The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-07
DIR. HOLC0MB'S REPORT.
The Late Outbreak OF Spanish Fever ON
oieiiy and Scientifically Considered.


State Veterinarian, has made the following
report to Governor Click upon the cattle
disease that recently appeared in cattle
shipped from Kansas City, and created so
mnch excitement among cattlemen and
others:
KANSAS STATE VETERINARIANS OFFICE, I
TOPEKA, KAs, July 81, 1884. {
To His Excellency, the Governor of Kansas:
SIR:-I have the honor to report that in re-
Spouse to your telegram OF the 18th inst,
which reached me at Ottawa. Franklin County.
[ proceeded at once to Manhattan, Riley
County, where arrived on the morning OF
the 3Oth inst. An investigation revealed the
following facts: Major Ma. Adams purchased
in the Kansas City stock yards on the 18th
inst. two hundred and twenty grade steers,
which had arrived that morning from Csld-
well, Kas. On the evening of the san day
they were loaded and started for Manhattan
over the Union Pacific Railroad. Just after
they were weighed in the yards the purchaser
noticed that one of the best steers seemed dis
treSsed and unsteady in his gait. Calling at
tention TO the fact the condition of the
animal was explained on the ground
that he had drank to excess of
water; but when the bunch was shipped this
one was left behind and, as he afterwards
learned, he was the first to die When the
number of the cattle in one car were piled on
TOP of each other. and that some were badly
injured and in danger of being killed. 40
cOrdingly this car was cut out and left at the
stock yards in North Topeka, where all but
three of the seriously injured were unloaded.
The remaining car loads were taken on to
On Monday all but six of those which had been
left in Topeka were forwarded to their desttn-
alton.
THE REMAINING SIX DIED.
-
Tuesday deaths were quite frequent, and the
nature of the disease was soon suspected. On
Wednesday morning found the entire herd,
which reached Manhattan. hold in quarantine
by the Sheriff In the Stock Yards the sdjoin-
ing commons and in a field of full grown corn,
all situated west Of and adjoining tho town.
In the yards were seven whfoh had died
during the night, two that wero too I'll to stand
up, and two others which were rapidly grow
ing weak. The dead were being draaged away
to the river bank, whore they were buried in
cred with quick lime and soil. Between thirty
and forty were crumbling to ashes in pit
where they had been burning for many hours.
In the adjoining commons was one very sick
steer and the carcass of one which had died
during the night In the oornf1eld were the
remainder of the lot purchased. OF these one
was dead, one was quite Ill and the rest were
in different parts of the enclosure feeding. An
examination of the yards showed that the
faces passed by the animals which were first
taken sick was somewhat hard, dry
Gus streaked with blood. These which
were sick at this time were as
a rule having loose, thinnish passage from the
bowels, condition no doubt to be attributed
to the green corn they had fed upon, and the
medicine with which they had been drenched.
The temperature of the two most ill which
were confined in the yards was respectively
l02 degrees Fahrenheit and l02 l-5 degrees
while the temperature OF the one
which had been sick for short time stood at |
lO5-25 Fahrenheit. The two which were lying |
down were upon the broad side, with the head |
extended. the eyes staring and CLASSY, and I'M |
conscious to the flies which swarmed around. |
the muscles of the extremities |
would twitch, the chin be drawn down toward |
me chest the legs doubled up beneath the |
body, and the patient would moan as though |
N great pain. Frequent strainings as If to |
7oid some f;eces were, as u rule, productive /
,nly of a protrusion of the rectum, accom-
)loOd-stained mucus. Sensation on the sur
ACE was lost, for the animal would not re-
pond to the
PRICK OF KNIFE BLADE.
When the disease is first seen to attack an
animal he appears tired and walks with an
gait. The head droops, the ears
op down, the hind legs are scarcely lifted
rom the ground, the patient cares not to
move, but is left behind the herd, and soon
eeks place to lie down. If ne is standing
he back is arched, the hind legs straddle
part and carried forward beneath the body
he fetlocks are partly heXed, the muscles of
he flank tremble, the belly becomes tucked
lp and the head hangs very low In the
ariier stages of the disease when excited
hey may chase the attendants for a distance, /
tut as a rule they prefer to remain quiet and
'ften stand with the head pressed hard
gainst fence or other immoVable object,
While the body is swayed back and forth. The
'ulse increases in the rapidity of its beats
While the breabhing is fast and irregular and
fttimes labored. The urine in every in
lance was nearly black, and passed in small
Quantities. The opportunity did not offer to
axe the temperature of the healthy animals
nd those first showingsigns of the disease, but
5 has been seen above, the temperature of
egrees. One steer, which was first seen to
re sick on the morning of the Goth, at se-ren
clock p. M, showed temperature of 104
egrees 4. He was unconscious TO all sur
oundings, breathing with rapid respirations,
he pulse scarcely perceptible and death evil
entity rapidly approaching. With the con-
ent of the owner he was Knocked on the head
nd post mortem examination made at
nee. The left carotid artery was laid bare,
nd an attempt made to fill some capillary
lass tubes, which had been hermeticallY
oagulated so rapidly that they would not
u. The abdomen was then opened, showing
lie fat in all parts tnged with q yellowish
rown color. The spleen was enlarged in
very direction, and twelve hours after re-
loval weighed four pounds and ten ounces.
was sOftened and tlled with very dark
1lOred blood.
THE LIVER WAS contested.
nd larger than normal, but was not weighed.
he gall bladder was tainted with dark
rown viscid bile. Both kidneys were nearly
ack in color and filled with blood. The s
adder was about half filed with very dark I
icky urine. The small intestines were con- .
ested throughout, and when washed showed
at some of the smaller blood vessels had
zen ruptured The large bowels were con-
ssted in patches, and the lining membrane
ire was very red. In the fourth stomach {
ere found marked congestion and some |
GERS, ranging in size from a pin-head TO a
fCfl
it'll green corn stalks grass, etc, in a natural y
ndition. The rumen or paunch was partly !,
led with food, and seemed entirely healthy. II
lie meat was very dark brown in color, less Fl
m than in health, and possessed of the pecu- I
lr odor so often noticed in this dis =
Sc. The heart, lungs and nervous !
stem were not examined The or
in of the outbreak, at what time and '
what place these animals became afflicted (,
tn the germs of the fever are not known to
2, but If the information / have received
airing on this point ia correct, they must
We come In contact with the poison before
ey we're shipped from Caldwell, for / am n
Id that they went direct from the point of =
iding to Kansas City, and that they were in y
d that the cattle began to die with the ="
'ease in less than forty-eight hours after ar n
ing in Kansas City. If these statements V
z true and the period of incubation Is not '
IS than seven days as rule, then these cat Il
were not afflicted after leaving Caldwell | "
were diseased at that time. ~
DR.. HOlcOmb then expresses the opinion h
It the bunch of diseased cattle were all in
alive" or graded" cattle, and were in OF
Fable of transmitting the disease to other al
lives, it appearing that the disease, to be- "
ne malignant, must come from Texas OF w
lid" cattle. NJ
An English Judge has decided that