Oxford Democrat., 1921-11-15
Necr0bacill0sis.

The formidable word heading this ar
ticle is used to describe diseases caused
by the bacillus necrophorus, . germ or
micro-organism normally present In the
intestines OF swine and possibly In those
OF other farm animals. It is prevalent
wherever hogs have been kept and doubt.
less occurs In all old stables, farm yards,
muddy and filthy places, wallows, un
clean stock cars and shipping pens and
chutes. The fact that the germ ia 30
common In insanltary places is q strong
argument for cleanliness, hygiene and
the use of disinfectants. The need Of
such measures will be even more appar-
ent when the Ill effects of the germ are
understood.
The word necrosis means death OF tis
sue and the bacillus necrophorus has
that effect when it invades part of the
body. The diseases It causes are there.
fore termed necrotio and they are many
and mischievous. Among othere may
be mentioned necrotic stomstitis or "calf
diphtheria", which Ia also common in
pigs and lambs, foot rot of cattle and
sheep, and the most obstinate sores or
gangrenous troubles Of the teats, udder,
or other parts of the body. In sheep II
causes lip and leg ulcerations and In
swine necrotic rhinitls or "bull nose",
necrotic enteritis, diseased condition
OF the membranes lining the Intestinal
tract and often mistaken for cholera, and
necrotic dsrmatitis, disease of the skin
characterized by sores and sloughing.
In cattle necrotic stomstitis is partic.
ularly to be feared. 1t attacks young
calves, quickly spreads from one to
another and generally proves fatal unless
promptly and intelligently treated. The
common name of the disease, "calf chol.
era", is based upon the fact that false
membranes are q feature of the malady
as Is the case in diphtheria of children.
The false membranes are necrotic and
associated with them will be found large
ulcers or sores upon the mucous nom.
brane lining the mouth and throat. They
occur as yellow.grey or greenish patches
filled with cheesy pus and broken down
(necrotic) tissues surrounded by swollen,
redeemed, and painful areas of mem.
brane. The affected calf has high fever,
loses appetite, is unable to swallow, has
a swollen throat, drools, and soon shows
marked difficulty in breathing, and may
scour. II not relieved 1t soon goes down
and dies.
Prevention Is all important in this as
in all other infectious diseases. Cali
pens should be kept clean, dry, and
freshly bedded. It is also imperative
that they be sunny and perfectly venti-
lated II germs are to be controlled. New
bought calves should be qusrantined for
q month, and affected ones instantly iso-
lated. The pen they have occupied
should then be cleaned, disinfeoted, and
whitewashed. Calves that die should be
burned or deeply buried In quick lime.
Calves cannot reasonably be expected to
keep healthy If placed in old, dirty,
dark, damp, pens at birth. There is no
place in the farm buildings where scru.
pulous cleanliness is more necessary than
the calf pens. Cleanliness has also much
to do with the prevention of scours.
Treatment consists In scraping ulcers
clean, swabbing them with tinoturs of
iodin or solution OF nitrate of silver or
nitric acid, followed BY daily cleansing
and swabbing with a solution OF perman.
ganate of potash. Flowers of sulphur
aud chlorate OF potash blown upon the
affected parts, or astringent and anti.
septic solutions sprayed theron may also
prove beneficial, and turpentine and lard
should be rubbed upon the throat from
ear to ear. Steam from hot water con.
tanning oil of eucalyptus or tincture of
beDzoin or creosote preparation, as pre-.
scribed by the veterinarian, may also
give relief.