The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-27
LIFTED THE QUARANTINE
Hungry Southern Cattle Released by the
State Board to Be Slaughtered.
President Earle Regrets that a General Quar-
sntipe Vas ImpOs'd-says 1t Was o Mis-
take-Dr. Armstrong; Work Indorsed.

The quarantine declared Tuesday on the
Texas cattle consigned to the stockysrds.
the Indianapolis abattoir and to Gard
per's, was yesterday ordered lifted by the
State Sanitary Board and Livestock Com
mission. DR.. Adams Earle president of
the commission, arrived from Lafayette
yesterday morning. having been delayed
by the absence of Messrs. Bowman and
Hail from their respective homes in South
Bend and Nashville. When he learned that
the cattle were being held under the quar-
antine regulations of the government, as ar
ranged at the suggestion of Dr.. Armstrong,
local agent of the Bureau of Animal In
dustry. he telegraphed the owners author
ity to slaughter the Texas cattle at once
The act was timely, as the cattle consigned
to Gardeners abattoir had not had food
since the quarantine was ordered. Mr..
Gardner was ordered not to interfere with
the cattle, but mercifully disobeyed so far
as TO supply them with water.
The board Invited DR.. Parsons, visiting
officer of the Bureau of Animal Industry,
and DR.. ArmstronR to accompany them on
the inspection OF the quarantine arrang e-
ments at the stocky ards, the Indianapolis
sbattoir and Gardeners. 1t was q surprise
to DR.. Earle. though not to the other two
members, that the quarantine provisions
were so complete aud safe. After viewing
the stockyards, GARDENERS premises were
inspected and found also satisfactory.
Beng informed that the abattolr was as
well equipped, the commission refused to
pursue the investigation longer. and i'm
mediately declared the quarantine lifted.
"It>was a mistake am convinced" said
DR.. Earle TO a Journal reporter, that the
quarantine was imposed. 1t was
done on the strength of tele-
sram from Dr. Pritchard to me.
here of Texas fever. and asking if the cat
Tie should not be slaughtered at once.
Thinking he meant to slaughter them at
the States expense answered no, and in.
structed them to be quarantined. IL l had
known of the completeness of the local
quarantine arrangements at the stocky ards
and the slaughter-hOuse there would have
been no further quarantine imposed. From
the experience OF many years IN handling
cases of Texas fever in cattle know that
rangements for receiving Southern cattle
such as / found here to-day. Native
cattle are absolutely safe from
the infection if q board fence separates
them from the Southern steers; l regret
exceedingly the annoyance and loss caused
those directly interested here"
The commission left>the duty of securin 9
more complete isolation OF the railroad
cleaning and disinfectinR grounds to DR..
Armstrong, the government agent. His
work was Endorsed by the board after the
inspection of the stockyards and Gardner's.
There has been no neglect whatever, it is
thus shown. upon his part. a
The source of the infection
10 still unknown, though there
is possible the germs were spread. The
nelghbors In the vicinity of the clesning
ground say that recently carload OF
spoiled melons was thrown upon this
ground. 1t is possible the cattle were thus
attracted to the dangerous spot. though no
one can be found who saw cattle there at
any time. The other suggestion Is that
some ignorant man has hauled away some
of the cleanings for garden fertilizer. and
the affected cattle walked over the ground.
1t is said three more cattle died yesterday,
but the disease cannot spread from one
native cow to another and hence there il
no fear of much further extension of the
disease.