Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-25
AMEs COLLEGE EXPERTS INvEST.
IGATE OUT BREAK AMONG
FARM HERDS.
AILMENT DIAGNOSED As
HEMoRRHAGlc sEPTIcEMlA
Affects Cattle Chiefly, Attic Horse,
Sheep and Swine Are Not Immune
Outbreak Especially Severe in
Mitchell, cerro Gordo and Floyd
ounties-Rsmedy Being Sought.
pecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Ames, June 25.-A mysterious infec-
tious disease which is causing heavy
losses in farm herds in Mitchell, Cerro
Gcrdo and Floyd counties. has just
been diagnosed by DR.. Kurt Schern,
Of the veterinary research laboratories
at Iowa State College. Some local
veterinarians called 1t rabies and
other names. The case In which in
vestigation has been completed by DR..
Schern he declares to be hemorrhagic
septicemia a disease which causes
numerous hemorrhages in the internal
organs and tissues. Where the dis
ease has foothold fine cows or choice
steers which seemed healthy only a
few hours before are found dead, or
perhaps individual animals or whole
herds are found in a semi con-
dition or dying. A serum and vaccine
| have been worked out by DR.. Schern
and are now being tested.
DR.. Schern visited five different in
fected herds In northern Iowa at the
request of local. veterinarians. He
found the disease affecting cattle
chiefly, altho sheep, horses and other
animals have been afflicted according
to the reports of farmers. In one Of
the herds the owner had lost fifteen
head of cattle; in another, fourteen
head; and in another, eleven head. Dr..
Schern examined the infected herds
and also made several post mortem
examinations. In three herds he was
able to say definitely that the disease
was hemorrhagic septicemia, altho the
varying diagnoses given locally made
the work difficult. In the case Of an
other herd he is doing experimental
work in the laboratories at Ames to
make a diagnosis which will take two
or three weeks.
Seeking Remedy.
DIR. Schern is carrying on work now
at Ames to find remedy for this de-
structive disease, none being we'll
known to veterinarians up to this
time. From several outbreaks OF
hemorrhagic septicemia in January
and February. DR.. Schern was able to
isolate the germ that causes it, in the
first experiments in Iowa, in the cul-
tivation of the germ. Then he under
took to produce good serum and a
good vaccine against the disease. The
task was very difficult but he has had
success thus far and good results.
With some Of the serum produced at
Ames, DR.. Schern and DR.. Mcleod, Of
Charles City, vaccinated thirteen calves
and four cows on one of the worst In
fected farms. For vaccination on an
other farm, serum was shipped away
from Ames Monday. It will be some
time before the results of the vaccina-
ton are known.
Several farms in the three counties
are under quarantine for rabies. ut IS
possible that rabies Is there" says DR..
Schern, "but up to the present that is
not certain. II rabies should prove to
be present, then the dogs in the in
fected sections should be quarantined
or shot, because dogs spread the dis
ease. 1t is my judgment that we need
more effective measures against rabies
in Iowa than we seem to have. I be-
lieve. also, that hemorrhagic septicemia
is more prevalent in Iowa than is gem
orally known"