El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-29

about one-fourth Of the territory that
was infested with ticks at the time
the work was begun The territory
cleaned up so far amounts to more
than $4,000 square miles and IS larger
than South Carolina, Georgia, Ala
( bama, and Mississippi combined.
For is years the government. with
cooperation Of certain states, has been
engaged in eradicating scabies Of
sheep and cattle. These diseases for
merly existed practically through
out the region west Of the Missouri
river but the area has been gradC-
ally reduced until We believe that we
are now within sight OF the end OF
this work in most of the territory re-
naming under quarantine 1t IS very
unfortunate, however, that local con-
: ditiOns have made it impossible to
do much effective work In Texas to-
ward getting rid Of the diseases The
state of Texas is still under quar-
antine for sheep scab. and the area
Guaranteed on account Of cattle scao-
les includes the Panhandle and the eE-
IRENE southern portion. The government
has been and is willing TO do its part,
but the state lacks the necessary
quarantine laws and appropriations Of
money
Hog Cholera.
Hog cholera mas presented one Of
the most difficult scientific problems
ever encountered in the study Of ami
maj diseases. -ALLEE many ears u
research, the scientists Of the bureau
Of animal industry discovered that this
disease was caused by a germ so
minute that IL passes through the
finest filter and can not be seen with
the strongest microscope We know
Of this organism only by the effects
that it produces. The bureau has de-
veloped a serum of vaccine which is
highly effective IN preventing me
disease and by utilizing this remedy !
il should be possible in time TO /
eradicate the disease from the country.
The federal government has not under
taken TO prepare and distribute this /
serum to hog raisers, but this IS be- 4
ing done by over 80 states
Vaecinating For BlackIeg.
An effective method of protecting !
young stock against blackleg by vac
cination has long been known and 1or /
10 years the bureau Of animal Industry (
has distributed such vaccine free Of
charge TO stock owners over a mill
lion doses year are distributed and
the reports received show that the
vaccine is highly effective in prevent
ing the disease The losses after vac
percent, whereas in unYaccinated AMI
mails IN infected regions the deaths
have amounted TO more than 10 percent
OF the calves produced each year
Cow Infection.
Among the most important scientific
work done by the bureau during the
past year has been that relating TO
contagious abortion Of cows. The
losses caused by this trouble are
probably heavier than has been rear /
lied. The bureau investigators have
discovered that the germs causing TINS
disease frequently occur in milk and
are sometimes also found in the ton
sils Of children, where they nave
been conveyed in milk The
germs cause distinct LESSONS when IN
oculated into guinea pigs. Just what
bearing this organism may have on
human health IS not yet known, but
in the present state of our knowledge
IL seems that We have and additional
reason for advocating the pasteurlza-
ton OF milk We are still studying
the disease and trying to work out
methods OF prevention.
Swat the Germs.
II should be borne in mind thaL IN
tecuOuS diseases are caused by GER
tain specific germs or parasites, anu
lection or the parasite responsible Tor
the disease, and afterwards eXcluoe
the injecting agent, we will nave no
more Of the disease.
1t IS our good fortune in this country
10 be free from such destructive I
plaques as rlnoerpcst, fOOt-and mouth
disease, and contagious pleurO-pneu-
nonla7 Surra, and many tropical as
Eases which raTage the herds ana
locks In other parts of the world
md from which our live stock are pro-
-ected by our system of inspection and
quarantine OF imported animals.
Much Meat Destroyed.
The meat inspection constitutes the
argest branch Of the bureaus work.
During the last fiscal year. inspection
vas carried on at $40 establishments
n 259 cities and towns, and over 80
million animals were slaughtered un-
Ter inspection. There were condemned /
III post mOrtem examination 2O5,fiS
.ntire carcasses and 463, $50 parts Of
arcasses, making a total of 66l,65I ,
arcasses condemned wholly or in part.
n addition, there We're condemned on
18095.5S7 pounds Of
neat and meat food products that had
'ecome spoiled or otherwise unfit for
God since original inspection.