The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-23
TROUBLE OVER DEAD kline.
Local Veterinarian Believes Texas Fever Is
Raging, While Others Think Not

The death of a number of cows in West
Indianapolis within a few days has caused
fear that an epidemic of Texas lever is
about to develop. It was at first thought
that the cows died from poison placed on
garden truck by citizens Directing TO the
cattle of neighbors running at large. but
when Mr.. Stewart. of River avenue, lost
three and fourth was taken sick he called
in two veterinary surgeons, who pro-
nounced the disease Texas fever. Adams
Earle, president of the State Sanitary
Commission, was summoned by telegraph
from Lafayette, and a quarantine against
Texas cattle was established in this city.
The owners of the affected and lost cat
tie are Mr.. Stewart. Thomas Carleton.
Frank Rankin, J. +. Jenkins, Samuel
Hodge. William Howe and II. Nj. Sullivan.
number of the cattle are still sick and
fined to the district along River Birch,
Marion ana Woodbu avenues.
It's claimed that the disease was COM
municated to the native cattle by an in-
proper disinfection of the cars at the stock
yards. and by driving Texas cattle from
1hes stock yards people denounce
the statement as without the least
foundation in fact, and say
that the law providing for the disinfection
of the cars is complied with In. every re-
spect, and every precaution Is taken to
guard against the spread of the disease.
DIR. Armstrong. United States veterinary
surgeon for this State, says that as far as
the abattoir is concerned it is impossible,
under their mode of disinfectlon. for the
native cattle to come'in contact with the
disease germs, which is the only way in
which they can contract the disease.
The peculiar thing about this disease Is
that IT does not hurt Southern cattle. all of
which are infected with the germ from the
time of BIRTH, but IL always results
in death with Northern cattle. Another
peculiar feature Is that while native
COW coming in contact with ono from the
South will contract the disease. one native
cow cannot contract il from another
Both DIR. Armstrong and DIR. Parsons. of
the bureau of animal industry. Depart
ment OF Agriculture, who is here to lnstl
tute a meat inspection bureau At KinRaD &
Co.'s place. say there is nothing alarming
III the fact that Texas cattle affected have
been slaughtered and sold in this city. All
Southern cattle bear tie fever germ. but 1t
does not cause disease in Southern cattle.
The tick observable on such CATTLE" said
DIR. Parsons to u Journal reporter last night.
rs no more Indicative Of disease
than tleas on dogs back. 1t is well
known TO the Bureau of Animal Industry
that there Is a certain line running east
will cause a fatal disease to native cattle.
From what hear of this trouble in West
Indianapolis. am inclined to believe the
quarantine was wholly unwarranteu. In
my opinion there is absolutely no reason
for quarantine. Dr. Armstrong tells me
the abattoir has followed strictly the rules
of the Department of Agriculture.
and carries on local quarantine of Its
own. ALI it's cattle are shipped
on it's own switch directly into
the yard, the gate is closed and the cattle
unloaded. The government requirements
concerning cleaning the cars, burning or
burying the cleanings etc., are carried out,
and against such federal precautionary rules
no municipal quarantine would have ef-
are to be shipped must be qusran tined. no
the whole of the South. A quarantine,
again. should be based upon absolute evil
dence. not upon the guess work of men
havl Dg little experience with this disease"
So much for the opinions of persons who
know something about live stock. The
row seems to have been started by DR..
Pritchard. veterinarian of the municipal
Board of Safety, who thought the matter
came under his jurisdiction. When
he learned IL did not. he teIegraphed for
Mr.. Earle. who came. down from Lafay cite.
interviewed DIR. Pritchard, ana forthwith
appointed him Assistant State Veterinary
Surgeon. and referred to him all cattle,
dead and alive. with power To act. He also
to-day. when post mortems will he held on
the dead kline. DIR. Prltchard has discov-
cred law f0rbidding the shipment of
Texas cattle into the State between April
and October. and will enforce il. In the
nsantime the city Board of Health will
place an inspector at each abastoir, and
seek to enforce local ordinances about