Brisket Disease. 
9 
to effect a cure and where feasible is always to be recommended. 
The difficulty arises, first, in getting the animals to the railroad, and 
then in the expense of shipping after they are taken there. How¬ 
ever, since the animals may be considered worthless, all that is re¬ 
ceived for them over and above expenses should be looked upon as 
clear profit. Animals can usually be hauled to the railroad and it 
is perfectly feasible to pay for a car for two or more of them. In 
some localities the affected animals can be slowly driven to a lower 
altitude, thus effecting a recovery. This is frequently done in the 
San Luis Valley, where the belief prevails that practically all re¬ 
cover when driven from the mountains to the valley, where the ele¬ 
vation is between seven and eight thousand feet. Just how much 
lower it is necessary for them to go cannot be said at this time, but 
certainly a change from nine thousand to five thousand two hun¬ 
dred and eighty feet has proven effective. Men in South Park be¬ 
lieve some calves have been saved by driving them from eleven 
thousand to nine thousand feet elevation. In the San Luis Valley a 
difference of two or three thousand feet has proven sufficient. With 
our present knowledge, shipping or driving to a lower altitude 
should be first considered. If this is not possible, then medicinal 
treatment can be tried. 
Much digitalis has been used in the form of a drench, with 
some quite favorable reports. It was given in the form of the fluid 
extract in doses of one-half to one teaspoonful once to three times 
daily. It appears to have been of more value in older animals, as 
little if any relief was noticed in calves. On the whole, it is doubt¬ 
ful if digitalis in this form is dependable. The fluid extract was 
used because of its easy administration in the hands of stock- 
men, although we were cognizant of the reports that have been 
made concerning its being rendered inert in the stomachs of rumin¬ 
ants. Two cases, Nos. 30 and 31, were given digitalin without 
favorable results. This drug is quite irritating when used hypo¬ 
dermically. 
Certainly the animals should be kept as quiet as possible and 
under the minimum amount of exertion and excitement. The ques¬ 
tion arises as to whether they can be successfully treated at the al¬ 
titude where they contract the disease and this we cannot answer 
at this time. At least it is hoped that the disease can be held in 
abeyance until a convenient time for taking them to a lower alti¬ 
tude. Strychnine given hypodermically has given no good results. 
Lancing the swollen brisket and placing various medicaments 
within can do no good and is to be considered barbarous. It is in 
line with slitting the tail and putting in salt and pepper, and like 
the latter practice it should be eliminated as soon as possible. The 
