Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-11
CATTLE DISEASES
Parasitic Pneumonia
or Verminous Pneu-
mona
Makes Its Appearance in Bar Harbor
But Few Cases-No Known Cure
at Present--Biack Leg Also Found
| in South Baneroft-AII Precautions
Being Taken

a new disease has hit the cattle
of Maine. 1t is parasitic pneumonia
or as it is sometimes called, verinin-
Gus pneumonia, and there is no
known cure for it SO far as the vet
crinarians Of the State are able to
find out.
Boyden Bearce. the live stock san
ltary commissioner, has just discov-
cred the presence of this disease but,
according to his announcement, only
a few cattle are as yet affected and
every precaution is being taken 20
guard against the spread of the dis
ease.
/ The cases of parasitic pneumonia
were found in a herd of cattle belong
ing to Nathan Ash Of Bar Harbor.
Mr.. Ash complained that his cows
were coughing and sneezing and were
losing flesh. Several veterinary sur
gcons were called but the cause Of
the trouble could not be located. The
there was no re action it was proved
! bovine tuberculosis did not exist.
! Mr.. Bearce was determined to get
at the root of the trouble so he pur-
chased four of the cows. had them
taken to Auburn and there slaugh
tered for a post norton examination.
1 In addition to Mr.. Bearce, there were
present DR.. L. Il. Green. the federal
inspector stationed at the abattoir'
Or. George r. Englis of Auburn; DR..
C. ". Purcell of Biddeford, a State
g g
Vermont, a Federal inspector; DR.. T.
l.. Stevens, another Federal inspec-
tor; and DR.. NJ. L, Maddocks Of Au-
gusta.
The lungs OF the killed animals
| were examined and to the surprise of
the veterinarians small lunches of
white worms were taken out. Tho
discovery was 50 startling, that they
were at a loss to explain the disease.
A consultation of the doctors AMI
their veterinary books followed and
the disease was then placed as para
site pneumonia. Not only is it rare
among animals. but SO far as has
been learned there is no treatment
for it. The cattle of the Ash herd
!
with the complaint. The remaining
seven cows have been placed under
the strlcttst quarantine.
Parasitic pneumonia is regarded as
highly contagious among cattle AMI
is spread by their sneezing and
coughing. The particular animals
that are infected were about to be
rented to the residents of Bar Har-
Dor for the summer when the dis
ease was discovered. Mr.. Bearce
now has. preserved in alcohol, an in
! festation Of the parasite which cause
the disease.
Still another disease has been dis
covered and identified among Maine
cattle. This is black leg and the cat
tie affected belong to the Fitzgerald
herd in South Bancroft. During the
PAST three years about 10 cattle in
this section died from. some cause
not known. This year, the deaths
We're investigated by DR.. E. p. Hen
derson of Houlton and DR.. c. J..
Blakely of Augusta. Sections of the
dead animals We're sent to Washing
ton. There cultures were produced
and word has Just been received by
Mr. Bearce that the disease is black
! leg, which is only slightly less viru-
lent than anthrax, one Of the most
contagious of animal diseases. Thir-
ty-one cattle in the vicinity of South
Bancroft have already been inocu-
aoly