Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-03-15
100000 A YEAR.
REPORT OF DR.. FICHER.
~ Losses In Kansas Annually From
81 Backed: Death Of Human
Beings.

Complaint some time was made to
the State Board of Health of the
practice Of skinning cattle that die Of
disease and selling the hides a
practice that long has prevailed in
eertain sections of Kansas. The
board discussed this subject at its
late meeting and instructed its bacter-
elogist, DR.. Paul Fisher, who also is
. veterinarian Of the State Agricult-
uSal college, to investigate the COM
plaint and make report.
DR.. Fischer yesterday filed his
gsport with DR.. Swan, secretary of
tbe board. 1t follows
DR.. FIsCHEs's STATEMENT.
Tho practice Of skinning cattle that
do Of disease and selling their hides
Qftsn enable the unfortunate owner to
appreciably reduce loss that in
either case many be a great one.
!. Frequently no objection whatever
can be raised against this practice.
However, when infection diseases
have been the cause of such deaths,
the question assumes a different
aspect. Many infections diseases are
dangerous alike to man and beast
and II requires very little knowledge
10 show the risk attending the skin
ming an animal that died of disease
which is transmissable to man. Slight
wounds or abrasions which :may be
considered as always present on the
hands Of the operator afford abundant
opportunity for direct infection by
The disease germs. Accidental in
juries during the operation Of renov-
ing the hide may also occur and are
n equal importance
MAY RESULT IN DEATH.
The result Of such an infection
may b. a serious illness or even death
hsnce anything but pleasant. Alta
recent meeting Of the State Board Of
Health the question Of the danger
from infection by anthrax, blackleg
and malignant oedema, during the
operation Of skinning animals and
that died Of any Of these diseases,
M under discussion. The similarity
d those diseases, the occurrence Of
Z mo Of them in human beings as well
- IN animals, the occurrence OF black
II In animals only, and the fact that
The disease m y easily be confounded
With or mistaken for one Of the other
diseases, and vice versa, made It
seem desirable that a short sketch be
written, showing thu ed of more
general information leading to bet
tef understanding Of the nature Of
these diseases and the dangers at
tending the indiscriminate skinning
Of animals dead from diseases and of
transporting their hides and exposing
them for sale.
It's not the purpose Of this article
10 detail the symptom Of each OF these
diseases and thus enable any one
concerned to make a reliable different
jaldiagnosis, As will show presently
this would be Il needless undertaking
for our present purpose.
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CRIMINAL,
What | wish to show is that it is
Mrpng and ought to be considered
criminal for a farmer or stockman to
skin any animal that died of an in
jectious disease Of any kind whatever
and then offer the hide for sale. Such
4 proceeding should not be allowed
except under the supervision Of the
most rigid sanitary police control.
Anthrax, blackleg and malignant
oodema are diseases, all three Of
which occur among the farm animals
especially cattle) Of Kansas. They
resemble each other strikingly. An
thrax and malignant oedema occur
IN practically all domesticated ami
mails and man, and are often fatal.
Blackleg occurs particularly in cattle
man has never been known to be in.
iured by handling the hides or car
casses Of cattle that died from this
disease. Even the consumption Of
the meat as food can not be consi1-
sred as injurious.
Although malignant oedema is a
more widely spread disease, it causes
f...,.r daatha nv far than either black.