The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-11-17
BLACKLEG FATAL
TO YOUNG CATTLE
FAT, THRIFTY CALVES AND YEAR
LiNGS FIRST OF HERD TO
BE ATTACKED
NO MORE FREE VACCINE
Government Discontinues Distribution
of ventative.-Aggressin Recon-
mended AS Most Effective
Form of Serum

calf-this is the usual progress c
blackleg, one of the most deadly dis
eases known to the cattle man. 8
virulent is the character Of the diseas
that the most of its victims are foun
already dead in the pasture.
So far as known there is no cur
for blackleg, but it can be almost en-
tirely prevented by proper vaccina
ton. Vaccine may be purchased from
almost any drug store at small price
according to Dr. Howard WEIGH, vet
erinarian at Montana State college
who has been notified that the gov
eminent has discontinued the distribu
tion Of free vaccine. Supplies of thi!
free vaccine in the state are exhaust
ed said DR.. WEIGH, "and it will BIZ
necessary for stockmen to purchase
their own vaccine in the future"
Blackleg aggressin, which Is liquid
form of vaccine, is recommended as
the most effective form to use Vac
cine is also prepared In pill form, but
this is not considered so effective as
preventative.
Vaccination can be done by the
stockman himself with the aid Of a
good syringe which can be purchased
from drug store. The vaccine should
be injected beneath the skin on the
side of the neck or behind the Shout
der. A good chute for holding the ami
NAL in place during the operation Is
highly recommended from the stand
point of convenience and best results.
The best work cannot be done where
the vaccinator and his assistants must
engage each animal In q wrestling
match in an open corral In the course
of the operation. BY the aid of chute
one man can vaccinate q large number
fusion and danger of vaccinating some
animals more than once and permit
ting others to escape after n course of
strenuous exercise about the corral.
Blackleg most commonly affects
cattle between the ages of six to Is
months, but in very virulent outbreaks
in herd calves few weeks old and
cattle two years old may be affected.
Most cattlemen vaccinate in the fall
when weaving calves, but If blackleg
is suspected In a bunch of cattle all
the cattle from one month to two years
old should be vaccinated at once re-
CARELESS of the weather. In the regu-
lar annual vaccination most stockmen
vaccinate the calves which are being
weaned and at the same time vaccinate
yearlings so that each animal Is vac
cinated twice, once as calf and once
as long yearling.
Blackleg is most common in the
spring and fall and affects fat, grow
ing, thrifty calves and yearlings Thin,
scrubby, stunted calves seldom die
from blackleg. A shoulder or hip is
usually affected, but the infection may
strike other parts Of the body first. |
The disease is a bacterial disease and |
is communicated from animal to ami
NAL from soil that has been infected
by victim of the disease. Bacteria
from the infected soil enters the body
through scratch or abrasion in the
skin.
The onset of the disease ia very sud-
den, the calf being first noticed as
standing or lying apart from the other
cattle, breathing hard, with a high
fever. If forced to move 1t is usually
very lame. AS the disease progresses
the infected part becomes swollen. On
passing the hand over this area it will
rattle or crackle as though the skin
were dry or made of paper, and pres
sure on the spot will reveal bubbles of
gas beneath the surface.
1t is usually only few hours from
The beginning of the disease until the
death of the animal. The infected area
In dead animal will be found to be
blackened and full of dark foamy
blood. The presence of a large mass
If blackened, bruised-looking, dis ,
,olored muscle in calf dead after a :
short sickness is sufficient proof of
,lackleg.
Immediately upon the discovery of
,lackleg in the herd remove all the J
attle to higher pasture at once If it
$ possible and vaccinate the herd I'm T
nediately Then burn the carcass of
he dead animal where it lies, if pos
ible, so as to destroy all germs and |
isinfect the ground.
BY placing the carcass on a rake :
heel, an old harrow, or on any iron
-ame so that 1t may be lifted off the !.
round so that draft of air can cir
1late underneath, burning Will be
realty facilitated. Put the calf on the
nprovised grating with plenty Of wood RI
brush underneath and with a knife L
ash the carcass thoroughly. Then o
.ench with two or three gallons of
,rosene and very little will need to
, done later to destroy 1t completely.