THE MORE COMMON AILMENTS OF CATTLE 439 



(2) the thorough disinfection of all the stables and sur- 

 roundings; (3) the draining of swampy lands and stag- 

 nant pools that have been infected; (4) the breaking up 

 and cropping of pastures for one or more seasons in suc- 

 cession when infection has occurred; and (5) vaccination 

 by the Pasteur method. Animals should not be buried 

 near streams. Disinfection of stables may be accom- 

 plished by using a solution of chloride of lime and water 

 in the proportion of 3 ounces of the chloride to each 2 

 quarts of water, and by strewing abundantly ordinary 

 slaked lime on infected soil. Draining to prevent inun- 

 dation of pastures is frequently not practicable. While 

 the pastures are under crop, the cattle may be main- 

 tained in summer on soiling food. The vaccine now 

 on the market is usually given twice with an interval of 

 12 days between. As it may be the means under some 

 conditions of spreading the disease, it should only be 

 given by trained veterinarians and in already infected 

 centers. 



Blackleg in cattle. — This disease is more commonly 

 known by the name blackleg, but it is also called black 

 quarter, quarter ill, and symptomatic anthrax. For- 

 merly it was regarded as identical with anthrax, but it 

 is now certain that the two diseases have no relation, 

 notwithstanding the resemblance in some of the symp- 

 toms. It is a malignant infectious disease, peculiar to 

 cattle, sheep, and goats. Other domestic animals, and 

 also the human family, are not subject to its attacks. It 

 is caused by a germ (Bacillus chauvaci), which, in some 

 minor respects, resembles the rodlike bacillus in an- 

 thrax, and, like the latter, it has the power of forming a 

 spore within itself. The spores, under favorable con- 

 ditions, may remain virulent for years. This may ac- 

 count for its occurrence occasionally in stables. 



Blackleg usually afifects young cattle such as are 

 beyond the age of six months and under the age of two 

 years. In some instances the disease occurs in cattle 



