The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-30
HELP FOR THE EAST
Veterinarian Butler on His
Way to Manteo.
he Will Investigate and Try to Check the & i-
demic Now Rapidly Killing the Horses
in Eastern Counties.

DR.. TAFT Butler. the State Veterinarian,
arrived in Raleigh yesterday afternoon
from the West and left last night for
Dare county to investigate the disease
among the horses in Eastern counties.
The disease has broken out in Jones
county, and continues undated in Hyde.
Dare, Washington, Pamlico and some OF
the adjoining counties. From the last
reports received the. number of horses
that have died in Hyde county is esti--
mated at 1926. In the lower portion of this
county, where the mosquitoes were bad,
horses are dying and the disease is less
where the mosquitoes were fewer. The
disease is confined to the mosquito belt
almost entirely.
Secretary Bruner yesterday made the
following statement in regard to the
epidemic and the Department action
touching it,.
1.-The very deplorable outbreak among
the horses of Hyde. Dare, Washington
and other Eastern counties, is a subject
of great concern to the officers Of the
Agricultural Department.
1.-The first information reaching the De-
rartment in regard to the fatal malady
among the horses of the Eastern coun-
ties came from Swan Quarter in Hyde.
1t was the day before Commissioner Pat
terson was to start out to hold a series
of Farmers Institutes, which had been
largely advertised in some of the Wes-
tern countless AS Dr.. TAFT Butler. the
newly elected State Veterinarian, could
not reach Raleigh for some weeks, the
commissioner Immediately wrote or wired
Dr. L.sW.. Petty, reliable veterinarian
and one who was most cordially recon-
mended' for the place of State NVeterin-
arian--te meet him at the depot in
Greensboro the following day. This was
done and Dr. Petty was engaged to go to
Hyde sand investigate the trouble and
suggest asremedy therefor.
"Dr. Petty went to Hyde and on his
way found horses affected at Washing
ton. He returned here, and was inter-
viewed by representatives of the press,
to whom he gave a description of what
he found in the infected region. To the
writer he said: L have taken samples OF
the blood, pus, and .scab and will make
a microscopic examinati ton before making
my rport to the Department remarking
that he wanted to be sure about what he
said.s rPending this official report DR..
Butler came; and upon instructions from
the commissioner, who knew nothing OF
the conditions in the East, nor were they
known to any one here at that time,
went directly to Join the institute work,
where large cattle interests are involved.
1.-THE next information to the Depart
ment came through the Governor and
Secretary. of. State, who urged. upon new
information in regard to the spread OF the
disease in Dare, that Dr. Butler be sent.
This was Monday. the 26th, and letter
was sent at once to the commissioner
apprising him of the spread of the dis
ease and asking that he send DR.. Butler
at once to Dare Next day-Tuesday-a
gentleman from Manteo called at this
office and told of the condition in Dare,
and asked that Dr.. Butler be sent.
letter from the commits. )ner received
that day. showed that he might not re-
ceive the letter sent the day before.
promptly, and Mr.. Sherman, the entomo-
logist, who was starting east to inspect
nurseries, was turned aside and sent di-
rect to Columbus, in Polk county, whittier
the commissioner and party were bound,
driving across country. as there is no
railroad. He bore letter to the COM
missioner detailing the trouble our East
ern people were having and urging him to
send DR.. Butler directly to the scene;
and in case the commissioner was not
found to give the letter to DR.. Butler,
which requested him to go at once to
Dare DR.. Butler is now on the way to
ManteO.
1.-The absence of the commissioner and
Dr. Butler is deplored yet they were
meeting important public engagements.
The commissioner did not leave until he
had arranged to send the best help OBJ
tainable, and no one will regret more
than he the unfortunate circumstances
which have hindered the earlier attend
ance of the State Veterinarian
ARE YOU GOING WITH US!