Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-21
DEATH AMONG THE HERDS
PLEURO-PNEUNIO DISCOV-
Erred IN ILLINOIS.

Government Veterinarians Taking Steps
to Crush Out the COntasiOn and q
General Order Issued by the Depart
ment of Agriculture-The Disease
Spread by a Herd Sold at Auction
Jerseys the Only Sufferers.
CHICAGO, Aug. 20.-The Breeders Ga.
zette viii publish the following tomorrow
At last the unwelcome truth is forced upon
US that contagious pleuro- pneumonia has
found lOdgment in the prairies of Illinois
The evidence OF its hateful presence IN not
less than five Jersey herds in this State is
overwhelming, and grave fears exist that the
extent of the infection has only dawned on
US. Investigations, which were set upon foot
two weeks ago, leave no longer any room to
doubt the unwelcome fact. The nature of the
trouble was first suspected by DR.. Trumbower,
OF Sterling, who was in the Department
of Agriculture. \ JERSEY COW belonging to
Air. Keifer, of Sterling, recently purchased by
MIN, slckened and died under such circum-
stances as to lead to suspicion. Her lungs
were taken out and sent to DR.. Salmon, Chief
of the Bureau at W Washington. An eXamina-
ton satisfied him that thorough investiga-
uon OF the case was warranted. and he in
structed his subordinates to fully inquire into
its history. 1t was soon learned that the COW
came from the herd of Nj. NJ. Clark, of
Geneva, ILL.,, and that there had been other
and serious trouble there.
CoURTING A SPREAD.
He had sold two cows that went into the
herd Of Mr.. Boyd, of Elmhurst, and which
soon thereafter had sickened and one of them
had died. Other and more serious results
followed, and DR.. Salmon came on in person
some ten days ago to investigate the case. In
company with Mr.. Sanders, of the Gazette he
visited Mr.. B0yd's herd, where the remain
ing living COW which was purchased from
Mr.. clark, was found to be suffering
from what appeared tobe pleuro- -pneu-
mOnia of chronic form, and an
other, OF Mr.. Boyds own raising. presented
an acute case of the same disease of only
about ten days duration. DR.. Salmon was
slow, however, to declare the CONTAGIOUS ma
ture Of the disease, but subsequent inquiry
and the further fact that two more animals
IN the same herd, were attacked with symp-
toms soon confirmed him in his diagnosis.
He determined to kill the two cows which
were first attacked on Mr.. Boyd's place. The
post mortem examination which was made
last week confirmed his worst fears and he at
once set to work to learn the source of infec-
ton. Mr.. Clark, Of Geneva, admitted six
deaths in his small herd since April last
though he claimed that two of these died Of
old age.
TOTAL OF NINE DEATHS.
These, with the COWS sold to Keifer and the
two taken to Elmhurst, made nine fatal cases
from this herd alone. In the meantime word
came of trouble in two Jersey herds in an
other part OF the State, and Drs. Salmon, Pa
rem and Ranch made a post mOrtem eXamina-
tlon, revealing perfectly typical case of gem
uIne lung plague. The disease appeared to
have run its course in the heard of Mr.. Clark
but, IN the meantime, sales had been made to
various persons, one lot going to Cynthiana,
ky., from which nothing has been heard
The article claims that the investigation
shows that an auction sale of Jersey cattle
at Virginia, Cass county, ILL.,. in February
last, was the distributing point of the infec-
tiOn in this State. Animals from this sale
were taken 10 Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa and
Kentucky, and to various other herds in this
State.
All the available resources of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture are being energetfcally
employed to trace up, determine and isolate
the infected herds. Mr.. Boyd aud others
whose names arc not mentioned have made
no sales for months, and there is no danger
OF the disease spreading further from their
herds.
CONFINED TO JERSEYS.
So far as known the infection is confined to
Jersey herds. In view of these developments
the following order has been issued:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Aug. 20, 1854. I
To The Cattle 0lCners 0fthe United States:
Owing to the existence Of a disease supposed
to be cOntag giOus pleurO-pneumonia in several
nerds OF Jersey cattle IN the State of Illinois,
l hereby request the owners of all herds of all
Jersey cattle in the United States, in which
new animals have been introduced since Jan.
!, to stop the shipment of cattle until after
Oct. /. The disease seems to have been IN
trOduced by animals sold at Virginia, H.,
February, 1884, and these animals were wide
ly distributed throughout the Western States.
1t is hoped, therefore, that persons owning
cattle tracing to this sale, and all others hav-
ing cattle affected with disease of the lungs.
viii at once communicate with DR.. Salmon,
Chief of ehe Bureau Of Animal Industry, in
care of the BreederS' Gazette, at Chicago, and
clearly state the condition of their herds and
the symptoms of the disease.
PENALTIES OF THE LAW.
The attention of cattle owners and railroad
and other transportation companies is called
to section Of the act, establishing a Bureau
of Animal Industry, which makes it a dis
meanOr punishable by fine of not less than
$l00, or more than $500, or by Imprisonment
for not more than year, or both, to ship cat
tie affected with any contagious or commu-
ncable disease, and especially with the DIS
ease known as pleuro pneumonia from one
State into another.
The cordial cooperation of the State au-
thOrities and all persons interested in the well
fare of our cattle industries Is earnestly de-
sired in order to avert this danger which now
menaces the herds Of the country.
LSignedl o. b. LoRING,
Commissioner of Agriculture.