164 DAIRY FARMING 



appear even though no cases have been known for a long 

 time. Calves in good flesh are the most subject to its at- 

 tack. Calves affected with the disease live a few days but 

 seldom recover. 



The disease is easily recognized. The calf at first appears 

 merely lame and stiff. Swellings will usually be formed on 

 some part of the body, and when these are rubbed a peculiar 

 crackling sound is noticed resulting from the gas that has 

 formed in the tissue. When the calf is examined after 

 death the affected quarter will be found to be congested 

 with dark blood and almost black in color, which condition 

 gives rise to the common name of the disease. It is useless 

 to attempt to treat the animals already affected. When 

 a case occurs, those not sick should be vaccinated at once. 

 There is then little danger that the trouble will spread. 

 In localities where the disease is common, vaccination should 

 be practiced on all calves, as a preventive, without waiting 

 for the disease to appear. The vaccine used for the pur- 

 pose may be purchased arid applied by the owner himself, 

 or a veterinary surgeon may be employed if the owner pre- 

 fers. 



151. Sorghum and Kafir Corn Poisoning. Sorghum and 

 kafir corn are important forage crops in that part of the 

 country bordering on the semiarid. Under certain conditions 

 these plants develop a poison, which is frequently the cause of 

 losses of stock, especially cattle. The danger occurs when the 

 growth of the crop is checked by dry weather and at times in 

 second growth sorghum or kafir. The trouble occurs only 

 when the animal eats the green plant. The damage usually 

 happens when the stock break through the fences and eat the 

 green crop in the field, although occasionally cattle are turned 

 into such a field by some one who is ignorant of the possible 



