Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-27
MADE STUDY OF
ANTHRAX
FOR government
Or. Victor A. Norgaard Dealt
With Disease 20 Years
AGO in Illinois

In declaring that the transfer Of
Farms herd to the animal quarantine
station away from the infected dairy
at Moiliili, IL absolutely safe, DR.. Nor
gard stakes a reputation OF years.
He investigated anthrax in Wayne
county Illinois, in July, 1893, de-
tailed copy Of his report being carried
in the report of the federal bureau Of
animal industry, United States depart
ment of agriculture, 1884, and has
been studying the disease ever since.
THE disease was SO widespread
and 30 fatal" says the report, that
this department directed DR.. V. A.
Norgaard, an inspector OF the bureau
Of animal industry, to visit the local
ity and make an investigation as to
the cause of the outbreak and report
, the results Of the. same to this de-
partment."
The report Of DIR. Norgaard, which
follows. covers the cases thoroughly,
giving a history Of the outbreak and
the symptoms OF the disease In the
horse, COW, sheep and swine.
In Wayne county, Illinois" says
the report, "the little Wabash river
winds through low, marshy, wooded
lands, and the river bottom affords In
hot, dry summers, when the water be.
comes very low, a splendid opportun'
ity for the development Of micro-or'
ganisms. Many acres Of land which
under ordinary conditions are under
water become exposed, and all organic
substances left behind by the sinking
water. decompose and thus furnish.
exposed to the sun. veritable hot
bed for all the lowest classes OF OF
ganisms which happen to be present
Every summer Of late years Q limited
number Of cattle have died In the
neighborhood from disease unknown
TO the layman, but which from the de-
scription given of the symptoms must
have been anthrax. The farmers, not
being aware OF the danger, left the
dead animals lying around unburied,I
TO be eaten by buzEards and dogs. !
zone case noted 10 very character.
istic. One day o farmer found one Of
his largest working steers dead,
though the animal had been apparent
" healthy few hours before. Being
very busy he left the carcass lying
there In the pasture for several days.
and then hauled II over to . small
meadow and buried It. The same day
several other head Of cattle were
taken sick, showing swelling on the
body or suddenly dropping dead. In
this way he lost q number Of cattle,
fifteen or twenty, and perceiving the
danger he burned the carcasses. The
following winter lie kept number Of
sheep in the inclosure where he had
buried the first steer. The raia
caused the earth, which had been
thrown loosely on the carcass, 70 sink,
and . pool was formed from which the |
sheep drank. Consequently they att
died.
The report traces the spread OF the |
disease until the entire agriculture.
district OF the state was concerned
with the seriousness OF IL, some 1900
or 1000 head Of animals having per-
ished in the next summer.
Az result of DR.. Norgaards inves,
tfgations the government took steps
immediately to check the disease. Il
q interesting TO note that one Of he
First things done Eas to move remain
ing herds at once from the infected
areas. .. - i