BLACKLEG 265 



center of the tumor is due to the death of the tissue. Gas 

 i- formed in the tissue to such an extent that the muscle 

 filters are blown apart. Piv-siire on the tumor causes the 

 Lias lo flow through the spaces with a rustling sound, which 



gives rise to the (Jerman term for the disease, Rauschbrand. 



Xo pain is evidenced by the animal when the tumor is 

 opened. I'm- the tissu.-s at the center are dead. The exudate 

 is dark in color, and ha> an odor of rancid butter, due to the 

 pn sence of butyric a-id. The exndate is frothy on account 

 of its -a- content. The dark color and location of the tu- 

 mors have given rise to the common name of the disease, 

 blackleg. 



The iras formation continues after death, often greatly 

 distending the eaiva>>. Tlie afTected tissues do not decom- 

 nearly so (piickly as the non-affected areas of the body. 

 A blood-colored frothy discharge flows from the nostrils and 

 amis. The blood is normal in color and in coagulating 

 properties. The spleen is normal. These conditions, to- 

 gether with the gas formation in the tumors, something lack- 

 ing in anthrax tumors, serve to differentiate blackleg from 

 anthrax. The disease is almost always fatal. Treatment 

 is of little if any value. 



The stockman must seek to limit the spread of the disease 

 by hygienic and preventive measures Care should be 

 used in the disposal of carcasses in order not to contaminate 

 the soil with the resistant spores, which are abundant in 

 the exudale and in the diseased tissue. Cremation of the 

 carcass is advisable whenever possible. Deep burial is a 

 substitute. There is no danger of transmission to man. 



Vaccination. The vaccination against blackleg, first used 

 in France, has been of great value to the stock interests of 

 this country. Before the introduction of the protective 

 treatment in the Southwest, the losses amounted to 10 per 

 cent, of the annual calf crop. These losses were reduced 



