Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-09-10
1t is Planned to Emp -xtreme
Measures to Check Disease.
NEBRASKA WILL BE ORGANIZED
Officials of State Are Called Into
Conference by the Governor.
ANALYSES ARE BEING MADE
Prominent Omaha Veterinary Sur
geon Declares that Meningitis is
an Infection Carried Through
the Air,


epidemic and fatal to thousands of horses
in Nebraska and Kansas, will be taken
by the department of animal husbandry
Of Washington.
Responding to Governor Aldrich's ap-
peal, sent to the department Saturday, an
answer came yesterday announcing that
Thursday of this week five federal vet
erinary experts would meet in Lincoln to
map out a campaign of combat against
the meningitis germ
Before the end OF the week IL is hoped
that the forces will be thoroughly organ
lied to carry the fight to every county In
Nebraska, even to the extent of employ
Ing precautionary measures in those Sec
tions where the disease has not yet ap-
peared.
State Meeting Called.
Yesterday morning. when reaching his
office. Governor Aldrich called into con-
sultation State Veterinarian Bostrom and
Secretary Mellor of the State Board of
Agriculture and call was issued for
every other veterinarian interested, to
meet In the senate chamber Wednesday,
September II, at 2 o'clock to ascertain
what ways and means could be devised
for the treatment of the disease and pre-
vent its spread.
Everything is being done that can be, .
said Governor Aldrich, ito treat this
malady and prevent further spread. The
bacteriologtst at the university ID busy
with analysis and has discovered germ
that is producing the cerebro spinal
meningitis.
"Dr. Bostrom will prescribe certain
treatments to be administered at once
to the horses afflicted and a general
course of procedure and treatment will
be agreed upon by the veterinarians.
want every veterinarian in the state to
come to Lincoln Wednesday and help
us devise a proper course to stamp out
this disease"
DIR. Wells Discovers Germ.
LINCOLN, Sept. Estate Bacterioiogfst
H. H. Waite of the University of Me-
braska has discovered the germ which
causes the mysterious disease that has
been killing horses in Kansas and this
state, according to a statement given
out by Governor Aldrich this morning.
The germ is said to enter the horses
head through the mouth or nostrils and
thence find it's way to the brain The
germ is supposed to diffuse itself through
the atmosphere as well as in hay and
other food.
Spreads to Northern Nebraska.
( NORFOLK, Neb., Sept. Especial
Telegram. Spinal meningitis has ap-
and number of deaths have been re-
ported.
RAVENNA, Neb., Sept. 9.-(Special.)- y
The mysterious horse disease that has
been devastating parts Of the state has
appeared in this region, and number of
horses have died, while others have the
disease. DR.. Nichols, the local veterin-
arian, answers one call after another as
fast as he can get to them. In several
instances where he has been called as
soon as the horses showed symptoms Of
the disease, he has been able to save
them, but after 1t is we'll advanced he has
been unable to help the animals. Most
of the horses affected have been running
in pastures, but several stable horses
have died, including team Of draft
horses used by the Ravenna Creamery
company.
ANSLEY. Neb., Sept. 9.-(Special. )-In
the territory tributary to Ansley there
have been either eighteen or twenty
horses dying with the new horse plague.
Some of the very finest horses have
died.
UTICA, Neb., Sept. 9.--(Special. 1.-THE
horse disease that has killed so many
horses in this state and Kansas has ap-
peared here in the last few days and a
number of horses have already died. y
great many more are sick with it and
there is no hope for the recovery Of most
of them.
Washington VIII Send Aid.
WASHINGTON, Sept. Ex-Governor AL
drich and the state veterinarian of Ne
braska telegraphed today to the bureau
Of animal industry an urgent appeal for
help, saying that the cerebro-spinal
meningitis had spread into half of the
state. The Department of Agriculture
will send representatives to advise with
the Nebraska farmers.
Missouri viii Quarantine.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, Sept. Gov
ernor Hadley today instructed State
Veterinarian Sheldon to go to Kansas
and make an investigation of the cpl
demic there which has killed so many
horses and ascertain whether the disease
is contagious.
If the disease is contagious Governor
Hadley and the State Board of Agricul-
ture will place quarantine against the
shipment of Kansas and Nebraska horses
into Missouri. The veterinarians and
team owners of Kansas City today tele-
graphed Governor Hadley asking him TO
quarantine against the epidemic.
DIR. Hall Talks of Disease.
DIR. c. C. Hall, veterinary surgeon, says
the cerebro-spinal meningitis cases re-
ported among horses in Douglas county
and from fifteen counties in the state, is
not caused by any hay, grass or other
food the horses eat. He says 1t is infec-
tious and is carried through the air.
DR.. Hall has investigated the cases in
Douglas county. These cases were re-
ported from Benson, Elkhorn and Irving
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