Middletown transcript., 1895-05-11
EXPERIMENT STATION
OF DELAWARE COLLEGE.
Abstract From the Annual Re.
port of 1894.

ABSTRACT FROM Cne AnHuSl he'
port of 1894.
Diseases of Live eStOck-Microscopical Work
ON Diseases of Plants and Animals-In.
sect Pests-Horticultural Work-Chem-
fcal Investigations-Stocl< Feeding and
General Agricultural Studies.
At the March meeting of the trustees OF
Delaware College a report was submitted
by the director of the Experiment Station.
1t was limited to the work of the yeaI
1894. The following abstract has been pre-
pared for publication:
DISEASES OF LIVE STOCK-ANTHRAx.
History of Epidemics In Delaware-A
Probable Source of This Disease-At-
tempts to Control 1t by Vaccination
Summary.
In 1899 anthrax killed eight valuable
Jersey COWS on small farm in New Cas-
tie county. The tenant was inooulated and
narrowly escaped death. In March, 1898,
he vacated the place, taking with him the
remnant of his herd.
His successor was young man. This
was his second farm. He controlled herd
Of six head Of horned stock. Before the
close of his first month two head died, and
the station demonstrated that anthrax
was the cause of death. The diagnosis
was not credited, and little heed was given
to advice. BY midsummer anthrax had
killed every horned creature on this place,
and at the close of his year the farmer was
obliged to find ordinary laboring work.
In March, 1894, new tenant went upon
this farm. He was thoroughly informed
as to its past history, but preferred to run
the risk. Within two months he lost five
head of COWS, steers and horses. The bal
ance of his herd he sold without delay.
Unable to prosper in this country without
a herd, he has left this farm to incoming
tenant No. 4, who, by the terms of his
contract, is limited to one COW and Is for
hidden to pasture it. He must keep her
in her stall and follow the soiling system.
Seven or eight other farms in that neigh
borhood were infected in 1899. One farm
er lost at least nine COWS, more than one
half of his herd. In 1898 he plowed and
has since cropped the field in which their
graves were dug, and has thus far expert
enced no further trouble. One or two of
his neighbors have followed the Same
course, and they, too, have thus far eS-
capped. Others have taken no precautions
except to avoid unnecessary publicity
The impression is that losses have contin-
ued on these places.
Twelve miles south of this neighborhood
anthrax became epidemic in 1893. but
was limited to four or five farms. During
the months of August and September it
killed so head of COWS and horses. Prompt
measures were taken upon one place, and
no traces of it have since been seen. On a
second farm a needless course was fol-
lowed, according to public report. On that
farm not less than ten COWS died of an
thrax in 1S93 as many more died in 1894,
and from>this place in 1894 the disease
spread to neighboring farm, costing there
ten head of milch COWS.
Upon third farm no new COWS were
purchased in 1894. Six or eight head sur
vived the epidemic of 1898, each one hay
ing at that time suffered severely from
anthrax These COWS demonstrated their
immunity; not one was affected during
the past year. A strange cow and mule
tho 1st of October.
Six miles south Of this neighborhood
and not less than 90 miles from Whining
ton, six COWS died early in July, 1894.
Their owner claimed that rank clover
caused their deaths. The blood stained
soil under their heads told different
story, for at this station the baoilli of
anthrax were found in it in abundance
Advice was accepted, carcasses were
burned, the position of the pound was
changed, and no further trouble has been
noted.
Losses were experienced in 1894 at a
third point at least 25 miles from Whining
ton. In one instance information came
late, and nothing, the hide alone except
ed, remained for study. The description
of symptoms, made by men who knew
nothing of this disease. aroused grave sus-
picions. In second instance the yeterina-
rian arrived in time to make an examina-
tion of one cadaver. This justified dag
nosis of anthrax Orders were left to cre-
mate carcasses, and no reports of further
trouble have been received.
2. A PROBABLE SOURCE OF ANTHRAX
In December, 1899, teamster died in
Camden, N. j. The Philadelphia Record
stated that he had been poisoned while
handling goatskins in transit to Whining
ton morocco factories. An official Of this
station at once sought the attending ply
sician, who diagnosed anthrax as the cause
of death. A month later DR.. Kollock of
Newark diagnosed anthrax in a patient
who worked in Wilmington morocco
shop. This diagnosis was fully supported
by archaeological work carried out at this
station. Eventually this patient recover
ed. He stated that one week before he was
taken sick his companion at the works
was affected with symptoms in all respects
similar to his own. The goatskins upon
which they were then working were stamp
ed Rio and came from South America.
Rumors are current that physicians who
practice among morocco workers in Will
mington occasionally see cases of anthrax,
known simply as blood poisoning.
Ono practitioner is reported to have had
six or more cases of it during the past few
years. 1t has been definitely determined
that anthrax is frequently introduced into
south Germany in goatskins from South
America, Care of Good Hope, Australia,
China, etc.
All Of the cases in Delaware thus far
under study at this station have originated
on farms which lie either on the Delaware
river or on some large steam tributary to
1t and near enough to the mouth of the
Shipley Run sewer to awaken suspicious
that the anthrax bacilli have been washed
from the tanks Of the morocco works.
3. ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL ANTHRAX BY
VACCINATIoNs.-Th efforts to import re-
liable vaccines from Paris, and their fail
ures have been told in earlier reports.
During the past year, the struggle to pre-
pare this vaccine here at this station has
been constant
Early in 1894 preparations were secured
which responded to all published tests, and
practical trials on tuberculous and worth
less cows were undertaken. These trials
were made upon infected territory. The
test involved the death by anthrax of un-
protected animals and the survival without
visible sickness Of yaccinated COWS, after
the administration of deadly doses of an
thrax.
The first attempt was unsatisfactory.
The vaccinated cow survived dose which
brought the unyaccinated animal SO neal
death that it was thought to be best to
kill and burn it. The post mortem was
made, and resulted in diagnosis, both by
the veterinarian and the bacteriologist, OF
sickness due to anthrax. The time which
had elapsed between the injection of the
poison and the death of the COW was longer
By far than had been expected, and the
ability of bo voa,;pn r. s+,,d na.;5y-