226 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc 



Anothor disease tliat has appeared in Pennsylvania within the 

 last few years among horses and mules is mange. This is a similar 

 disease to scab in sheep and itch in man. It is caused by a small 

 insect that lives upon the skin by sucking blood. When first afflicted 

 with this disease a horse or mule in general health can be used 

 on the road and this is one of the most dantremns features, because 

 the insects which cause the disease can readily transfer themselves 

 from the diseased animal to any healthy animal which may come 

 in contact with the diseased animal; posts, fences and other objects 

 against which the affected horse may rub also become infected with 

 the insects and other horses coming in contact with these objects 

 may become infected with the disease. Harness, curry combs and 

 brushes used on the diseased animal may transmit the disease, and 

 stables occupied by diseased animals harbor the infection. The 

 disease can readily be controlled by keeping diseased horses isolated 

 and by avoiding all objects which may be infested with the para- 

 sites. Diseased animals can be cured in a very short time with 

 proper treatment and can then be used without any danger of 

 spreading the disease. 



Rabies is a disease which well illustrates what can be done in the 

 wa}' of prevention where nothing can effect a cure. The I'asteur 

 treatment for this disease is no doubt well known to you all. The 

 prime essential in the success of this treatment is its early applica- 

 tion, and this in turn depends upon the early determination of the 

 question as to whether or not the suspected dog is affected with the 

 diseas(\ Jf the head and upper portion of the neck of any sus- 

 pected dog is forw^arded to the laboratory of the State Livestock 

 Sanitary Board it can be determined by examination of the brain 

 and nerve tissue within a few hours whether or not the dog was 

 alfected with the disease. Until a short time ago it was necessary 

 to test the brain for the virus of the disease on rabbits, and this 

 test required tw'elve days or more. In some few cases it is now 

 necessary to make this inoculation test also, but most tests can be 

 determined by the more rapid microscopic method. Whenever the 

 discovery is made that a dog was aillicted with rabies all animals 

 which may have been bitten by this dog are placed in quarantine by 

 the State Livestock Sanitary Board for a period of one hundred days. 

 If the disease does not develop within this time they are then re- 

 leased. This quarantine places all dogs w'hich are likely to develop 

 the disease under the conditions which will prevent thorn from biting 

 ♦^ther animals and further spreading the disease should they be- 

 come affected. 



The newer developments in veterinary science have also proven 

 of great service in connection with anthrax and blackleg, two very 

 fatal diseases of cattle. There are certain parts of Pennsylvania 

 where cases of these diseases have been found. Neither anthrax 

 nor blackleg is contagious from one animal to another, but in each 

 case the germ which causes the disease exists in the soil and ani- 

 mals pastured on such ground may become affected with the dis- 

 ease. The soil usually becomes infected with these germs through 

 neglect of properly disposing of carcasses of animals which have 

 died of this disease. The spore of the anthrax bacillus is the most 

 resistant disease-producing agent of which w^e have knowledge. 



