FACTORS INFLUENCING BEEF PRODUCTION 265 



of appetite, difficulty in breathing and in locomotion. The 

 membranes of the mouth later become dark red or purple, 

 and swellings appear on the more muscular parts, as thighs 

 and shoulders, which may spread to other parts of the body. 

 Under these swellings a bloody fluid develops, and the flesh 

 of the legs takes on a dark color, hence the name blackleg. 

 As the disease is not curable, preventivemeasuresareadopted. 

 Healthy cattle are vaccinated with a vaccine produced in the 

 laboratory from the disease germs. This treatment is very 

 effective in preventing the malady. 



Foot and mouth disease especially affects cattle, although 

 it may occur with swine and sheep. The disease is indicated 

 by a fever, and by the appearance of water blisters on the 

 mouth, a great flow of saliva, and sore feet. This is a very 

 contagious disease, but is not usually fatal, although it does 

 great damage to herds. While very prevalent on the contin- 

 ent of Europe, it has never had a permanent foothold in the 

 United States, because of the fact that it has been stamped 

 out by our government through a strict policy of quarantine 

 and slaughter. 



Foot rot of a contagious nature, which occurs with cattle 

 and sheep, though more commonly with the latter, is due to 

 germs which develop between the toes and under the hoofs. 

 The foot becomes hot and swelled, and finally pus is formed 

 and discharged when the swellings break. The sores develop 

 under the shell-like part of the hoof, and in bad cases the 

 outer horny layer may drop off. Naturally the animal be- 

 comes very lame, and may hardly be able to walk. The pus 

 which comes from the sore scatters the disease among the 

 healthy animals of the herd. For treatment the diseased 

 tissue should be trimmed away, the foot thoroughly washed 

 with strong disinfectants, and if need be bandaged. An 

 excellent disinfectant is a strong solution of copper sulfate. 

 Sometimes in extreme cases of diseased hoofs, pure copper 

 sulfate crystals are packed about the hoof. Foot rot is very 



