SYMPTOMATIC ANTHRAX 169 



absorbent cotton for filtering, and a measure graduated for 

 cubic centimeters. 



All these must be sterilized by boiling, or otherwise, before 

 using. The vaccine is prepared for use by emptying a given 

 number of doses into the mortar, adding a few drops of boiled 

 and cooled water, and thoroughly grinding. Then as many 

 cubic centimeters of water, boiled and cooled, are added as 

 there were doses of vaccine. This is well mixed, filtered in 

 the funnel through loosely packed cotton, and the filtered liquid 

 is used for the vaccination. The injection is made by hypo- 

 dermic syringe on the side of the neck or back of the shoulder. 



Dose. — The dose is 1 c.c. for yearlings and somewhat less for 

 younger animals, down to .5 c.c. for calves. 



Suggestions. — It is not usually necessary to vaccinate calves 

 under six months nor over two years. If calves under six 

 months are vaccinated, they may require revaccination next 

 season. Vaccination should be given a few weeks before this 

 trouble usually appears, as the disease tends to appear at ap- 

 proximately the same time each year. Vaccination should not be 

 given to calves that are weak from disease or ill health, nor at 

 the same time with, or soon after, any surgical operation like 

 castration. There should be an interval of at least ten days 

 after the latter operation. Calves that are accustomed to being 

 handled may be vaccinated standing in the stable. Those that 

 are wild must usually be thrown or confined in a chute. 



There are several newer immunizing preparations now on the 

 market: (1) Aggression, prepared by extracting juices from dis- 

 eased tissue under pressure, filtering and preserving by phenol 

 (carbolic acid) ; (2) filtrate, a filtrate from a laboratory artifi- 

 cial culture of B. chauvcei, and preserved by phenol; (3) anti- 

 Mackleg serum, from the blood of horses that have had a series 

 of weekly injections of blackleg virus in large doses. This 

 serum seems to have some curative value early in the case. 



Treatment. — Medical treatment for this disease is not con- 

 sidered satisfactory or, as a rule, worth while. Prevention by 

 vaccination is easily applied, inexpensive, and usually satis- 

 factory. 



