The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-11-16
MlLk a.ckaEss On TREMsLEe.
New Mexico College Of Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts. Press
9tllefin Ne. 137. *s

@zsaA-zFs s=-. 1880 $780,
New Mexico College Of Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts. Press
Bulletin Ne. 1877. s
For the past four or nve years coma
plants of b sickness and death of
stock have been received from certain
parts OF the territory, particularly the
Pecos valley in and around Carlsbad,
and accompanying these complaints
have come specimens of a plant
which was supposed to be the cause
of the loss. The losses we're not con-
fined to one kind Of stock, but cattle
were most frequently affected. The
plant accused Of causing the trouble
(the rayless OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Het-
erophylla) had never before been ac-
cused of being poisonous; but the
complaints against it were so uni
form and continuous hat they were
believed to be well founded. The dis
ease was believed by some to be due
to "alkali poisoning" and was called
by this name or referred to as "trem-
bles," "slows," or '"tires," depending
somewhat upon the symptoms OF the
individual animal.
The financial loss arising from this
cause was considerable; but, what is
of much more consequence, there is
a disease of man which occurs asso-
ciated with that of the cattle, and a
number of cases of eve illness and
a few deaths have, been reported from
the seat of the cattle disease. Doc
tors prescribing for the human pa
tents diagnosed the disease as milk
Sickness" the source of the trouble
evidently being the milk of affected
COWS. This disease is one which pre-
vailed more or less extensively in the
central states during the early settle
ment OF that part Of the country, and
is reported occasionally from the less
thickly populated parts of that region
even today. The true cause of the
disease has never been ascertained
until quite recently.
Through the efforts of various indi-
viduals more or less concerned, spe-
cial Investigators, Drs. Edward o.
Jordan and N. M. Harris, professor
and assistant professor of bacteriolo-
.gy, University of Chicago, were inter
ested in the matter, vel to the scat
Of the disturbance, n made an e
tended investigation of the disease.
Autopsies of cattle in various stages
of the disease were made and detail
ed examinations were made Of all the
organs OF b affected animals and
records kept OF the conditions found
in each. Two human patients suffer
ing from the disease were The
result OF their investigation led them
to the conclusion hat the disease is
caused by a specific bacterium which
they have called Bacillus Lactimor-
BIZ" A large amount of material was
obtained for experimentation and ia
ken back to the laboratories at Chi
cago, where an extended series of
cultures were made and a number of
incubation experiments were carried
on with animals OF different kinds,
rabbits, guinea-pigs, dogs and calves
being used.
The work SO far done is, in the
words of the authors, but the pre-
lude. to a more comprehensive study"
The purpose of this bulletin is to
point out the possibility of the occur
renee of the disease in our territory,
to call attention to the work that has
already been done, and to ask that
stockmen in New Mexico will COM
municate with this department or
with DR.. Jordan whenever they have
reason to believe that their cattle are
affected with this disease. Informa-
ton as to the extent of this disease
among cattle or other stock In New
Mexico is very desirable, and more
extended Investigation of b subject
will be made. So far nothing has
been done in the "a of remedial
and the way in which the
bacterium enters the animal is not
certainly known, though ii is proba-
bly, obtained in the food. Whether
any particular kind OF food is more
liable to contain 1t than others is not
known, and the investigators are par
ticularIy anxious for more data which
may reveal some method of prevent
ing the entrance Of the bacteria. o
tors who may meet with cases OF
this disease in their practice are re-
quested to notify either OF the above
parties of such cases. A
proJimfnar Sfqfement Of the work
which mas already beer done by these