which animals are subjected
in pastures. Inoculation experiments on guinea pigs, rabbits, and chickens
will generally disclose the differences between the three diseases above,
as all these species are killed by the germ of malignant edema, only the
first two species by the anthrax bacillus, while the guinea pigs alone will
succumb to the blackleg infection. Hemorrhagic septicemia may be
differentiated from blackleg by its affecting cattle of all ages, by the
location of the swelling usually about the region of the throat, neck, and
dewlap, by the soft, doughy character of the swellings without the presence
of gas bubbles, and finally by the characteristic hemorrhages widely
distributed throughout the body. Other means of diagnosis, which have
reference to the specific bacilli, to the inoculable character of the virus
upon small animals, and which are of decisive and final importance, can be
utilized only by the trained bacteriologist and veterinarian.
_Treatment._--In this disease remedies have thus far proved unavailing.
Some writers recommend the use of certain drugs, which seem to have been
beneficial in a few cases, but a thorough trial has shown them to be
valueless. Others advise that the swelling be opened by deep and long
incisions and a strong disinfectant, such as a 5 per cent solution of
carbolic acid, applied to the exposed parts; but this procedure can not be
too strongly condemned. As nearly all those attacked die, in spite of every
kind of treatment, and in view of the fact that when these tumors are
opened the germs of the disease are scattered over the stables or pastures,
thus becoming a source of danger to other cattle, it is obvious that such
measures do more harm than good and should be put aside as dangerous.
Bleeding, nerving, roweling, or setoning have likewise some adherents, but
the evidence indicates that they have neither curative nor preventive value
and therefore should be discarded for the method of vaccination which has
been thoroughly tried and proved to be efficacious.
_Prevention._--The various means suggested under "Anthrax" to prevent the
spread or recurrence of this disease are equally applicable to blackleg,
and hence do not need to be repeated here in full. They consist in the
removal of well animals from the infected pasture to a noninfected field,
the draining of the swampy ground, the burial or burning of the carcasses
to prevent the dissemination of the germs over vast areas
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