Omaha daily bee., 1888-05-29
COWS.
The First of Them Dies at the Hands
of the Commission.

announcement TO the effect that the state
veterinary commission had decided TO make
an inspection of The dairy cattle in this
vicinity with a view to discovering and
taking steps to eradicate tuberculosis Of
which it was thought some cases might be
found in the county.
On last Friday Dr.. Gerth, state veteri
marian, commenced his work Of examination
He visited a dairy several miles west Of the
city, found several cows which he thought
needed careful watching, and then ad.
lourned his inspection until yester-
uay when he was accompanied by Major
Blrney, of Crete, George w. Barnhart, of
Columbus, member of the veterinary COM
mission DIR. George Osborne, deputy state
veterinarian of Fremont, and DIR. Ramac-
clatti city, deputy state veterinarian and the
BEE man who happened to notice the array
OF medical gentlemen and followed 70 ascer-
tam what they proposed doing.
A drive of several miles brought the party
TO the dairy, which is a well-kept one and
milks about thirty five cows.
Two attenuated COWS were selected from
the, herd. They had previously been exam
ined by DIR. Gerth and were again subjected
to inspection. They were yoked in the barn.
Their temperature was ascertained. That
OF the smaller and more emaciated of the
two was found to be 105 degrees, an increase
of two and a half degrees over the showing
-oa~ Oh a AAeuJs iHS lliAllu w 10 tlluDlt
nervous, breathed with difficulty, coughed
and Shove in every limb the vast
ing way which was as pro-
nounced as it would have been in u human
under pulmonary affection. The creatures
lungs were then tested, by sounding on the
outside of the body, for a distance behind the
shoulders. This examination satisfied the
doctor and the attending surgeons that the
lungs were affected. A consultation ensued
and DIR. Gerth stated that the case was un-
uOuDtpdlV one nf tuhpreulngie huf TINT ba
thought there was also a complication which
was i'll part at least occasioned by pneumo-
MIA. 1t was decided to KIN the animal. She
was accordingly tied to a tree in a beautiful
cattle grove. Commissioner Barnhart placed
a revolver at her head and fired. The COW
dropped in an instant, and after o few ner-
Yous coptractlons was dead.
The surgeons then in a few moments de-
nuded the left lung and found that DR..
Gerth's diagnoses had been correctly made.
The surface of the organ was studded
with raised dark brown spots, many of which
were as large as a nickel and looked like so
many buttons upon a cream-colored bag.
These were the deposits resulting from the
disease. Careful handling of the lungs dis
covered within substances as large as a mar
Bile, which were hard and could be felt in
nifty places in the organ. Some of both the
interior and exterior tubercles were cut in
twain, revealing grayish, yellowish and
translucent matter. This the doctors stated
originated in a soft substance, excited sup
puration which generally sought escape from
the body; afterwards 1t became hard and
formed as above described. =
The traces of pneumonia were discovered
in the solicited and discolored portion of the
lungs as also in the inflammation of the
Serious membrane parts of which ad-
hered to the ribs. Large tumors were
also cut from the glands under the Jaw which
were doubtless responsible for the difficult
respiration under which the animal labored.
DIR. Gerth says there are about six more
cows in the herd which he knows to be
affected with a cough. These in time will be
examined and If fodnd to be suffering from
tuberlosis will be killed also. The COM
mission, however, will proceed carefully and
prudently in the matter, the desire being to
resort to extreme measures only when it is
absolutely necessary. Meanwhile the owner
of the animals has been cautioned to separate
the sick animals from those who are not sup
posed to be affected, aud under no circum-
stances to, permit their milk to be sold. The
owner has promised strictly to com
ply with this injunction, and stoutly
asserts that he has not been selling their
milk for some time. The commission holds
that this injunction is absolutely necessary
because the milk of tuberculous cows is con
sidered injurious to health not alone to
children, but even to adults. They also hold
that the disease is contagious among cattle,
and while one may not now foresee the out
come, 1t would not be surprising If where
tuberculous cows are found in herds all the
other cows which have been associated with
them should have to be killed. For every
cow killed the owner will be reimbursed, and
it is quite likely that the general government
may be called upon to aid in this method of
paying for the eradication of the disease.
On the farm on which the cow above
mentioned was killed SIX other cows
have died within a couple of months. Two
of these died from 'bloating,n and the others,
in the estimation of the commission from tu-
berculous, which is but another name for
consumption.
Thu veterinary commission are determined
to make a thorough examination of every
dairy in the city and adjoining country, and
in their work will be warmly encouraged by
people of all classes who, whether rich or.
poor, can not feel satisfied with the uncer-
tainty which attends milk, the fount of
which may be tainted with disease and death.