The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-02-16
MILK SICK II SIS,

A gentleman at the west has announced that he
he discovered the cause and the OF This foimi-
dable disease, whish has beeen SO destructive in
some parts Of the Western states, and has in
few instances, destroyed or driven The nhabitants
from some Of tho le, tile sections of the
try. He is claiming considerable sums from tho
state legislatures for the PRONUNCIATION of his spe
ciic, aud should there be no hnmbuggery about it,
he will certainly be entitled TO handsome reward,
in those states where the losses from this caHse
have already been so great. .. ssF
There traces of similar disease in any
other part OF the world; and in the United States
it has been principally confined to Tennessee,
Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, though il is
believed that some few instances have occurred in
Wisconsin, and west of the Mississippi muIii-
tude of speculations hara been made tn the
probable cause of this fatal ompIant, both among
medical men and others; and there is scarcely Q
poisonous mineral plant to which it has not
IN turn been attributed. Public opinion at the
west seems TO have settled the opinion, that 1t
was produced by low shrub vine assuming at
times the form of climber, and bearing lunches
Of brown berries Whatever the poison may be, il
causes cattle TO CULVER, stagger, and die within a
few hours II the cows eat OF it, the milk is polr
soned, the butter is also poisoned, and those who
partake of either, surely injured, as if they
had partaken OF the original cause itself. The
slightest symptoms vomiting, and this more SCI
we're the quantity ofpoison is the greater, until
| violent spasams and death cnsues Dogs and
| wolves who feed on animals that have died with
this disease share the same fate, and To the
extending of the evil to dogs and swine cattle that
die with the poison buried carefully TO avoid
such results. t,4 si.t.an I9i1i
In districts where the disease prevails, great
care is necessary in killing beef animals, as some
times the beef will produce vomiting, when the
animal is as tle effected us to escape notice. To
les, the presence ofiio disease some butchers are
in the habit of driving the animal mile to heat us
blood; when il il poisoned il will EXHIBIT a Pc
cuar trembling so certainly indicative Of the press
ence of the complaint. -, 81.
| In remarking the formidable nature OF 'hls
complaint a writer from the west says: tts9Nali
| II have seen many farms with comfortable build
ings and improvements, entirely abandoned, and
their owners fled I" other quarters 10 AVOID MS
dreadful curse" @tsa ogah o. 90
But, perhaps the most signal instance of It's fatal.
lily given in the following extract Of paper from
Col, Hide Of Of Illinois, who has given much ateH
lion to the topic: h ~ teag ~ hia pop
"Calling to see a friend on Darby Creek, Ohio,
" hom | had not seen for twenty years, he pointed
to his wife and reniarked-'Slle is my third wife;t
am her third husband; and in yon grave yard"'
is members of our families taken Oft by that dread
fnl disease, the pu king complaint" /" b'''''r
Surely there must be some unusual iacinations IN
apy place that would lead an individual for so ma
nv wears TO encounter fatal enemy to ne
Should the announcement Of the discovery ai'Haso
to, prove we'll founded it Willie valuao'e ooon
to the west, and save annually great numbers OF
cattle and many valuable lives Ss"nessee raFs
! mer.