, 1899-01-12
STATE VET|NAR|AN
A. A. HOLCOMBE SUBMITS AN
ABLE AND INTERESTING
REPORT.
Of Great Interest to the Stock Interests
Values of Stock in Wyoming and
Deaths of Stock by Disease-Causes
and Cure-Chair of Veterinary Sci
ence at State University Proposed.

A. Holcombe, made to the governor .
few days ago, is replete with informa-
ton concerning our stock interests, and
is a document thai stamps u veteri-
marian as a man at the top notch in
his business.
1t shows great research and labor in
its preparation and is a document Of
highest value to every stock owner in
the state. Among other matters, the
document says that the value of do
nestle animals in Wyoming is SIS ,000,- |
600 and that the assessors rolls for 1898
showed that nearly two million ami
mails, valued by the state board of
equalization at eight and a half millions
of dollars, were returned for taxation.
But one other class of property exceeds
this in taxable value-lands, town lots
and improvements-valued at twelve
and one-third millions of dollars.
Thus it will be seen that this i'm
portant industry is more than two
thirds as valuable as the lands, town
lots and improvements, and exceeds the
value of railroad and telegraph proper
ty by upwards of a million dollars. 1t
represents more than q per cent of the
entire taxable property of the state.
The doctor earnestly recommends the
more general use of pure bred sires, and
better provision for feeding during the
winter months-particularly the weaf-,
lings and ~yearlings.
DR.. Holcomb states that our horses
are exceptionally free from contagious
diseases, the only one demanding the
enforcement of sanitary regulations
Misunderstanding been nearly eradicat-
| ed by constant watching and caution
| during the past seventeen years.
Referring to meningitis, he states
| somewhat obscure disease, over a
| thousand head of horses having died in
| the Platte valley the past ten years.
| The doctor states that the cause of this
disease has not yet been determined,
and that the authorities consider it
neither infectious nor contagious. He
himself believes, however, that the dis
ease is infectious and is caused by a
living germ.
Referring to cattle, the doctor says
that aside from blackleg, they have
enjoyed a nearly complete immunity
from the dangerous contagious and in
fictitious diseases.
He states that more cattle are lost
from blackleg than from all other dis
eases combined. From results obtain
ed in a two years experience with this
disorder, during which time 5000 head
have been vaccinated, 1t is shown that
where vaccination is performed in ex-
act compliance with directions, but one
fourth of one per cent of cattle thus
afflicted die from the disease.
DR.. Holcomb then refers to tubercu-
losis, or lung consumption in cattle, and
says that the fact that 1t has never
gained a foothold in the state Is to be
attributed more to our good fortune
than to any means which have been
taken to prevent its introduction.
Big-jaw, he says, is not very common
in Wyoming and is of an infectious
nature, caused by the development OF
a fungus in the bones and soft tissues
of the body. 1t is said to be durable If
treated properly in the early stagese.
DR.. Holcomb then proceeds to the
discussion of diseases peculiar to sheep,
which, in his opinion, demand consid-
Grafton in his report, viz: scab and
tapeworm. The inefficiency of present
laws affecting the prevention of the in
| production of diseased sheep into our
| state is then commented upon. and the
| doctor recommends that the matter be
| placed in the hands of the state veteri-
| marian and that he be given the power
to remove for cause, such sheep in
spectors as he may deem proper from
time to time In case these persons fail
to do their duty.
Finally the doctor recommends the
establishment of a chair Of veterinary
science at our state university and
gives ample and convincing proof OF
the necessity and ~propriety Of such a
step.
In this line he recommends the set
ting aside of 5 per cent OF the appropri-
alton made annually by the govern
ment for the support Of the Wyoming
experiment station, and says that with
this amount a very satisfactory purse
in veterinary science could be estab-
lished in the state university.
Supplemental to this report, DR.. Hol-
combe submits some facts and obser-
vations noticed while examining horses
for the cavalry in 1898. He inspected
more than 5000 head of Wyoming-rats-
ed horses with results entirely unex-
pected and which. he says. should be
given widest publicity. Out Of 5000
head 100 were accepted for cavalry pu-
3 Reflections were made for size,
age, color, unsoundness, and because
unbroken. Only 121 were rejected for
unsoundness-a number so small as TO
command the greatest interest. The
doctor says he does not believe that