The Rice belt journal., 1913-07-18
DANGER OF STOCK
DISEASE FROM FEED
People Are Warned-kansas Pointed
to as Warning-Loeal Stock
infected.


sickness among cattle and stock in
Louisiana this year, one problem Of
which it took nearly year to solve,
but the other-charbon-which is ex-
listing in this state at present and prev
| alent in three counties of Mississippi,
threatens TO wipe out as many millions
Of dollars worth of stock as did the
Kansas scourge, If preventative meas
ures are not at once adopted by farm
ers and stockmen of this state.
Discussing the origin of the. disease
that swept Kansas last year, Dr. w.
H. Dalrymaple, veterinary expert
Louisiana State University, gave out
a public statement part of which fol-
lows:
Last year there existed in the State
OF Kansas, and some of the conditions
commonwealth, disease which de-
stroyed an immense number of horses
and mules, amounting, in the aggre-
gate, to several millions of dollars in
value.
THE whole country seemed to have
been aroused at the time of the Kansas
outbreak. and authorities from all
parts of the country were called In
by Governor Stubs to make investi-
cations with the view of offering some
suggestions of curative methods that
might stay the scourge, for which he
offered $1,000 reward. The apparently
obscure ailment formed the subject
OF many scientific papers and many
theories were advanced concerning 1t.
At last, however, conclusion seems
to have been arrived at, as press dis
patch from Topeka, kans., has the fol-
lowing to say: That the plague which
killed more than $4,000 horses and
mules in Kansas last year was not an
infectious disease, but due to poison.
was the report of the Special Commis.
sion of the University of Kansas ap-
pointed by the governor to investigate.
The report stated that there was no
known cure for the aiIment from which
the naimals suffered, and that the ci-
matte conditions which produced i.
probably will not prevail again In
many years. A parasitic fungus grow
ing on the grains and other vegeta,
tlon caused the death of the animals,
according to the report, and the
poisonous conditions in the pastures
was due to the excessive moisture and
humidity, accompanied by high tenn.
peratures
1T has at last been fount out, there
fore, after all this time, that the condi.
tions prevailing in Kansas, and de-
stroying so many OF their animals,
which amounted in money value, If we
mistake not, to something like $6,0O0,-
600, were similar to those which we
frequently experience in Louisiana,
and which formed the basis of the
writer's opinion given to the Picayune
at the time as being the probable cause
OF their trouble. There are quite
number of technical names which have
been applied to this disease. such as
mycotic cerebritis, cerebral mycosis.
meningitis, cerebro-spinal meningitis.
etc., but the nonprofessional man will
realize it best by the ordinary, every
Gay name of 'staggers, with its vari.
Gus phases, mad, blind. sleepy stag
gers, etc., and which although long
suspected, has now evidently been
proved to be caused by a poisonous
principle elaborated by some varities
OF fungi attacking the food of herbiv-
orous animals In CERTAIN favorable seas.
ems when sufficient heat and moisture
prevail.
And while our object In sending
thls communication Is not meant to
attract any attention to the personal
equasion, we think we may be par
doned If on this occasion we modestly
make use OF the common expression, I
told you So And while writing ON
the subject 1t might be well to make
the statement that the weather at
present prevailing in the state is Just
such as fayors the development OF
vegetable parasitic organisms of all
kinds. Those which produce the con-
dition such as occurred in Kansas be.
long to the higher fungi, but we have
the lower forms, in the shape of bac.
terra, and as many people know to
their cost at present time, the charbon
germ, also a vegetable organism, is
getting in Its work. Consequently. 1t
should behoove our stock owners to be-
on their guard with reference to the
condition of their pastures at this
time, especially with regard to the dis.
ease which we commonly know as
blind staggers.'"
Baton Rouge.-~The stocking Of the
university lake is q likely action by