The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-08-26
Another Attempt to get up a
Scare Among Cattle
Men.
The Bureau of Animal In
dustry Issues a Procla-
nation.
Another Severe Blow Struck
at the Cattle Trade.

ZStte Will publish the IOllOWluklO MORROW +.
At last the unwelcOme truth is forced upon
us that the contagious pleuro pneumonia
has found a Judgment In the prairies of
Illinois. The evidence of its hateful pres
ence in not less than FIVE Jersey herds in
this state, is overwhelming and grave
fears exist that the extent of
the infection has only dswned upon us.
Investigations which were set on foot two
weeks sgo by the bur .au of animal indus
try leaves no longer any room to doubt the
unwelcome fact that the nature of the
trouble was first suspected by DR.. Trum-
bower of Sterling, who was in the employ OF
the department OF agriculture. A
Jersey COW belonging to Mr..
Keefer, OF Sterling, recently purchased
by him sickened and died under such
circumstances as to lead to suspicion
and her lungs were taken out and sent TO
DIR. Solomon, chief OF the bureau at Wash
ington. An examination satisfied him
that thorough investigation of the case
was warranted and he instructed
his subordinate to carefully in.
quire into its history. 1t
was soon learned that the cow came from a
herd of Mr.. Clark, OF Geneva, Ills, and
that there had been other and serious
trouble there. He had sold two cows that
went into the herd Of John Boyd, of Elm
hurst and which soon thereafter sickened
and one of them had died. Other and
more serious results followed and
DIR. Solomon came on In person
some ten days ago to investigate the case
in company with Mr.. Sanders of the Ga
zette. He visited Mr.. Boyds herd where
the remaining living COW purchased from
n W. - H.
what appeared to be pleuro pneumonia in
a chronic form and another one of Mr..
Boyds own raising presented an acute case
of the same disease OF only about
ten days duration. DR.. Solmon
WAS slow however TO declare tie
contagious nature OF the disease but subse-
quent investigation and the further fact
that two more animals in the same herd
were attacked with similar symptoms, so
confirmed him in his diagnosis that he de-
termined to kill the two cows which were
first attacked on Mr.. Boyd's place.
The post mortem examination which
was made last week fully confirmed his
worst fears, and he at once set to work to
learn the source Of the infection.
Mr.. Clark OF Geneva, admitted six deaths
in his small herds since last April, though
he claimed two Of these died of old ace.
These with the COWS sold to Keefer
and two taken at Elinhurst made nine fatal
cases from that herd alone. In the mean
time word came of trouble in two jersey
herds in another part of the state, and Drs.
Solmon, Patison and Ranch made post
norton revealing perfectly typical case of
genuine lung plague. The disease appears
to have run Its course in the herd of Mr..
Clarke, but In the meantime
sales have been made to
various parties, one lot going to Cynthians
Kentucky, from which nothing has been
heard. The article claims that investiga-
tion shows that the auction sale of Jerseys,
at Virginia, Cass county, Illinois, in Feb
ruary last, was distributing point of the
infection In this state. Animals from this
sale were taken to Nebraska, Iowa and
Kentucky, and to various other herds in
this state. All the avail
able resources oil the department of
agriculture is being theoretically employed
to trace and determine and isolate the in
fecied herds. Mr.. Boyd and others whose
names are not mentioned. have made no
sales for months past, and there is no dam
ger OF the disease spreading further from
their herds. So far as known the infection
is confined to Jersey herds; in view
of these developments. The following or
der has been issued
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
WASHINGTON, August 20, "a.
To the cattle owners of the United States:
Owing to the existence of disease SUD-
posed to De contagious pleuro-pneumonia
In several herds of Jersey cattle in the
state OF Illinois. / hereby request owners
OF all herds OF Jersey cattle IN the United
States into which new animals have been
introduced since January first to stop the
shipment Of cattle until October 1sf.
The disease seems to have been introduc.
ed by animals sold at Virginia, Cass county.
Illinois, on February 18th, 1884, and these
animals were widely distributed through
the western states. II is hoped, therefore.
that persons owning cattle tracing to this
sale, and all others having cattle affected
with disease of the lungs will
at once communicate with DIR. Salmon
chief of the Hurean of Animal Industry
care of the Breeders Gazette, Chicago, and
clearly state the condition of their herds
and the symptoms of the disease.
The attention OF owners of cattle and
railroads and other transportation com.
panies Is called to secti1 seven
OF the act establishing bureau
Of animal industry which makes
it misdemeanor punishable b fine of
not less than one hundred dollars nor
mUre than 5000, or by Imprisonment not
more than one Ysar or both, for shipping
cattle affected with any contagious infec-
tons or communicable disease and espec-
tally the disease known as plsuro pneu-
monia, from one state or territory into
another. The cordial cooperation Of the
state authorities and all persons interested
in the welfare Of our cattle industries Is
earnestly desired in order to avert this
danger which now msnaces the herds Of
the country.
lSigned1 GDo. B. LoRse,
Commissioner Of Agriculture.