No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 7* 



course, as was generally the case, they were disinterred and burned 

 immediately over the pit from which they were exhumed and the 

 earth surrounding the carcasses was, so far as possible, disinfected 

 by means of fire. 



In a few instances a new method was employed for enveloping a 

 carcass and rendering it harmless, that is here reported for the first 

 time. It is not always convenient or possible to disinter or cremate 

 an anthrax carcass, nor is it always necessary. If the character of 

 the soil is such that it is not possible for water to drain through the 

 grave and appear upon the surface of the ground at a lower level 

 and within a short distance from the grave, there is no chance for 

 the germs of anthrax coming to the surface excepting as they are 

 brought up by earth worms or as they are dug out by dogs or other 

 animals. In order to prevent danger arising from these last-men- 

 tioned causes, a number of carcasses were surrounded by a shell of 

 cement. A mixture was used of five parts of sand and one part of 

 Portland cement. This was poured around the carcass and was al- 

 lowed to harden and was then covered with earth. 



Attention is again called to the need for accurate and early diag- 

 nosis in cases where anthrax is suspected. As diagnosis without a 

 bacteriological examination is frequently impossible, a specimen 

 should be sent to the laboratory of the State Livestock Sanitary 

 Board in every case where it is not possible to establish a diagnosis 

 without the help of the laboratory. 



Infectious Abortion of Cows: Abortion of cows continues to pre- 

 vail in a large number of breeding herds. It is not sufficiently recog- 

 nized that this disease can be prevented. The directions for preven- 

 tion have already been published in these reports, and will be sent 

 in the form of a circular to any one applying for the same. The 

 method for preventing abortion has been widely tested by the State 

 Livestock Sanitary Board, and, while it necessitates the employ- 

 ment of a good deal of care and attention, it is successful if properly 

 used, and it is much more economical to use it and exterminate the 

 disease than it is to suffer from its ravages. It would, however, be 

 a great advantage to herd owners if a cheaper method for preventing 

 this disease could be devised. Some Danish investigations encour- 

 age the thought that it may be possible to artificially immunize cows 

 against abortion. The observation has frequently been made by 

 experienced veterinarians and herdsmen that cows appear, naturally, 

 in many instances, to acquire an immunity to this disease. In other 

 words, a cow may abort two, three or four times, and afterward 

 breed regularly. As a result of a gradual diminution in the violence 

 of infectious abortion, the aborted foetus is carried for a longer time 

 until, finally, it is brought to full term. The Danish investigations 

 have had for their object the prompt and almost immediate produc- 

 tion of this immunity that develops under normal conditions only 

 after several years. It is hoped that arrangements can be made for 

 carrying on investigations in this field, which is of so much import- 

 ance to dairymen. 



Rh^dersenche^ Hemorrhagic Septicaemm, or Spotted Fever of 

 Cattle : This disease has occurred during the past year in the coun- 

 ties of Allegheny, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Carbon, Chester, Hunting- 

 don and Wayne. It has not prevailed extensively, that is to say, over 

 a wide area, in anv case. In most outbreaks it has involved but a 



