Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-09-27
HORSE MALADY
REACHES CITY
Mysterious Disease from Kan
sas is Gradually Spreading
EXPERIMENTAL CAMPAIGN
INAUGURATED AT HOLLY
Three Counties Authorize the Path
ologist of State College to Give
His Vaccine Thorough Test.

What is believed to be spinal
meningitis, the disease which has
ravaged the horses of Kansas,
has made its appearance in the
vicinity of RockyFord aud already
four animals are reported to have
succumbed to the mysterious ma
lady.
On Friday last a horse belong
ing to Sam Lane of Newdale was
taken with symptoms resembling
those of the dreaded disease and it
died the next night. On Sunday
DR.. VanBuskirk lost valuable
animal, and on Wednesday e. f.
Zumbrunnen had two animals
taken ill with what DR.. Keck, who
was called in, stated wds meningi-
tbs, and despite his best efforts the
horses are reported to have sue
cumbed to the disease on Wednes-
day.
County Commissioner Harsin
returned on Wednesday from
Holly, where he had been to at
tend conference of the commits
sioners of Bent, Prowers and Otero
counties, called for the purpose OF
investigating the malady and if
possible take action to combat IFS
further spread.
To reporter for the Enterprise
Mr.. Harsin stated that the COM
missioners, in company with Drs.
Glover and Kaupp, veterinary and
pathologist of the agricultural
college at Fort Collins, U. $. gov
ernment INSPECTOR Murphy OF st.
Joseph, Mo and State Veterinar-
ian Yard of Denver, had on Tues
day visited different sections about
Holly and Amity and had seen
horses in various stages of the dis
ease, from the victim of but few
hours that was just beginning to
stagger to the animal stiffening in
dissolution, and in every case the
malady was unmistakable because
of strange odor thrown off by the
afflicted beast. Contrary 10 the
prevalent idea, Mr.. Harsin stated
the horses were not seized with
commissions, and the first symptom
was an apparent paralysis in the
hind quarters of the animal, sort
of "blind staggers." The beast
invariably tried to find a wall or
place to lean against when seized
with the dread disease aud if sue
cessful will stand in a stupor un-
til it falls to rise no more. The
theory that the disease came from
eating mouldv grain or alfalfa,
Mr.Harsin said, was disproved by
their Investigations, but whether
it was contagious even the veter-
inarians would not state positively
On Tuesday evening the COM
missioners were addressed by DIR.
Glover of the agricultural college,
who reported upon the laboratory
investigations that he had con-
Quoted by inoculating rabbits and
guinea pigs with the dreaded dis
ease germs. He expressed conf
dence that lie had discovered a
serum that would counteract the
disease and asked the counties to
provide the animals and allow him
a week wherein to make a thorough
test.
This the three counties agreed
to do and they jointly provided
funds necessary for the campaign
of experiment and vaccination to
save the horses from the dreaded
disease germ, and the outcome
will be anxiously awaited.
1t is sincerely hoped that the
state college veterinary will sue
ceed where government patholo-
gists have failed, for.i will mean
that an expensive and at the best
unsatisfactory quarantine will moi
have to be established by eacf