107 



Blaclileg. — This disease occasions the death of many young cattle, 

 each spring-, in every section of the country, generally attacking those 

 in good condition, and ending in death. It is not reported in New Eng- 

 land ; in New York a few cases are mentioned in Ontario and Chautau- 

 qua ; in Albemarle and Highland, Virginia ; in Harrison, West Virginia ; 

 in Mercer, Ohio, 20 ftital cases ; a few deaths in Noble, Ohio ; sev- 

 eral fatal cases in Winona and McLeod, Minnesota ; losses in Chickasaw, 

 Plymouth, and Jackson, the report from the latter stating that the dis- 

 ease usually begins on a foot or leg, and spreads quite rapidly over the 

 aliected member, and sometimes over the whole body, autopsy' showing 

 the tissues beneath the skin congested and really black ; considerable 

 loss among young cattle in Nemaha, Pawnee, and Washington, Nebras- 

 ka 5 and many fatal cases in Coffey, Howard, Itiley, and Shawnee, Kan- 

 sas. 



Charbon. — This virulent disease has nearly disajjpeared from the 

 South. The report from St. Mary's Parish, Louisana, says : Malignant 

 pustule, or charbon, carried off twelve mides on one plantation. It did 

 not spread. 



Murrain. — It is to be regretted that a more accurate knowledge of 

 cattle diseases does not exist among the farmers of the country. The 

 use of the words "murrain," "dry murrain," "bloody murrain," and 

 "distemper, is common in the reports, and other meaningless terms are 

 apphed to diseases having a great diversity of .symptoms. We shall re- 

 fer to them together, giving whatever of intelligent characterizations 

 may be found in the returns. The following statement, which presents 

 some of the sym^jtons of splenic fever, is from 



De Ealb County, Georgia. — A disease called murrain, or distemper, prevails now every 

 year, and nine-tenths of the cattle attacked die ; they refuse all food, ears droop, have 

 very high fever, stand all the time, but refuse to move, bowels costive, sometimes uri- 

 nate blood. Death generally ensues about -the fourth day. After death the manifold, 

 or the contents, are dry and hard, almost as hard as if baked in an oven. Small loss 

 the i)a8t year — 5 per cent. 



In Humphreys, Tennessee, a disease has prevailed which is not un- 

 derstood by the farmers. " Cattle when first attacked look sleepy, eyes 

 run and are red, and an eruption of the skin, like nettle rash, appears, 

 wiiich drives them frantic. The number lost is To head. " 



In a small area on Tye River, Nelson County, Virginia, a very fatal 

 disease has prevailed. In Burke County, North Carolina, a disease like 

 Spanish fever has taken off' one-fifth of the number of milch cows in 

 some localities, and " distemper '- is reported in Caldwell, Person, Ean- 

 dolpb, Rutherford, Surry, Wilkes, and Yadkin. 



In Webster County, West Virginia, some unknown disease invariably 

 terminates fatally an hour or so after the attack. Symptoms : Loss of 

 appetite and uneasiness manifested by the animal walking about, shaking 

 of the head, lying down and rising frequently. 



In Georgia "^ bloody murrain" is reported in Murry and Walker, " mur- 

 rain" in Lumpkin, " distemper " in White, and an " unknown disease "in 

 Coweta and Towns. 



"Bloody murrain" has prevailed in Hardeman, Tennessee ; "dry 

 murrain killed a few "in Meigs, and an "unknown disease" has been 

 very fatal in Humphreys. 



A disease terminating fatally in three days, in its features resembling 

 "scours" or "dry murrain," has caused some loss in Clarke, Missouri. 



In Tuscola, Michigan, " a few cases of dry murrain" are reported. 



In Weeks County, Minnesota, some animals have died from a name- 

 less disei.sc, which causes a swelling and subsequent soreness of the 

 thro-it. 



