The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-09-04
The Cattle D1sease-1utsrsatin0 Interview
With 1xot. Stalker on tho Cattle Disease:


IT 1sE Mars. .-.-. =.
Des Moines Special: Prof. M. Stalker, state
xeterinarian, was found in the city the other
DAY, a2d was Immediately coralled for an ex-
PLANTATION of the cattle disease outbreak at LIE
Mars: SO ........... -.. ,.o1:ss, 80 >
Il found, v he said, chat large number o.,
cattle had died; that in almost every case the
attack was fatal. In company with tho resi-
dent physicians, at once set about ascertain
ing the cause: We made thorough clinical ex-
animation, followed by post norton. I found
the disease was true Texas fever The next
stop was to ascertain the source of infection
Inquiry disclosed tho fact that nearly all the
cases wero those of town cows which
were driven every morning TO GER
tain range to feed through the day,
and were returned at night Knowing that
the disease could only be communicated in
one way, further inquiry showed that nearly
two months ago herd OF cattle from abroad
was fed on the range several days Exami ma
ton Of the records at the office of the railroad
company showed that several cars of cattle
shipped fromthe southern part of mississippi
were unloaded'at LIE Mars and fed several days
when they were reloaded and sent to Dakota
From the date OF their feeding ON this range to
the time of the outbreak of the disease among
tho native cattle was titty-tw days, which I
have found is the incubation period of this dis
ease. How much further south those cattle
camo from cannot trace; they wero evil
IDENTITY Southwestern cattle" :. 49,,
''Wore any of Thorn SICK or did any of them
die?", -. + = !,
$40; it is a singular fact that such CATTLE
in perfect health This particular herd were
fat, sleek and i'll prime order for the butcher.
Their meat is, in fact, wholesome and health
full. They are never sick, and do not impart
the disease by contact. The disease is not in
ssThcy carry the disclose in their body, in their
spleen and Kidneys Fromsthe focal and uri-
mary discharges, onthe ground where they feed;
Isl transmitted tho disease to Northern or
native, or unacclimated cattle, to use that term
single transmission. Northern or native cat,
tie attacked with the disease will not transmit
it to the other cattle by contact Sick and well
cattle may be stabbed together with no danger.
herd OF other Southern cattle might have
been driven on that same range and they would
were disposed to discredit my statement of
this anamolous condition and nature of the
disease To satisfy them one of those Southern
cattle was found. He was in splendid can
zlpe of his carcass TO p butcher, and IN
The presence or the local physicians
Ind health authorities, he: was killed
ma post norton examination made. Before
commencing I described infinitely what ex-
pected toEfnd. The examinatoh VERIFIED my
the usual size and other organs were in the
condition found in al, these Texas cattle. It is
the effect of the climate in which they live and
the water and food they get" :
lis there no euro for it, among native cat
tie?
81 havo found medication of little or no avail.
1t is uniformly fatal One or two fRosts seems
cattle have fed. - u 81
How ab6ut, that herd sent out aqpsksta;;
will they not cause the same results Tie" did
st is not improbable; still going 50 far
north they may become changed In physical
condition. so that the virus they leaHe behind
may lose its destructive force. However, I
would not be surprised to hear -oftrouble from
that sectiOnyH| u - a4~t~A~N : - =
What have yop determined ii e. aa TO the cause,
taHattamte county?" gw- :.
II have not yetarrivvea; st satisfactory con-
clusion. After very careful clinical examina.s
ton decided tire fatality was the result of some
~toxicant; that the animals. were all affected
alike, and that they all had been feeding inS =
~certain locality on bottom lpld I spent several
days searching the locality where they grazed
: f-somaeknown. poison ousssWeed, being salts.
fed that the Stroubles came from something
eaten. ! could find nothing TO which tos atttrfss
luxuriantly Which belongs to the family Of 3
very poisonous, weed and of which the
horses there cat quito freely and seem, to
like it Fsgsthered a quantity. of it: found
that the, horses in other sections, : or on the
college farm would not eat it, or even
taste4 it, SO I~,could not test it's effects.
think, therefore, the taste and liking of it is
acquired, like that for tobacco:o opiates by
man. It begins with frequent nibbling Of it L.
shall further test it, as have useless horse
at my infrmary to which Ipropose to give q
decoctien' of that weed. So soon as the nature
is correctly determined; a. remedy cam be sug-
gestcd Preyent1on can be- had by keeping
horses from grazing in that locality. Preven4s
ton is Better than cure-in fact, the chances r
Of cure arGvery slight" s~~' - : sc. / :.