The Portland daily press., 1886-05-20
TUBERCULOSIS.
The Disease Among J. 3. scribner's
Cattle at WATERFORD.
Prompt Action by Cattle Commits
sioners Bailey and Gilbert.

prompt ACtion Ny SospS SoHhH"S
sioners Bailey and Gilbert.
Yesterday, Veterinary Surgeon Geo. ID.
Bailey and Hon. u. A. Gilbert, members OF
the State Board of Cattle Commissioners,
visited the farm of Mr.. J. b. ScrlDner at
North WATERFORD, among whose herd tuber-
culosis had made its appearance, and upon
an examination of the cattle had one cow
and calf killed, and the remainder OF the
number quarantined to await the develop
ment of their cases. On visit previously
made. Dr. Bailey examined several OF the
herd, and found symptoms which convinced
him that the trouble among these cattle was
the same fatal disease that caused the de-
struction of the valuable herd at the State
College farm. The news of the outbreak
gave rise to considerable excitement among
the farmers of the town, who of course
dreaded the extension of the trouble to other
herds When the Commissioners reached
the farm they found large number of men
assembled, who watched the proceedings
with lively interest. Mr.. Scribner stated
to PRESS reporter that his herd was Of ma
tive-bred stock, and he had valued it at 1896.
1t contained six cows, one yearling, four
calves and a yoke of oxen. A year and a
half ago, Mr.. Scribner purchased COW in
Shapleigh, which was to all appearances
perfectly healthy. About the first of last
January, however, this COW was noticed to
cough frequently, but she ate heartily and
did not seem sick with the exception of the
cough. Later the COW grew worse until
April when she was so weak as to be hardly
able to stand and was killed. Other MEM
bers of the herd had now contracted the
cough, and within the past week or so cow
bought three months ago has coughed slight
ly. Some time ago, Mr.. Scribner sold yoke
of oxen to Mr.. Charles H. Cook.
When the COW was killed in April, Mr..
Scribner made a post norton examination
and found the left lung and the liver in a
diseased condition. Afterwards he received
copy of the agricultural report from Hon.
7. B. Reed, and from reading the book
found the symptoms of tuberculosis to be
similar to those shown by this cow. With
commendable promptness Mr.. Scribner noti-
fed the selectmen of the case, and they in
formed Governor ROBBIE.
The commissioners, yesterday morning.
having decided that it was necessary to kill
some of the herd, Messrs. Joseph Chase,
Alonzo Bradeen and George P. Chase, who
had been designated by the selectmen as
appraisers, under the statutes, of the stock
to be killed, were accepted by the commits
sioners and sworn to impartially perform
their duties. The law was then explained
to them by Mr. Gilbert, who stated that
they were required to fix the loss at the
value of the animal at the time it was de-
perfectly healthy.
A three-year-old COW, which showed more
advanced symptoms of the disease than the
other animals, was tied to stake, the
appraisers quickly determined what they
considered the animal worth; and rifle
shot did the rest for the poor brute. The
COW was then skinned and the lungs exam
med by DR.. Bailey, who found that while no
tubercles had formed, the organs plainly
showed the presence of the disease in its
earlier stages.
The cow killed in April had calved in
February, and this calf was next killed.
The little fellow had been brought up by
hand after the first few weeks but had in
herited the fatal disease Each of the other
cattle was then examined and symptoms of
the disease noticed in all, but in the incip-
lent stages. The commissioners conse-
quently decided to quarantine the herd dur
ing the summer and await further develop
ments. The cattle will be confined by them
- aE.
they have been kept thoroughly disinfected,
such portions being replaced as is necessary.
The yoke of oxen sold by Mr.. Scribner
were also examined and one showed slight
signs of the disease. They can be kept at
work, however, but precautions will be tax
en- to keep them from coming in contact with
other peoples cattle.
Dr. Bailey on his first visit had caused the
body Of the COW first killed to be exhumed
and the lungs contained all the evidences of
an advanced stage of the disease, there be-
ing many large tubercles, while parts of the
lungs, which were not so badly affected, had
the same appearance as the lungs of the ami
mails killed yesterday. DR.. Bailey states that
this COW must have contracted the disease
before being purchased by Mr.. Scribner and
then introduced it into the herd. A cow own
ed by Mr.. Moore of Limerick, died a year
ago exhibiting, it is said, symptoms similar
to those of tuberculosis and this COW also
came from Shapleigh.
Mr.. Scribner keenly felt the loss of the
COW which had been a fayorite and promis-
ing one. The appraisers reported that they
had fixed the loss on the COW at 1875 and on
the calf So. The gentlemen took the ground
that they did not know the cow to be serious
ly i'll at the time the appraisal was made.
The work of the commissioners was ap-
proved by the citizens of the town who were
present and to whom DR.. Bailey explained
the symptoms shown in the different ami
mails. They concurred in saying that such
prompt action was necessary. The meas
ures taken yesterday by the commissioners
will undoubtedly prevent the spread of the
trouble from this to other herds, and every
cattle owner present breathed easier when