New-York tribune., 1868-12-25


MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF THREE CATTLE IN WEST
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. - INVESTIGATIONS or
PROF. GAMGEE-THE CAUSE, SYMPTOMS, AND
CURE OF THE DISEASE.
lPROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Dec. 1l.-Ihe re-
sudden and mysterious death of three cattle Of the
herd of Mr. Harvey d. Bogg OF this town has created
considerable interest among the farmers and herdsmen OF
this vicinity fortunate in this connection
has also been tie visit and professional examination Of
President John Gamgee Of the London Veterinary Col
lege who, day two since, made thorough inyesuga
ton Of the circumstances attending the death OF the
animals and pronounced upon the probable causes and
Of the disease The first appearance of the pagne,
which Mr.. BOgg noticed among bis herd was on the
morning Of Nov. 10, when he found fine and healthy
three year old steer alamingy ILL., manifesting extreme
pain, accompanied with irothing at the mouth weakness
aud stupidity. and general tOrpOr and inactOn Tie at
was not only violent III ITS first appearance, but
speedy and fatal in It's result and before the animal
dead The disease an entirely new and unknown
one and consequently treatment or remedies could Dc
intelligently applied No known for the dis
ease unless 1t might have been the smut the corn
stalks which had been fed freely to the animal as we
all others in the herd No however was taken
10 prevent recurrence OF the attack. ana WITHIN TWO
weeks another animal valuable found dead III
the barn. and apparently from the same causes whch
killed the steer The had had free and unrestrained
been poisoned by eating them. On Tuesday OF this
week third fatal case occurred in the herd OF
another threeyear steer which had been purchased
since the death OF the first and could In no way have
caught the disease from the other members Of the herd
The symptoms very similar TO those Of the fret VIC
tim and apparently there could be no doubt that the
three animals had died from the causes, whatever
those were The cattle had previously been perfectly
healthy and OF the survivors OF the same herd and
in their company every day had been in any affected
Last evening President Gamgee, who was on his return
NewlOr from the meeting OF the state AGRICULTURAL
Society at Amherst visited Mr. Boggs premises, aud
carefully Investigated far was possible, the causes
symptoms effects OF the disease. ON hearing OF the
circums and the fodder which the cattle had
been kept he unhestatingy pronounced the smut on
the corn stalks to be the OF all the trouble. THIS
fungus growth the has been unusually heavy this
year. and IN many the stalks have been completely
filed with H. IL is supposed to have been produced by
the warm weather Of last Summer and on the low
damp fields OF the Connecticut River bottoms would be
unusually plentiful An intelligent farmer neighbor OF
Mt Boggs that his fields fully four times as
much Hnuty raised this year rs ever before
The effect Of the smut the cattle which eat IT, In
their avidty for the which IT conceals, H. IN the
highest degree poisonous and, as the case OF the Boeg
cattle proves, often rapidly fatal
President Gamgee prescIibes as remedies purgatiye1
said that in the Of the animals violently
attacked remedies promptly administered would proba
bly, prove effective pound OF epson salts. an ounce OF
aocs four Of sulphur and two ounces OF ginger
the whole mixed in water aud poured down the throat OF
sick animal Prof Gamgee thought would save life IN
nearly every case For animals that are recovering
or less severely affected with the disease, bran
and clean Wholesome food should be carefully prepared.
There have been indications that the disease Is con
8Ous No other cases have appeared In town. ana IN
the herd from which the three victims have been taken,
10 others have been affected Two fatal re-
ported 10 have recently occurred In North Hadey and
there doubt but that this is the same maady which
lately Killed six cattle OF farmer In Rhnobcck Duchcss
County y and has also carried of hundred or more
In Polk County Iowa II is even supposed by many med
oa aud veterinary experts that the Texas cattle plague
which ragged extensively through the West and in the
Albany and Newark stock yards in August aud soptem
bor was caused by fungus growth grass similar In
it's nature 10 that OF the smut This theory was
warmly supported the recent National Cattle Conns
ploncrs' Convention Springfield H. and the similarity
n the manifestations should skul ana carclu
Invest CATION the aud proper remedies ~
the disease may, II possible. be ascertained
There are however many Of the most intelligent and
observing farmers and stock breeders Of m town, who
scout tho smut theory aud discedt H. Thoy have fed
smuy corn 10 cattle all their lives and this Ia as much
~ ever but have never perceived any injurious effect
They continue to supply their stock with an abundant
amour, Of the corn fodder and IL highly probable that
II smut is the true cause Of the disease shall hear
u other fatal cases Mr. Bogg however has given the
corn fodder ioT herd and provides his cattle with
food concerning which there be suspicion |
Against the smlt theory also the fact that other
domestic animate particularly hogs FED freely on the
niody and ,nuty corn but with h furious unusual
effect.