St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-28
AFARCICAL FARCY BILL,
The Measure Now Before the Legislature to
Suppress Chambers Believed to be
nafaptiva


Suppress Chambers Believed to be
Defective.
Among the matters before the Legislature
one of special interest to horsemen is that
which relates to the suppression of the d.
sease known as CHAMBERS or farcy. The
dreadful nature of this disease lies not so
much in the fact that it is contagious among
stock and destroys many valuable animals,
but also that it is commun icable to human
kind. When it attacks a man it
is regarded as invariably fatal.
There is no cure known to 1t
in the materia medica, and the victims die in
great agony. Chambers among horses is not
an unknown disease in Minnesota, indeed
it is believed to be quite com mon, but so OBJ
scure are its earlier symptoms and SO much
do they resemble those of a common cold
that its presence is frequently not suspected
even by the owner of the horse himself until
the beast is too far gone to stand up.
But the disease is contagious in all its
{ stages, and is easily communicated by
horses eating from the same feed box or
biting the same crib. 1t is seldom that
information comes to the officer of glan-
dered horse from the owner, for by admin
istering some remedy to check the symp-
toms he may put the animal into apparently
good condition for sale.
In consequence of all this a glandered
horse may be affected with the disease Tor
months, spreading the disease far and wide
and endangering human life before he is
discovered and killed.
/ OF course a disease like this is 4
PROPER SUBJECT FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION,
and most states deal with it in one way or
another. In Minnesota it is left largely to
local boards of health, which may kill CLAN
dered horses. But this law has proved de-
fective. Boards of health are not authorized
to employ veterinary surgeons to diagnose
the disease of the affected animal, and so
when they order horse killed they do SO at
their own risk. AS has been said, the ear
lier symptoms of the disease re-
semble those of comparatively
harmless cold, and there are always
to be found horse doctors who will testify as
experts in court that the horse was not al
fected with farcy, and so enable the owner
to win a suit for damages. Ordinary physl-
clans such as are connected with health
boards are not regarded as experts on this
subject. and thus abuses are constantly arts
ing. In Minneapolis the health officer has
ordered horses killed in many cases which
have been brought TO his attention, though
Of course it has been at some risk
of damage suits. In our own
city the officers have moved with
more caution, not because there has been
less need for action nor from want of dispo-
stion to grapple with the requirements, but
from natural disinclnatiOn TO take the at
tendant risks of litigation. A bill was re
Gently introduced into the house and referred
to a committee, which received the
committees sanction, providing for
the appointment of veterinary sur
geons by local boards of health,
who are to diagnose all cases of reported
CHAMBERS, and If deemed necessary to kill the
animal The bill is well enough as far as it
goes, but it is considered weak in that it
DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH
to protect the officers it appoints to carry out
its provisions. DR.. Hoyt, president of the
st. Paul board of health, deems this a glar-
ing defect in the bill and says that
it would be practically imperative if it be-
came law An effort will be made to sup
plant the bill mentioned with another which
is already prepared. This latter bill provides
for the appointment of a competent state
veterinary surgeon, located at some central
point, as st. Paul or Minneapolis, and sub
ject to call into any section Of the
state where the disease of CHAMBERS
may have made its appearance. His decis-
ion is TO be final in all cases wherein he
deems it expedient to kill afflicted animals,
and there is no appeal from his judgment in
exigent cases. Such law as this meets the
approval Of those best posted as to the needs
Of lie gislation upon this subject, although the
movement comes somewhat late in the
session to hope for a favorable and ultimate
passage of the measure. The disease Is be-
coming more and more prevalent and is en-
listing the serious consideration of stock
men. This class is not alone solely inter
ested in the effects of this disease of CLAN
ders, for the general public is con-
cerned, as it is not confined TO stock but is
at any time likely to be communicated to
human beings. 1t is, therefore, of the ut
most importance that some steps should be
taken to prevent such possible spread, and
protect alike at once humanity and valuable