The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-08-31
LIVER ROT is FOUND IN
COWS OF UTAH COUNTY
Provo Doctor Tells OF Two Interesting
AutoPsies in His Region.

Much has been published lately re-
garding the conditions OF dairies about
Provo and about the diseases of cows
in that section Of the state Inspec-
tors have been over the pastures and
have rendered reports. In this connec-
ton. the following statement BY DR.
z. G: Hughes. assistant city physician
of Provo. who has studied the situa-
ton quite thoroughly. is interesting.
Dr. Hughes says:
The question of 'dairies' and sick
cows has been before the public for
two weeks. The former. | believe,
has been satisfactorily solved. as 1t Is
admitted by those who have investi-
gated our dairies properly that they
are in as good a condition as could be
expected, and that they arc endeayor-
ing TO get in better condition. There
is. however, one question that has not
been solved, and how long we will
have TO wait before the proper source
solves the problem is still another
question We feel that il is due the
public to know the cause OF death
among mich COWS and especially
those who have suffered losses from
such. and for that reason the city
board through the city physician, has
been investigating this trouble
1T is true that the sewerage from
Provo passes through the city pasture,
and that he COWS wade through il and
probably drink the sewerage water,
but we have not one disease that is
capable OF being transmitted to the
COW by reason Of her being contain.
mated with the sewage. There is no
such a disease In COWS as typhoid
fever. nor is II possible for COWS drink
ing typhoid eXcreta TO contaminate the
milk with typhoid bacilli
The diseases that are transmitted
TO the human through milk are t.
phoid fever. tuberculosis. cholera in
fantum and dysentery. The usual way
in which typhoid fever is transmitted
is by the utensils used in handling the
milk being washed in water contain
mated with the typhoid bacillI, and in
ell the records of typhoid epidemlcs
attributed TO having been transmitted
through milk we have the record OF
one or more typhoid patients either
working or living at the dairy from
which the contaminated milk came.
Tuberculosis is transmitted through
the milk from the cows that are suf~
fering from tuberculosis
Cholera infantum and dysentery
are transmitted through milk usually
from diseases udders or from improp-
eli care and unsanitary conditions in
which the milk is handled,
Liver Rot
I'VE are grateful to the city pas
ture board for a post-mortem report
OF a COW belonging to Mr. EnOch God
dard. which died there few days ago.
The autopsy was performed by Mr.
Spaulding, d. V. S, and four to six
hours after death. to which he sttrib.
uted the cause as parasite known as
the liver tuke' (Americanus hepati-
cum). This para site causes the dis
case known 10 veterinary science as
liver rot The liver OF this cow was
very much enlarged, Of a pale yellow
ish brown color, very frlable and cas-
lily torn apart Throughout the tissue
OF the liver was found the liver fuke'
some in badly decaycd condition. 4
number. however, was found in suf-
ficiently good condition to be preserv-
ed. which anyone may see on inquiry
"A second post-mortem was held
on cow west of town belonging TO
Mr. Knudsen. The autopsy was per
formed by D. H. Loveless, d. V. S,
aud A. w Simerl. D. V s.. the city
physician being present, and David
John who was also present at the first
autopsy The liver OF this COW was
very much enlarged. Of pale brown
color. very fTiable and easily torn
apart, Through the liver tissue was
found the fluke in decayed condition.
There are five species OF liver
fluke. The one that concerns us at
present is the Common fluke. II has
life cycle; 1t Is not found in fresh or
running water; 1t lays its eggs on
blades of grass Just above the water
line, and there forms a crust around
them for protection. Wet seasons
are favorable for their propagation. AS
the cows masticatlon is imperfect,
many of the eggs reach the stomach
unin1ured, the heat OF the stomach is
sufficient TO hatch them, and as the
young fIukes have a special affinity for
bile they enter the hillary duct from
the duodenum. pass Into the liver and
there cause slow decay Of the orgnn.
The disease is not transmitted to the
human by the COW,
"E1 O HUGHES