The Portland daily press., 1897-01-04
TUBERCULOSIS.
A Valuable Ayrshire of Mr.. Libby's
Killed.

The Most of the Herd Will Probably De
Destroyed-The Post Mortem Showed
Disease Far Advanced.
The Sovereign State of Maine has up
wards of half hundred wards In the city
of Westbrook.
They are not deaf mutes; they are not
orphans; but they are good natured
Avrspires and meek and gentle Jerseys
and their abiding place, as long az the
right to live is vouschafed them by the
high and mighty arm of the law, Is in
the spacious barn of Mr.. Alonzo Libby,
famous ss an enthusiast In matters of
agriculture in general and in the cultiva-
ton of blue blooded cattle in particular.
MANI a time has MI. Libby driven his
herd to county, state and New England
fairs to return with blue or red ribbon
proudly dangling from the horus Of the
majestic leader of the lot.
MIR. Libby is the owner, and has
been for many years, Of remark
ably fine herd of Jersey and
Ayrshire CATTLE He has always taken
especial pride in the quality and grade
of his stock and to carry off high prize
at cattle show, to win battle fought
co its merits in this line, has given him
more satisfaction, and real pleasure than
the average man gets from making
thousand dollars profit in some bold
financial DEAL Incidental TO his cattle
raising Mr.. Libby has conducted Ia large
milk business, and he has always had
the reputation of furnishing a particu-
larly good quality of milk to his large
number of customers.
Nearly year ago. DR.. Bailey PERSONAL
ly tested quito number of MI. Libby
herd, including the tulls. and nine COWS
thasswere not at pasture. and found their
but single case of tuberculosis, which
was promptly disposed of. Since then
Mr. Libby has brought in several animals
from outside the state, and one of them
at least, came out Of diseased herd and
to this fact the commissioners largely at
tribute the present diseased condition of
t9e herd.ss - -
A short Tina ago he repeated tie
operation, as a measure Of precaution. 1t
was heavy blow to him when the
authorities of the state announced that
of herd of thirty-six cattle examined,
thirty-two showed undeniable evidences
OF bad cases OF tuberculosis. Seventy
two cattle belonging to Mr.. Libby were
Immediately placed iu quarantine pend-
ing further investigation.
Saturday afternoon Cattle Com
missioners, Bailey and Desring proceeded
with the investigation. They were ac-
compapied by Messrs. freeman, Mar
shall and Clasop, mem bers of the COVER
nor's council, who at the request of the
chief executive were present. The reason
for this is as follows: Gov: Cleaves's
administration is drawing to a close. The
appropriation for the use Of the cattle
commission is exhausted. 1t is ques-
ton, whether the exigency of the present
case demands immediate action and its
consequent expense (Which must be met
in some special way) or whether 1t Will
pernfit of being laid over for the inoom-
ing administration. Messrs. freeman,
Marshall and Clason are the three MEM
bers of the council who will be factors In
the next state regime, the two former as
mem bers of the council of Gov. Powers,
the latter as a state senator. These gen.
tlemen will make report and recon-
mendations to the governor and council
on Monday next.
To make demonstration of the caes
to the councillors, Commissioners Bailey
and Deering Saturday killed one of the
herd and performed q post norton.
Queen $3.50, e fat and beautiful Ayrshire
was the unhappy victim. Skillful execu-
TONERS did their work as humanity
as possible and the carcass was quickly
dissected An exposure of the lungs and
dissection by MIR. Bailey demonstrated
beyond any doubt that severe tubercu-
losis existed-a layman could but be con-
WINGED Of the truth OF the diagnosis SO
complete was the proof. The councillors
will take the matter under advisement.
Of course Mr.. Libby's customers are
supplied at present with milk which he
buys aud com es from herds known to be
perfectly healthy. 90
Should the herd be slaughtered, its
owner will recover half its appraised value
from the state. At present the herd re-
mains in quarantine at an approximate
expense to the state of $40 ii day, which
their owner will receive, after the matter
is financially settlsd. This is to pay for
the consumption of sustenanee, which
the state allows in all cases of Guaran-
tine.
AS the cattle must be slaughtered any
way, all those affected will be killed i'm
mediately. To prolong their existence Is
now only 3 useless expense.
The reaction of the COW killed may be
of interest. Her normal temperature be-
fore the test was applied was 1ol SO de-
grees. Ten hours after injection her
temperature was 105 degrees, twelve
hours lug LIS degrees; fourteenth hour
iG5 a-5 degrees. sixteenth hour lo6 40
degrees, and eighteenth hour LOG 10.
A heavy row storm, the first of the