally, other ruminants and
swine, although 1 have never known
of any but cattle to be affected in
Montana. 1t is caused by an anaera-
beic bacillus.
BY infectious, but not contagious
we mean that the disease may be
Transmitted by the infection gaining
entrance into the animals system, in
this particular instance by abrasions
in the skin, but that the animal will
not become diseased by simply COM
ing in contact with an animal which
has blackleg.
By an "anaerabeic bacillus" we
mean minute vegetable micro-org-
anism which will live without the
presence of oxygen. Thus this par
ticular micro-organism may live in
the ground for years, hence the ex-
IRENE difficulty of destroying the in
lection where this disease exists.
Blackleg is characterized by high
fever, crepitant swellings in the mus
cular regions of the body which de-
velop usually on the hind quarters
or in the vicinity of the shoulders.
The crepitant swellings are due to
the formation of gas under the skin
Becomes Black.
The affected part becomes black, |
the swellings are painful, hot and |
may become extensive. The swell |
ings later become cold and painless
in the center and the skin dry and |
When the swelling |
is lanced a frothy dark red fluid is
but swellings should not
be lanced as such a procedure will
not save the animal and will simply
tend to spread the disease by infect
ing the ground.
Cattle over eighteen months of
age are very seldom affected. In
Montana it has been our observation
many books state that young suck
ling calves have a certain immunity.
Both sexes are equally susceptible
and all breeds are likewise suscepti-
Die, although fine bred tender
;kined animals are more liable to
become infected. Likewise, animals
rapidly in flesh or animals
osing rapidly in flesh are more sus-
For this reason most writ
ITS Stdlc that LuC SPllAS anu ldll :
seem to be the seasons most favor
4ble for the development of this dis
Ease, but our observations in Mon
ana tend to show that the disease !
nay break out during any period of
he year. The disease is considered
O be more prevalent in swampy areas !
han on uplands. Our observations
would indicate that the disease be-
ONES more prevalent in herds after
hard winter when the snow is crust 7
d and especially when the animals l
re permitted to run around in mud
oles or swampy areas, and especial
? at the time that these mud holes
r swampy areas dry up.
Disease Is Fatal. 5
The disease is fatal and very rapid. o
ct times, under range conditions, Ii
lie first indication that we have of r
lie presence of the disease is the =
nding of dead animal with indica- ;,
ons of crepitant swellings and a -
othy blood discharge from the nose II
:, mouth. Death generally takes
ace in from IL to SO hours after n
lie first appearance of the symptoms: I.
There is no specific cure for this y
sease but there is a specific pre- :.
,ntion, and that is blackleg vaccine. VI
lackleg vaccine may be obtained =
ON almost any drug store or it may \
, obtained free of charge in the IN
,wder form, from the bureau of ami
al industry, Washington, D. c., or
application to the state veterinary
rgeon, Helena, Montana.
The practice of introducing copper
ire or garlic under the skin or by
owing" or the use of setons should
discontinued as such practices
I'VE absolutely no preventative eff nc
cts. They are all based on the as r
mption that an animal gaining pc
Ssh is more susceptible. By rowl- tn
e or the use of setons the animal he
prevented from gaining in flesh. m
hy subject the animal to this cru =,