BLACKLEG 135 



continued for another period of six to ten days when 

 it may be necessary to discontinue again and give another 

 dose of epsom salts. Treatment should be continued 

 until the tumor is reduced to about one-third of its 

 original size; it may then be discontinued." 



The statement has been made that one animal in 

 every 1600 or 1700 cattle that go to the Chicago market 

 has lump-jaw. The government inspection rule relative 

 to the disease reads as follows : 



"Actinomycosis, or lump- jaw: First, if the carcass 

 is in a well nourished condition and there is no evidence 

 upon post-mortem examination that the disease has 

 extended from a primary area of infection in the head, 

 the carcass may be passed; but the head, including the 

 tongue shall be condemned. Second, if the carcass is 

 in a well nourished condition and the disease has ex- 

 tended beyond the primary area of infection, the dis- 

 position shall be made in accordance with the regulations 

 relating to tuberculosis." 



BLACKLEG 1 



Blackleg, blackquarter, quarter-ill, or symptomatic 

 anthrax is a rapidly fatal infectious disease of young 

 cattle which was formerly regarded as being the same as 

 anthrax, but recent investigations have definitely 

 proved that they are entirely different diseases. It is 

 caused by a minute rod-like bacillus which lives only 

 in the absence of oxygen, as in the ground or in the tis- 

 sues of animals. It enters the animal body by means of 

 abrasions of the skin or of the mucous membrane lining 

 of the mouth, throat, and other portions of the digestive 

 tract. Foreign writers state that the disease is found 

 among sheep and goats, but in this country it rarely, 

 if ever, affects any animals except cattle. The disease 

 may attack suckling calves, but is most likely to oc- 



1 The information here presented is taken from the Report on 

 the Diseases of Cattle of the Bureau of Animal Industry, Bulletin 

 122 of the Kansas, and Bulletin 75 of the Virginia Experiment 

 Station?. 



