Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-22

| ana three others now lie at the point OF
death. There is said to be a prospect
| that other deaths will follow.
The COW was killed, and DR.. Bailey
| states that the animal had the worst case
| of tubefeulosis that has ever, come 70 his
notice The Little girl, the only child hav-
| ing an aversion to milk and not drinking
any. is strong and appears to enjoy the
best of health
The board, having had its attention
called to these articles. concluded that
| in justice to the farmers of the State
| it should make a full and careful in
vcstigation.
The first step was to write the at
tending physician of the family, DR.. Q.
Littlefield of Bluehill, and from him ii
was learned by letter under date OF
June 9th that, in his opinion, the sick
ness and death of the children Were
caused by pneumonia. brought on by
taking severe colds while recovering
from the measles, and this opinion was
confirmed by DIR. J. f. Manning of Ellis
worth, who was called in consultation.
in letter under same date. Dr. w. l..
West. a veterinary of Ellsworth. was
next consulted, and he informed us on
June Sth, that he was called to see the
cow that he applied the tuberculin test
at night with normal temperature Of
about 101 degrees. and that the next
morning the temperature had risen to
about 104 degrees. He then killed and
buried the COW without making a post
norton examination, depending solely
upon the tuberculin test to diagnose
the case, and for future protection to
his professional skill and Judgment.
When asked why he did not examine
the COW after killing her, he said, Il di ]
not consider it necessary DR.. West
said at that time, June 9th. that Dr.
Bailey had not seen the COW, and that
no one had examined her in any way.
Mr. Nahum Hnckley, the member OF
the board for Hancock county, engaged
DR. j. f. Manning of Ellsworth,on June
10th. to visit Bluehill and obtain poc
tons OF the COW, and the lungs of the
children if the consent of the fathe,
could be obtained. All necessary ar
rangements having been made, Dr..
Manning went on Friday, June 18th. to
Bluehill When he reached Mr.. Bridges
he found that DR.. West and DR.. Bailey
had been there and dug up the COW and
examined her, but had apparently car
ried away no portion of any of the or
gans. He took portions of the uddeI
and of the lungs of the COW, assisted by
Mr. Osgood the town clerk. He then
obtained the lungs entire from two Of
the children, carried the whole to ELS
worth that night, and sent them to d..
Chas. d. Smith of Portland by express
on June 18th.
DR.. Smith has made very careful ex-
aminations under the direction of The
board of agriculture and makes lac
following report:
Portland, June 10, 1897.
3. Walker McKeen, Esq, Secretary 9I
Board of Agriculture.
Dear Sir:-I have the honor to sui
nit report upon the pathological eX
animation Of certain specimens sub
mitted to me by your board for eXami-
nation to determine the presence or al
sence of tuberculosis. On Saturday,
June 18th, | received from DR.. John j..
Manning of Ellsworth, specimens 10
beled as follows:
A. Lungs of Bridges child deceased
May 30th.
b. Lungs of Bridges chha deceased
May Goth.
G. Portion of udder of COW owned hX
Bridges said to have been Tuberculosis
and killed May 18th.
D. Portion of lung Zone lobe) Of
same cow.
All were in an excellent state Il
preservation, a condition highly favor
able to the accuracy of the results OF
examination.
Accompanying these specimens were
two others labeled as follows;
e. Sputum from Luther Bridges
now seriously i'll from the same disease
Of which children died.
r. Sputum of j. Bridges, age years,
nearly recovered from disease OF which
his sisters died.
All these specimens have been eN-
ouined for the presence OF tubercie
Ibacilli. and the report in detail is as
follows:
/ Sputum of Luther Bridges--fse-
suit negative.
3 Sputum Of ]. Bridges-Resuf
negative.
Roth however, show the presence of
large numb ers of the micro-orsanisil's
Of croupous pneumonia. and in physical
characteristics the sputum of thefather
is tvpical of that found in this disease
3. Lung Of the COW. and scrapinSs
f,am tho bronchal tubes-Both results
as to tubercule. negative.
The lune shows evidence of old pleu-