COMMON AILMENTS OF CATTLE 163 



the disease. The first indication of the disease is the ap- 

 pearance of small pimples on the skin. These at first con- 

 tain a watery fluid which later -thickens and becomes pus. 

 Tho pustule becomes flattened at the center and about the 

 nin th day breaks and the pus escapes. After it has broken, 

 a t lick dark scale appears, usually with a depression in the 

 cei ter. This comes off later, leaving a small pit similar to 

 th( scars of smallpox. The disease is conta- 

 giois to other cattle, but an animal once af- 

 flic ed with the disease is immune for some 

 tin e at least, and perhaps for life. 



No special treatment is necessary, as the 

 animal will soon recover. About all that can 

 be done is to apply some disinfectant, such as 

 zin<? ointment, or a weak solution of some one 

 of i he coal tar products commonly used on the 

 farm as stock dips. The affected animal should FIG. 46. - 

 be milked last so that the milker will not carry a i ast resort in 

 the disease to other cows. After milking, the relieving bloat, 

 hands should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. The 

 milk from a cow suffering from this disease should not be 

 used for human food. 



150. Blackleg. This disease is also known as " black 

 quarter." It attacks calves and young cattle from the age 

 of a few weeks up to the age of 2 or even 3 years. It is dis- 

 tributed more or less over a large part of this country but 

 is largely localized. Certain neighborhoods or farms after 

 once becoming infected often remain so for long periods, and 

 any young stock exposed are liable to develop the disease. 

 It is caused by a bacterium that gets into the animal's body 

 from the food or water. This bacterium can survive outside 

 the animal's body for long periods, so that the disease may 



