Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-15
TIE TEXAS FLYER.
The Cattle in the Southern Part Of IL
State PIague-Stricsxen.


State Plague-StriciKen.
The State Board of Health met in this city
Saturday evening, at the Office of the Secretary.
Present-Drs. Orme Tyrrell, Cluness, Ruggles,
Briceland and Cole.
Several communications were read and placed
on file, none of them being of any particular
public interest.
The Secretary read the draft of an Act ap-
pointing Sanitary Inspector for the State, to-
gether with other points in defining his duties,
lation.
The Secretary informed the Board that he
had telegraphed to DR.. G. A. E Hertel, of Con
Zales, inquiring into the truth of the death of
fourteen children from malignant sore throat,
the result of eating the meat of diseased cattle.
He read DR.. HeTters reply, stating that the
children died in 1884, instead of 1887, and also
gave detailed account of the prevalence of
! Texas fever and anthrax in GonZaIeS, and the
habit of the Spanish population to salt, pepper
and dry the meat of the dead animals. They
exported it. One peddler, however, sold some
! of the meat in Salinas.
! a letter was also read showing that COW and
calf were affected with the dread disease at San
Jose, and it was quite prevalent in Salinas VAL
I ley and one case OF actinomycosis in a cow at
santa Cruz. DIR. Cole, in reference to the pres
( ence OF Texas fever, anthrax and aciinomycosis
! desired to read the Act organizing the State
Board OF Health and defining its powers to as
! certain if the Board has any legal authority to
/ act in the premises. He thought il had sufi-
! cient evidence OF the presence of a disease
among cattle which was contagious and in
/ tectious and dangerous to human life to war
rant us in acting under Section 2979 OF the Civil
Code, which orders US ''tO take cOgnizance of
the interests of health and life among the citi-
! Zens generally" and if we recognize that the
! public health is now jeopardiZed we mus act
! Never b bsfore III the history of this Board has
question of such vital importance been presented
/ before it for its action. Not only are the lives
| of our citizens threatened, but it even extends
4 to our progeny, who may have their cOnstitu-
/ tons ruined by inherited diseases. We must
attack this disease at its very foundation; but
how to get at it efs lively he was not at present
/ prepared to say. Referring to Mr.. MERGERS re.
( port, who, being a Governmental agent and ex-
| perienced in cattle diseases, we cannot doubt
! the presence OF splenie fever on the coast.
! In order TO take q step toward its sup
preston ne moved that the Board
| place itself il communication with
I every local Board OF Health in the State with
| all the Boards of Supervisors, and call their
attention to the existence of these diseases and
their influence on public health, and to have
them suppressed and stamped out wherever
| found. The Board would also suggest that all
animals affected by these diseases be killed
! and cremated, and that the field. pasture or
range on which they have grazed be burned
| the disease.
| The motion was seconded by Dr. Briceland.
Dr. f-ug sles said he had engaged r. Sargent in
| Il conveIsati II to try to ascertain the fact re-
garding the southern counties. Mr. Sargent
was very reticent, but referred him TO Mr. Miller,
| a cattle-man extensively engaged in the cattle
industry. Mr.. Miller acknowledged that one
man had lost 500 cattle out of q head of 200,
| but denied that the mortality was due to Texas
fever. He said the stock was almost starved
| and when brought into good pasturage had
| eaten too much, and they died of repetion
| He thought this matter would make quite a stir
among cattlemen, and he did not want to act
| hastily.
| Dr, Orme knew gentleman who had a herd
| of sixty brought from Texas, and many of them
died. When he moved farther north they got
well
DR.. Briceland said that the passage of Texan
| cattle through the Indian nation Territory
| gave rise to 50 much sickness ana death among
the herds as to be the cause of war with the
/ Nation. No one then knew what this mysteri-
Gus disease was whether it was something in
| dlgenous to Texas or acquired by travel He
was indeed glad that science had come to the
sh- uld take prompt and active measures to sup
| press 1t If possible, as it undoubtedly menaced
! the lives and the welfare o our citizens,
| DR.. Orme thought the State law should be
| amended so SIS to compel the formation of local
/ Boards. We would be in a much better eondi-
| tlon through a more perfect organization to
combat these diseases and eradicate them
DIR. Cole offered motion to the effect that q
1 competent veterinary surgeon be appointed to
| visit the southern portion of the State where
those diseases are said to exist and ascertain all
the the facts by personal inspection. Where found
| he must report to the Board of Supervisors WIN
will have the stock killed and burned
| the motion was amended SO as to apply TO
! only those counties that did not take action
within sixty days, The motion was then
| adopted.