THE MORE COMMON AILMENTS OF CATTLE 44I 



with rare exceptions. Death is preceded by convulsions 

 in some instances. 



The losses from blackleg have been very serious 

 during recent years. It occurs in all parts of the United 

 States, but it is most prevalent in the western and south- 

 western states. It gives trouble in many of the prov- 

 inces of Canada and is found in nearly all countries of 

 Europe. It also occurs in some countries of Africa and 

 South America and on the continent of Australia. 



Treatment for the disease is almost fruitless. Not 

 so, however, are preventive measures. Of these vac- 

 cination is by far the most far-reaching and effective. A 

 skilled veterinarian should usually be employed in ad- 

 ministering the vaccine. The other preventive measures 

 are very similar to those recommended for anthrax. 

 (See page 438.) It is specially important that the car- 

 casses shall be buried or burned and that the contami- 

 nated premises shall be disinfected. 



Several reliable vaccines are now on the market, 

 and the Federal Bureau of Industry has also distributed 

 a very large amount of vaccine made by the department. 

 Vaccination for blackleg means injecting into the sys- 

 tem by means of a hypodermic syringe a minute amount 

 of artificially weakened blackleg virus. Some vaccines 

 call for two inoculations with an interval of ten days 

 between them, and some for only one. The former are 

 the safer. The immunity conferred may last for 18 

 months, but those vaccinated under six months should 

 be again vaccinated before the next occurrence of what 

 may be termed the vaccine season. With hearty co-op- 

 eration on the part of cattle owners, vaccination should 

 make it possible to stamp out this disease. 



Hemorrhagic Septicemia in cattle. — This infectiou? 

 and malignant disease is one of the most perplexing that 

 veterinarians have been called upon to combat. It is 

 perplexing, first, because of the several forms which it 

 assumes : second, because it appears suddenly and under 



