The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-09-04
BIackleg of Cattle
Dangerous Disease Peculiar to Young
cattle--oerms Live in the
Soil Of Pasturea.


ing under the skin Of the feshy parts
Of the body. 1t is not a contagious
disease; that is, animals do not con
tract it by contact with affected ami
mails. It is an infection disease; that
is, animals get it from soil or pastures
in which the spores or seeds Of the
disease exist. The disease is con
fined almost entirely to young cattle,
and other species of animals are very
rarely affected. It is seen most fire.
quently in animals ranging in age
from months to Q IL years, and we'll
bred, well-conditioned animals seem
more susceptible than scrub stock.
Blackleg is caused by a bacillus,
called popularity the "blackleg bacil-
lus." This organism produces spores
which carry the disease much as the
spores or seeding element of ferns
spread ferns. The black1eg spores
when once established in the soil re-
main ready to cause trouble for long
periods. sometimes several years, I'M
til they gain entrance to the animal
body, whereupon they grow and re-
produce the disease. When this fact
is understood, the persistence Of the
disease in a locality is readily COM
pretended Blackleg is a pasture dis
ease. the infective agent being found
in the soil, and the germs are taken
in with the food and water or through
slight wounds in the skin, such as
briar pricks or barbed-wire scratches.
The disease manifests itself by
swelling under the skin of the feshy
parts of the body, usually the quaz-
ters, hence the name quarter i'll"
The animal becomes lame and lags be-
hind the herd. IN experlmentally in
oculated animals, they frequently con-
tinue to eat as long as they can
stand The swelIings, at first hard.
hot. and painful, later become cold
and insensitiye, while the skin be-
comes discolorod and leathery. Gas
accumulates underneath the skin so
that when pressed with the fingers q
cracking sound is heard similar to
that produced by placing a piece of
paper under the coat and rubbing with
the hand The animal finally goes
down. and lies struggling upon the
ground. catching It's breath In gasps,
and expelling it with grooming, grunt-
ing sounds The head is frequently
thrown to the side.
After death the animal is found "
ing in distorted positions, and is usu-
ally bloated as tightly as the skin will
hold, which causes the legs to stick
straight out horizontally in a charac-
teristic attitude Bloody fluid oozes
from the natural openings, is forced
in drops from the skin, and collects
In large blisters under the outer lay
ers.
On cutting into the swollen parts
sweetish. foulsmelling gas rushes out,
and a bloody, frothy fluid runs from
the opening, sometimes accompanied
by the black. mushy, disintegrated
muscle, which is forcibly blown out
by the pressure of gas. The loose It's
sue underneath the skin is filled with
bloody fluid and bubbles of gas, which
appear as a quacking gelatine-liIe
mass. The divisions between the mus
cles contain the same fluid and have
a greenish metallic color, while the
muscles are soft and black.
This condition is not general
throughout the body but is confined
to certain affected portions. The or
gans seldom show extensive changes
Treatment is Ineffective after the
disease Is once fully developed, and
death almost Invariably results. Some
have advocated cutting into the swell
ings. roweling, ana dragging the AMI
mails about Such measures can not
he too strongly condemned. The fluids
which are liberated contain the germs
Of tho disease, and as a result more
Infection is distributed over the soil.
Prevention consists in vaccination
OF the susceptible animals and proper
disposal of dead carcasses. Vaccine
Is manufactured by various firms. 1t
IS also manufactured end distributed
free Of charge by the Bureau of AMI
nal Industry Of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture. Vaccine and
directions for its use are sent direct
to stockmen and to proper state of
icials upon application by letter to
the chief of the bureau.
Blaekleg tends TO occur in seasons. 4
usually spring and fall and vaccina-
ton should be performed at least one
month before the usual time for the
outbreak. The best results have fol
lowed semiannua1 vaccination. begin
ming at six months and continuing un-
til the animal is IL years Of age.
Two strong emphasis can not be
placed upon the proper disposal of the
earcasses. They should not be left
for predacious animals and buzzards
to tear apart and distribute over the
country, but should be buried deeply
without opening where they die. using
quicklime or strong antiseptics to dis
infect the carcass and the place where
the body has lain.