438 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



but may reach them also by the other methods. It may 

 come through fodders green or dried grown on spore- 

 infected land, or through the water drunk. It may 

 occur sporadicalh', attacking but one or a limited number 

 of animals, or it may be epizootic, attacking simulta- 

 neously a large number. 



The indications of anthrax in cattle only will be 

 considered. They vary considerably, but usually they 

 include the following: (i) Sudden attack, accompanied 

 by great depression, prostration, and stupor; (2) tem- 

 perature running as high frequently as 106 to 107; (3) 

 hurried respiration and irregular and violent beating of 

 the heart; and (4) the turning bluish red of the visible 

 mucous membrane. In some instances swellings ap- 

 pear in various parts of the body, but these are fre- 

 quently absent. Death follows within one or two days 

 and may occur within a few hours. The presence of 

 germs in the blood taken from some external organ, as 

 the ear, and examined microscopicall}' furnish evidence 

 as to the nature of the disease when the germs are pres- 

 ent. The danger of infection comes from being in close 

 touch with the disease, and should not be lost sight of. 



The losses from anthrax, especially when epizootic, 

 are very great, owing to the great mortality which char- 

 acterizes it. The long period during which the germs 

 may lurk in an infected district are a vexatious menace 

 to stock growing in the vicinity. The disease exists in 

 all the continents. In the United States it has not 

 visited large areas in the northern half of the Union, but, 

 unfortunately, it is gradually spreading. In the lower 

 Mississippi basin and in some of the Gulf states, it pre- 

 vails to a serious extent. 



Remedial measures are of so little avail that it is 

 scarcely worth while to consider them. But protective 

 measures by way of prevention are all-important. These 

 include: ( i ) The safe and deep burial, or what is bet- 

 ter, the burning of the carcasses of the dead animals; 



