Animal Ih'seasr.s and their Treat inviit. 365 



ANIMAL DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



By A. A. Brou-n, M.B., B.S. 



Symptomatic Anthrax (Blacklku). 



Outbreaks of blackleg, particularly in (lippsland, occur every 

 year. Young cattle are principally aft'ected. The disease is limited 

 to the period between six months and four years of age. It seldom, 

 however, occurs over two years of age. It does not occur under six 

 months. It is a disease of damp districts, and occurs mostly in 

 spring and autumn. The germ that causes it is motile, rounded at 

 the ends, with a shining spore at one end. It does not grow in the 

 pi-esence of oxygen. The ox, sheep, goat and guineapig are 

 susceptible, but all other animals are immune. The rabbit is 

 naturally immune to this disease, but it is easily killed by anthrax 

 and malignant oedema. The virus of blackleg lives for long periods 

 outside the bodies of animals, in the soil and water, and, unlike the 

 bacillus of anthrax, thrives where putrefaction is going on, and when 

 deprived of oxygen. 



In about 48 hours after the invasion of the virus, distinctive 

 symptoms appear in the affected animal. The dis'ease is contracted 

 by the germs entering through some w^ound of the skin, such as 

 occasionally exist about the legs and feet of young cattle. Some 

 affected animals recover, so that the disease is not necessarily fatal. 

 The chief chai'ncteristic of the disease is the formation of one or 

 ]nore tumors. The swelling rapidly increases in size, and is sonorous 

 I in percussion. The centre of the swelling is black, but the outside 

 portions are not so dark. A yellowish-red fluid pervades the tissues 

 in the neighbourhood of the swelling. Much gas is formed in the 

 tumor, and it crackles like a celluloid ball on manipulation. The 

 lymphatic glands of the neighbourhood are involved. The carcase 

 of an animal dead of the disease long maintains its infectivity, and 

 fields when^ animals have died and been buried, long remain places 

 where the disease is likely to recur. The spores can maintain their 

 existence in the soil for an indefinite ])eriod. Diseased animals should 

 be promptly isolated from the healthy. All carcases should be burnt 

 or buried intact in chloride of lime and quicklime deep down in the 

 ground. Cattle should be kept off' areas known to be infected, and 

 such areas should be cultivated to lessen I'isk of contagion. 



On the outbreak of disease the remainder of the herd, whose ages 

 range from six months to two years, should be inoculated. 

 Immediately after the death of an animal, take some of the blackest 

 parts of the tumor, })0und it well up in a little water that has 

 previously been boiled and cooled, and then filter the mass through 

 linen. This will give a blood-stained fluid. This blood-stained fluid 

 is heated to 200" Fah. for six hours. To compensate 'for loss by 



