Farmers' Column.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXV, Issue 255, 26 November 1903, Page 4

Farmers' Column.

BLACK-LEG OR BLACK-QUARTER —ITS NATURE AND PREVENTION. • By J. A. Gilruth, M.R.C.V.S., Chief Veterinarian. Black-leg having now been ascertained to be the cause of very serious losses among young cattle in the Taranaki district, this leaflet is issued for the information of cattle-owners-i The terms used to denote the diseases are various, the following being the more common : "Symptomatic anthrax," "quarter evil," "quarter ill," " carbuacular fever," :'black-leg," "black-tquarter," etc. CAUSE.

Black-leg is due to the entrance of I a special microbe or germ into the system through scratches or abrasions of the skin, or through the food. These germs form spores, which are very resistant to all the common antiseptic forces of nature. They are all capable ol living in the soil for numbers of years, and can (be carried from place to place by %'arious agencies. This disease was formerly confounded with anthrax,. but it has been demonstrated that the germs of the two diseases are of totally different species. SYMPTOMS. The most notable symptom Is the development of a characteristic swelling underneath the skin of one or more quarters—usually a hind quarter, though the swellings, may appear on the neck, shoulder, breast, loins, flanks or rump. The animal is dull, feverish, and suffers from loss of appetite. Over the swelling the skin is tense, and when the hand is passed over it a peculiar crackling noise is heard, due to the presence of gas. When cut into, a little frothy, biackish, bad-smelling fluid, with gas, exudes, while the Besh is blackish, and underneath the skin is a collection of soft dark brownish-red material, thaf has been aptly described as looking like raspberry jam. Death usually occurs in from two to three days after the first days are exhibited, although occasionally it results in a lew hours.

The disease is chiefly found in cattle under two years of age, though older ajreimiails are sometimes affected, and even horses and sheep have been known to contract the disease. Rarely animals in poor condition contract black-leg. METHOD OF INTRODUCTION.

This it is impossible to satisfactorily prove at this date. The d.isease has been known in Taranaki for fifteen years, and appears to have originated on a farm at Tikorangl shortly after the Jmppriia(tipn of a quantity of Indian bone-manure'. As it undoubtedly spread from there, the protaUilrties are that Imported bone-manure is responsible for the introduction of this disease as well at of anthrax. That it is capable of being imported by this means is undoubted.

MEANS WHEREBY BLACK-LEG IS SPREAD.

There are two principal means. One is the movement of young stock from 'arm to larm either through saleyards or direct ,- the other is the habit of leaving a dead animal to remain unburned or uniburied for dogs or hawks to tear the flesh and carry it from paddock to paddock, and tEus sow the germs over a large tract of country. The former has fi-dqjuently been the means of introducing the disease to a elgan farm, one or more animals dying a few days after being purchased. But, even when introduced in this way, were the carcases carefully destroyed by fire, the disease wouid not secure a permanent foothold. That it has 'done bo is, I ani entirely satislied, due to the carelessness of the farmer and his disinclination to do anything in the way of burning or evenltjurying carcases. TREATMENT. Curative treatment is rarely of any avail, the only sesible and scientific way of dealing with the disease being to prevent itPrevention.—The farmer's part in this treatment is, first, to burn all carcases ; and, second, to notify the Department of any cases of the disease. We will do the rest.

Vaccination.—This is accomplished by what is known as the Pasteur system of vaccination, which consists in the injection of a small (lose of the specific germ, the virulvnce of which has been artificially weakened, and, the animal system reacting thereto, the body become* immune for a period of flbput six months. All other so-called systems of prevention have been proved ineffectual when put to the test. Proof that this method of vaccination is effectual has been obtained here during the past year, .when over three thousand calves have been inoculated with gratifying results. During tho past few years over ten million cattle have been thus treated in the United "States and Canada, and from both the Government Veterinary Officers and the farmers themselves reports show that the results have been all that could be deslred( Here it -is proposed to 'inoculate twice all cattle under a year old on farms where the disease has made its appearance—once during the months of December and January, and again during the months of June and July, when definite arrangements will be made by the Veterinary Officer in Tara&aki for carrying on the work.

The Department has issued amplication forms whjch should be filled in ; by farmers desirous of having their stock treated, and sent tp tjic Chief Veterinarian, Wellington, In this way proper arrangements can be made and the owners duly notified. TO BE DEPENDED ON. BECAUSE IT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF A NEW PLYMOUTH CITIZEN. A stranger lost in a large city would place far more dependence cm the directions given him by a local resident than on the guidance of anotber stranger like himself. This is a natural tonseifluence of experience —it's like a ship jn a strange port—a trusty pilot familiar with the harbour is always called upon to bring her safely to her moorings. And so it is with endorsement ; we doubt the sayings of people living at dis>tant points because we can't investigate, but public expression of local citizens can be depended on, for 'tis an easy matter to prove it. •

Mr John West, baker, of this town says :—"While lifting a bag of flour J wrenched my back, and this caused a most severe pain, right in the vicinity of the kidneys, and it seemed as if those organs were hurt. Doan's Backachj* Kidney Pills were being advertised at the time, so I procured some from the co-operative store After using the remedy for a. short time I was perfectly free of all pain awl f can now strongly recommend' this remedy to all who are similarly troubled."

Jew aiv ol imitations. There is no-t-tang -just as good" for backache arid kidney trouble as the remedv wlwch Mr West recc-mmends-Doan's Backaelte Kidney l>iH s . therefore see Miat.you get the same, and that the word "Back-acne" is in the name. S ?, ackllthe Kid "ey Til's are sold by all chemists and storekeepers at 3s per box-six boxes 16s Odor will be posted on receipt of price by the proprietors, Fostcr-McOlellan n/f? p >tt-street, Sydney, N.S.W. ■uut be suive they are DOAN'S