Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-09-11
PLEURO-PNEUsIoNIA.
Report OF the state veterinarian Upon the
Illinois Cases Which He has Investigated
"A state Quarantine Reeommended.

Governor Click:
Kansas STATE NETERISARIAN's OFFICE, I /
TOPEKA, KAs., September 8, 1884. !
To His EEcellsey, G. y. Click, Governor Of Kansas.
SIR have the honor to report that
IN accordance with your verbal instruc-
tons of August D, 1884; / have proceeded |
without delay to the State of Illinois, !
and there made Investigations into the
outbreak Of contagious pleurO-
pneumonia among the cattle Of that
State.
NATURE OF THE DISEASE.
That the disease is contagious pleuro-
pneumonia IS proven by the history Of
the outbreak, by the progress Of the NAL
ady, by the symptoms, and by the post
morton appearances.
HOW INTRODUCED.
The disease was brought to Illinois by
cattle coming from the East. From what
Is now supposed to be the original point
of infection the disease was spread in all
directions by public sale of Jersey cat
tie. Not only were several herds in the
State Of Illinois infected by this means,
but several Of the cattle sold at the sale
referred to were sent to other States,
notably Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska,
Iowa and Texas.
EXTENT OF INFECTION.
According to the latest information I
could get, about a dozen places IN Illinois
had been infected. One place was for
the first time reported on the 3lst of
August, while several other points were
suspected. The animal which had been
exposed to the disease, and which had
gone to Missouri, was tracked by one Of
Animal Industry, who reported it all
right on August 18th. OF those which
had gone to the other States nothing had
yet been made known, but the history Of
the shipment of exposed animals to
Kentucky is full of interest. 1t seems
that Mr.. Clarke, of Geneva, bought a
COW at the Epler sole In February which
introduced the disease to his herd; for
she was taken sick about two weeks sub
segment to her purchase, was sick about
a month and then seemed to recover.
Shortly after the sickness Of this COW
other animals in the herd sickened, some
died, some appeared to recover; a few re-
main on the place, but the majority Of
the herd was sold. Among those sold in
June was a car load to Frisbie & Lake, of
CVnthianna, KY, which lot included
the COW bought at the Epler sale.
Nor did the shipment end here, for the
same parties in July bought two car
loads more of cattle from Clarke, all of
which had been in contact with the dis
eased animals on his farm. That it is
possible for Kentucky to escape infec-
ton from these cattle is hardly to be ex-
pected when the further history Of the
Clarke herd is considered; for it was
from Clarke that Mr.. Boyd, Of Elmhurst,
bought two COWS which infected his herd
and caused the loss of fourteen animals,
while two which Clarke sold KeeVer, of
Sterling, took the disease and were killed,
the last one on August 29th. On the
body Of this one 1 made post norton
examination, and have preserved in this
Office a specimen of a portion Of the left
lung, which was encrOsed and nicely en-
cysted. To those inexperienced in this
disease, this animal appeared to be en-
tirely healthy; and the same may
be true Of the COW which
infected Clarke's herd and sub
sequentIy went to Kentucky; yet, as
is well known, these old cases, wherein
a portion of the lung is dead and en-
cysted, are not free from danger to other
cattle with which they may come in
contact.
sUPPREssIvE MEASURES ADOPTED.
The measures adopted by the State of
Illinois, looking to the suppression Of
tions, providing that no exposed animal
shall leave the premises, and the destruc-
ton of the diseased. Cattle placed in
quarantine are not marked or branded.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
In view of the fact set forth in the
foregoing report it is apparent that the
most serious disease which has ever
taken place west Of the Allegheny noun
tains now exists in Illinois. That it is
limited to that State can scarcely be ex-
pected when we consider how wide
10 "a fcA-H s1,rrET Of
exposed animals. That Kentucky is al
ready infected is highly probable; that
Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas are,
or soon may become, infected from ami
mails known to have been exposed is at
least possible. That Illinois Will succeed
in graduating the disease from among
her cattle, and at the same time protect
her neighbOrs from infection without
adopting more stringent measures than
those now enforced is to be hoped for,
but hardly expected, if we may judge
from past experiences and attempts at
suppression.
Considering all these facts and cir
cumstanCes in connection with the fur
ther fact that, in sO-far as we know, there
has been no animal exposed to con-
tagiOus pleurO-pneumOnia, which has
entered our State, but that we are eX-
posed to infection at any time and from
several possible sources; and in view Of
the irreparable injury which would re-
suit to the immense cattle interests of
this State, and the great difficulty and
expense of graduating it, should this
great scourge gain a foOthold on our
ranges, I do most urgently recommend
that until all the localities in which the
disease exists have been made public,
the State of Kansas shall quarantine
against the world and admit no cattle
for a period Of ninety days. have the
honor to be, sir, your most Obedient ser
want.
TSigned7 A. A. HOLCO8rBE,
State Veterinarian.