The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-28
GREAT THING FOR FARMERS
Secretary Rusk's IOdide of Potassium
Cure for the Baneful Lumpy Jaw.
Uncle Jerrys Meat-Inspection Bureau Is An
other Big Institution. as Shown by the Ad
yarced lrice Paid for Hogs.

CHICAGO. July 27.-Secretary Rusk ar
rived at the Grand Pacific Hotel this morn
ing, having come to Chicago In connection
with an experiment In which he takes a
lively interest. and which he 10 preparing
to try on large scale in the treatment of
the disease known as ''lumpy jaw" or
actinomcosis In cattle. This disease is
caused by fungus which attacks various
organs of the body, and which, when it
causes swelling on the head. Is known in
this country as lumpy jaw. 1t is quite oom-
mon in some parts of Europe as an affec-
ton of the tongue. and has recently teen
treated successfully by the internal ad-
ministration of iodide of potassium. 1t
has not been tried in the form of disease
known as lumpy jaw until within the last
two months, when one of the inspectors of
the Bureau of Animal Industry made an
experiment in which 1t proved successful.
The Secretary now expects to have this
treatment tested on two hundred head of
cattle affected with lumDy jaw. so as to de-
termine whether 1t will cure In all cases.
or if not in all cases. what proportion can be
successfully treated. The iodide of potas-
stun is given in doses of from one to three
drachms dissolved in a pint of water 1t
is best administered. too, before ieeding,
and dose should vary according to the
size and weight of the animal. If this
treatment prove as successful as Secretary
Rusk expects, it will enable tho farmers of
the country to cure their cattle when the
disease first appears. and thus entirely pre-
vent the loss which now occurs from 1t.
This treatment 10 safe and very simple,
and can be applied without danger by any
farmer. The effect of the medicine In doses
OF this size IL to cause somc catarrh, cough
ing, and also peelirg Otf of the skin. but
this does not lead To any bad results and
should cause no uneasiness. lmprOy ement
is generally noticed within ten days after
beginning the use of the medicine, ana u
cure may be expected within month.
Secretary Rusk is also interested in ex-
tending microscopic inspection OF pork.
The demand for ins pected pork Is continu-
ally increasing, and as 1t brings about one
half o cent a pound more In American and
there are numerous demands for inspectors.
The packing season begins ia October and
the Secretary desires to have his force in
condition to inspect a much larger humble
The markets of Denmark. Germany. Aus
tria, France, Spain and Italy have now
been open to inspected pork during the
last year, and 1t requires q very large
quantity to supply them.
The indication ia that hereafter there
will be a very considerable demand for IN
spected pork In the markets of other coun-
tries as we'll 40 those which will only take
the inspected article. Since the inspection
began the price of hogs has been gradu-
ally increasing. and it 10 estimated that
the farmers Of the country will receive
about one cent pound more for hogs
marketed this year than they would have
received had there been no inspection.
The Secretary feels very much encour-
aged by the marked success which has at
tended tho meat inspection. "a when be
first proposed the plan II was consider by
many al impractlcable and visionary
scheme and one which could only end in
failure. Both the pork and beef inspection
have gone OH smoothly and have been car
ried out without delaying the operations
of the packing establishments and without
any friction between the packers and the
department.. 1t is now certain that Inspec-
ton meets the approval of both the packers
and the consumers and that il must he ex-
tended rapidly possible until the en-
tire meat product of the United States is
inspected at the time of slaughter.