336 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



disinfected. By stringently following such methods, contagious diseases have been 

 known to affect only one of the family, while the rest of the family escaped. 



The same methods should be followed when contagious diseases affect any of 

 the animals belonging to the farm. As soon as it is known that the disease is 

 contagious, every sound animal should be removed to a place where the disease 

 has not existed. In removing them, it would be a wise precaution to wash the 

 animals with some disinfecting solution. They should be carefully watched and 

 as soon as one is noticed to be sick, it should be immediately removed and placed 

 with the sick animals. The sick animals should be confined in as narrow a space 

 as possible, so that the contagion will not be spread over a wide area. After the 

 separation of the well from the sick has taken place, the greatest care should 

 be exercised that none of the virus be carried on the boots, clothes or person of the 

 man or men in charge. If possible, every means of communication, however great 

 or however trifling, should be completely cut off. If it is suspected that food or 

 water has been the means of introducing this disease, there should be no hesitancy 

 in stopping its use. In carrying out a system of isolation, it must be thorough if 

 it is successful. No half-hearted spirit should undertake it. 



After the disease has run its course, it is entirely dependent upon the nature 

 of the disease to determine what method shall be followed. This determination 

 should in every case be left to a competent veterinarian, who alone should attend 

 to the management of examinations that may be required in the case. Where the 

 disease is not all-persistent, after a few weeks have elapsed, there need not be any 

 great necessity for disinfecting the places where the sick animals have been. But 

 this is a dangerous plan to follow, for we are not always aware of the persistency 

 of any germ. The wisest and safest way is to thoroughly disinfect the places oc- 

 cupied by the sick animals. 



Should any of the animals die, the only reliable method in disposing of them 

 is to burn their carcasses. The ordinary methods of dragging them from one end 

 of the farm to the other and burying them are exceedingly dangerous and pernicious 

 and lead only to further trouble. If proper attention is given, perhaps the burying 

 of carcasses may be accomplished without any danger, but it should not be done 

 unless burning is impossible. To do it safely, a hole at least six feet deep should be 

 dug and some quick-lime placed in the bottom. The dead animal should be placed 

 upon ihis quick-lime and covered over with another thick layer of quick-lime. The 

 remainder of the hole may then be filled in with earth. 



More or less disinfection will have to be resorted to in most cases. This intro- 

 duces a new chapter whicli cannot be treated in a meager way, because of certain 

 principles involved which must be thoroughly understood. To do justice to such 

 a theme as this will require detailed discussion and directions. 



DISINFECTION. 



Disinfection is directed against the agents which cause contagious diseases, and 

 it undertakes to fight as though in single combat with an individual germ, for it is 

 recognized that there is always present some living micro-organism which serves as 

 the propagator of contagious disease. This living micro-organism is the real virus 

 which is so much dreaded. 



In connection with disinfection there are terms which are closely allied and 

 which should be differentiated and explained. Agents which are used to antagonize 

 bacteria are known as germicides, disinfectants and antiseptics. By a germicide 

 is understood an agent or substance is one form or another which is capable of 

 extinguishing completely the life of a germ. The term disinfectant is more 

 specific in its use and is generally confined to the destruction or devitalization of 

 some particular obnoxious germ. An antiseptic is an agent which possesses the 

 power of preventing the growth of germs which produce a diseased condition. 



In attempting to draw distinctions between the above terms we are cognizant 

 of the fact that their scope has not been exhausted and their boundai'ies have not 

 been well defined. The desire is to give a general impression of their force and 

 meaning as well as to place them in their proper relations. 



It may be advantageous and may also explain some incongruities which will 

 follow hereafter to briefly state some of the difficulties encountered in determining 

 tlio true value of germicides, disinfectants and antiseptics, and Avhy it is there is so 

 much apparent discord in the works of different investigators when dealing with 

 these agents. 



If a micro-organism as an invisible microscopical plant is viewed in the light of 

 ordinary plants with which we are acquainted in our every day observations it will 



