The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-09
in 81 COUNTIES
Horse Disease Has Spread Over
State.
Twenty Experts in Conference
Today to Check Ravages.
DR.. BUCKLEY is HERE
But Head of q. s. Animal Bu-
reau Has Little to Say.
Mercer Declares No Danger in
Bringing Stock to Fair.


Stanton, Thomas. Rawlins. Logan.
Scott, Decatur. Sheridan. Cove. Lane.
Gray, Meade, Norton. Graham. Trego.
Ness, Hodgeman, Ford, Clark. Phillips,
Rocks, Russell Pawnee, Edwards.
Kicwa, Smith, Osborne, Barton Staf-
ford, Pratt, Mitchell. Lincoln, Ellis
worth, Rice. Kingman, Jewell. Republic,
Cloud, Ottawa, Saline, Mcpherson, Har-
vey, Cowley, Riley, Dickinson, Clay,
Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, Lyon,
Chase. Jackson, Geary, Morris, Butler.
Sedgwick, Usage, Anderson. Shawnee.
With the mysterious disease among
horses raging N 81 of the los counties
OF the state, a score Of expert veteri-
narians are this afternoon in session in
tho office of Gov. Ctubbs, where they
are discussing plans to block the spread
Of the epidemic. DR.. ]. c. Buckley.
sent to Kansas by the federal bureau
of animal nusbandry, is attending the
meeting. H declined to discuss his
theory of the disease before he met
WITH the other experts.
Joe Mercer, state live stock sanitary
commissioner, last night called many OF
the experts to Topeka. HIS plan is 10
agree if possible on the exact cause
of the disease and to issue a bulletin
tonight which will block the spread of
the epidemic to Few territory. About
20 of the experts who have been work
ing in the affected counties are this
afternoon comparing notes and talking
OF the disease in medical terms that
are stumbling blocks to the layman
who hears the conference If these
men. can agree on method for hghtin1
the horse disease, Governor Stubbs and
Commissioner Mercer will tonight wire
this information to officials in all af-
fected localities.
Governor Stubbs received a number Of
additional kilograms today in which
the situation in the various counties
was outlined. These Communications
indicate that in all counties where
horses have been kept in barns given
dry feed and watered from well, that
there have been comparatively few
deaths. The heavy death list has been
among horses placed on pastures and
permitted to Craze on green grass or
alfalfa. No serious trouble is report
ed among mules, while the disease does
not appear to have affected cattle, hogs
or sheep.
Buckley, U. s. Expert, Refused to Talk
DR.. Buckley, who came to Topeka
this morning after spending several
days In western Kansas declined to
discuss his opinion of the disease until
he met with the experts in the COVER
nor's office.
L have several theories which I pro.
pose to advance" said the Washing
ton man, but 1 do not care 70 discuss
the matter until I meet with the other
men who have worked in the field
DIR. Buckley appeared confident that
a plan would be devised for blocking
the spread of the disease and that the
men in this afternoons conference
would be able to suggest a remedy for
the cure of many of the animals thai
are now sick.
Reports received today by Joe Mer-
Ger indicated the development of a half
dozen new cases in Jackson county and
nFOhanl9 nF
ease in a few localities in Shawnee.
From a farm near Scranton, Usage
county. comes the report of the sick
ness of three horses. They are pre-
suffering from the same
malady reported from other counties.
Of the Shawnee county cases one Is
near Silver Lake and the other near
w Wakarusa.
Here are some of the reports receiv-
ed at the state house today concern
ing conditions in a few of the coun-
ties:
Word From Five Counties.
Two horses have died that were
fed exclusively dry feed and watered
from wells, all others on pasture.
Disease still on increase" wires =. A.
Brown of st. Johns
G. j; Broderick, of Plainvilie. sent
mis- telegram to Governor Stubbs:
OF the 20 horses dead in and around
two are supposed to have
been dry fed and watered from wells"
There is no epidemic in Stafford
county, according to today's reports,
two horses have died, pre-
from the new disease.
H. Y. Breese, mayor of Jetrnore,
wires that 20 horses have died in his
county. Some horses have been seiz-
ed with the disease after a few Gays
1n pasture, but there have been no
deaths among animals kept in barns
and given only dry feed.
W. w. Cookins, Jr., of Meade, wires
hat he has lost six horses, five of
which were fed in his ranch barn, but
allowed to feed at night on pasture
and drink from running stream. An
mails in Cookins' private barn at race
rack are given only dry feed and are
recovering.
Mayor ]. E. Andrews of Lacrosse.
-eports a few deaths among horses.
1ut none where animals were kept on
Try feed and watered from wells.
Mercer Says No Danger at Fair
In a statement issued today, Joe
Mercer as state live stock sanitary
declared thai Shawnee
county farmers need have no fear Of
he spread of the horse disease among
heir animals by attending the state
air in Topeka. Mercer urges that I've
stock is safer in Topeka than on the
pastures or in the feed lots in the
'ural districts.
From many localities in the county
;ame reports today that farmers fear
ID to attend the state fair because OF
he spread of the disease among
lorses. This situation threatened to
ome extent to injure the attendance
It the big fair and stock shCN and Of