Cause. In Gilruth’s report for 1900 he demonstrated the cause of blood poisoning to be a microbe known as the malignant œdema bacillus (Vibrion septique of Pasteur). This organism, which is found in many dirty yards, swampy soils, etc., on gaining entrance to the system of almost any animal by means of a wound, rapidly increases in numbers, producing gangrene, or death, of the part affected first, and ultimately the death of the animal.
Curative treatment is practically useless.
Preventive measures. Destruction of the carcases of animals which have succumbed to this disease by efficient burial or by fire. Disinfection of surface soil of yards, etc., by quick-lime. Cleansing of floors and walls of sheds with strong hot lime wash containing crude carbolic acid in the proportion of 1 to 50. Disinfection of flesh cuts made by the shears or the docking or castrating knife. Boiling of docking and tailing knives before use. Observance of antiseptic applications even when temporary yards are employed. Sheep and lambs after operation to be kept in a paddock free from swampy patches.
PIROPLASMOSIS.
Under the title piroplasmosis is included a group of diseases caused by hæmosporidia, and found in animals of the bovine and ovine species. These affections are far from having the same importance in temperate as they have in tropical countries; nevertheless, it is very important to be able to recognise them.
BOVINE PIROPLASMOSIS.
Bovine piroplasmosis has been described under different names, such as hæmoglobinæmia, hæmoglobinuria, Texas fever (U.S.A.), tick fever (Australia), tristeza (Argentine Republic), African coast fever, East Coast fever, redwater, Rhodesian fever (Cape), and bovine malaria.
Fig. 185.—Angora goats affected with takosis (photographed twenty-four hours before death).
(Ann. Rep. U.S.A. Bur. An. Ind. 1902.)
