The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-02
THE MILK SICKNESS.
T. w. Compton. in the Current.


 ]. w. Compton, in the Current
 Deep in the shaded recesses of the al- most unlimited forests and along the tim ber-lined streams that meander through the vast prairies of the west there lurkcd an undiscovered poison, alike fatal to man and beast. An interesting and mos, sig nihcant fsc, in relation to the locality and habitat of this deadly poison is that it occurred only in places where the soil was stil. Tn its virgin state, and that it dis appeared immediately after the cul,iva- ton of the soil IL appeared unable to perpetuate its aggressive and dangerous life where the sunlight of heaven was permitted 10 shine. Therefore, through the stalwart energy and enterprise of the woodman and his axe the dark, gloomy and infected forests, which 1t claimed as its home, have been transformed ito way ing fields and cheerful pastures, and this pes,ilential poison, whatever it may have been, has taken its flight, and it's dangers are no longer felt or feared.
 The disease produced by this poison occurred originally in the herbivora--the OK, horse, sheep, eic.-but was transmitted to the carniverous animals and binds which had fed upon the flesh of other an- nimals dead from the disease, as the dog and the vul,ure. The flesh and milk of diseased animals were capable, when eaten, of mpar.ing the disease to others :: the COW, through her milk, poisoned her calf and poisoned the people who drank the milk or ate of the butter made of the milk. When the poison had once been introduced into the system, it had the property of selt-propagation and of im- parting the same intensely poisonous properties from one animal to another. and was capable of perpetuating the dis ease m continuous chain of animals as one should eat the flesh of another: thus, each pound of the flesh of a dog which had been poisoned by pound of flesh from COW would poison the vulture, and so through long chain of animals, the last pound of flesh par aken of being as fatally poisonous as that taken from the first affected animal.
 There is no known mineral or vegeta- bic principle which, when taken into the system, can thus multiply itself and per petuate its poisonous principle. Its ori- gin can be accounted for only on the germ theory of disease. The disease in man derived its name from the we'll es- tabllshed fact that it was produced by eating the flesh, milk or butter of other animals which had become poisoned in consequence of frequenting certain lim- ited ranges or uncultivated pastures. It was called milk sickness" and the se- quel;e denominated "tires." Through its annua. destruction of large numbers of domestic animals and its fatality among the early settlers, it was one of the most prominent enemies to the prosperity of the pioneers.
 In the beginning the. symptoms were not well marked, SO that the milk or flesh Of really diseased animals might be in- advertently eaten under the supposition that the animal was in good health. Their most attractive and healthy looking condition, even their extreme fatness, did not give complete assurance of their ex- emption from the disease. In this state they were often found to be sick, suffering from the loss Of appetite and energy, with their eyes red and watery, and to staeger, tremble, fall down in convulsions and die. Sheep, when seized with a paroxysm of the rembles." would struggle as if try ing to free themselves from the grasp of some terrible enemy, and would soon sur render and tall down, uttering the most plaintive bleating, as If suffering intensely painful distress.
 The farmers had test for the health- fuiness of beef cattle Jus, off the wild range. It may be designated as the fatigue test. 1 have often seen the test applied. It consisted in placing the animals in field or lot, and boys with coats and hats of were directed to chase them around and urge them to their greatest speed. If, after a long chase. the cattle did not evince signs of mus cuiar weakness, stagger, tremble and fall down, they were pronounced healthv. and at once slaughtered and their beef eaten with the utmost feeling of security against the disease.
 Any attempt m the part of a man not fully recovered from an attack to walk or run fast would induce a paroxysm Of trembling, attended by great muscular prostration and debility. He would be compelled to sit down and rest, or fall down. Active physical exertion, stinu- lated by excitement would immediataay endanger life. A farmer lived on . pub- hc road. His dog was sick with tren- oaes: A neighbor passed aloag the road. with a dog following him. The sack dog did not see the otAer uaeil it had passed s6me dfnaece beyoad the house. The old hahit q chasing every dog that came in sight of the farm had becume second nature, and Q sfimnla1sd him to Snn ailez, catch and psnisA tAe insrudsr tAas ae aa.ssa o4N his grsaAsse pssihls Pssd, bet be6use csscAine sp wisA tks s6aage dog = was ss0 sp fall de~n, temhle e with caayu1siaa, and hefose tAe hnnG could valk tp where hs fI1l he vas dead Dogs which had saasn q polsonoa nesA boane in . fsw days so sei9 and hsapaoss that tAay could net Rse oser . three-rail fance, and were utterly amt tor the chase of game, or to drive