Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-09-11
PLEURO-PNEUNIONIA.
Report of the State Veterinarian Upon the
Illinois Cases Which he has Investigated
"A State Quarantine Recommended.

Report of the State Veterinarian Upon tn
Illinois Gases Which he has Investigated
"A state Quarantine Recommended.
DR.. A. A, Holcombe, State Veterinarian
has filed the following report with Gov
ernor Click:
KANSAS STATE VETERINARIAN OFFICE,
Topeka, kAs., September ), 1884.
TO His Ercellencg G. w. Click, Governor Of Konsas
SIR: have the honor to report that il
accordance with your verbal instructions
of August %, 1884; l have proceeded with
out delay to the State of Illinois, and there
made investigations into the reported out
break of contagious pleuro-pneumonis
among the cattle of that State.
NATURE oE THE DISEASE.
That the disease is contagious pleuro
pneumonia is proven by the history of the
outbreak, by the progress of the malady
by the symptoms, and by the post NOR
tenn 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 spreading in al
directions by public sale of Jersey cattle
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 that
| could get; about dozen places in Illinois
had been infected. One place was for the
first time reported on the 31st of August
while several other points were suspected.
Il l,aI laI
the disease, and which had gone to Missou-
the Bureau of Animal Industry, who re-
ported it all right on August 29lh. 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 Ken
lucky is full of interest. 1t seems that MIR.
Clarke, of Geneva, bought COW at the
Epler sale in February which intro
duced the disease into his herd; for
she was taken sick about two weeks sub
sequent 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 ap-
peared to recover; few remain on the
place, but the majority of the herd was sold.
Among those sold in June was a car load
to Frisbie e. Lake, of Cynthianna, 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
diseased animals on his farm. That it is
possible for Kentucky to escape infection
from these cattle is hardly to be expected
when the further history of the Clarke herd
is considered; for it was from Clarke
that Mr.. Boyd, of Elmhurst, bought
two COWS which injected 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 18th. On the body
of this one made post mOrtem examina-
ton, and have preserved in this Office a
specimen of a portion of the left lung,
which was encrossed and nicely encysted
To those inexperienced in this disease, this
animal appeared to be entirely healthy; and
the same may be true of the cow that in
fected Clarke's herd and subsequently went
to Kentucky; yet, as is well known, these
old cases, wherein a portion of the lungs is
dead and encysted, 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 IL
linois, looking to the suppression of this
disease, consist in quarantine regulations,
providing that no exposed animal shall
leeve the premises, and the destruction of
the diseased. Cattle placed in quarantine
are not marked or branded.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
In view OF the fact set forth in the fore
going report it is apparent that the most Sc
rious disease which has ever taken place
west of the Allegheny mountains now ex-
lists in Illinois. That it is limited to the
State can scarcely be expected, when we
consider how widespread has been the dis
OF exposed animals. That Ken
lucky is already infected is highly probable;
that Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas
are or soon may, become infected from an
finals known to have been exposed is at
least possible. That Illinois will succeed
in eradicating 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 experience and attempts at suppress
ion.
: Considering all these facts and circum-
stances in connection with the further fact
that, in so-far as we know, there has been
no animal exposed to contagious pleuro-
which has entered our State,
but that we are exposed to infection at any
time and from several possible sources
and in view Of the irreparable injury which
would result to the immense cattle interests
Of this State, and the great difficulty and
expense of graduating it. should this great
scOurge gain q fOOthOld on our ranges, l do
most urgently recommend that until all
HoI <Noo ~rvhs Oh
have been made public, the State of Kansas
shall quarantine against the world and ad-
NIT no cattle except they undergo strict
quarantine for q period of ninety days. l
have the honor to be, sir, your most obedi-
emit servant.
[Signed] A. A. HoLcoMBE.
State Veterinarian