The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1938-04-21
County Agent
Tells of Sleep
ing Sickness
Vaccinations Are Sue
cessful, Says Report
of DR.. J. R. Moller
SERUM EXPENSIVE
Vaccines Should Be
Used Early In Season
Explains Uses

With tremendous losses in 1897
on many farms of Stearns county
from equine encephalomyelitis, COM
monty known as sleeping sickness,
the county agents office at Sc.
Cloud has seen fit to bring ont
some OF the current information on
this subject. Up to the present time
1t has generally been believed that
four different kinds Of mosquitoes
are capable Of acting as carriers
for the disease. 1t is possible also
that some other types of wild ami
mails and farm animals are also
capable Of carrying the disease ev-
en- though they do not show indica-
tons Of being infected themselves.
The outbreaks, both in the United
States and in foreign countries, ap-
pear in cycles similar to other live
stock diseases such as hog cholera
and foot and mouth disease. In
Minnesota in 1885 3,549 farms on
which there were 1871 horses had
the infection on the premises. OF
this number 1887 became sick and
1,244 finally died.
In 1887 the outbreak was the most
severe that this state has had to
date. In that year the disease ap-
peared on 16 per cent Of the farms
representing 23.5 per cent Of the
horse population. In that same
year 26.1 per cent Of the horses on
Tho infacxad Va WINS oor@ M o<a1 xho
disease and 22.3 per cent Of those
that became sick finally died, the
losses representing So per cent Of
the horses exposed to the disease.
Stearns county Is in the central
Minnesota area designated by the
Livestock Sanitary Board. In this
area comprising IA counties. there
were 1904 infected farms with 34,-
$50 horses on them. OF this total
number 1O,241 were infected and in
all 2y075 died. It Is interesting to
note that in these same IA coun-
ties there are 39,O69 farms with a
total horse population Of $4,000.
The net mortality Of the horse pop
ulation in this area for 1887 was
Las per cent. The statistics just
listed are from data submitted to
the Livestock Sanitary Board by
practicing veterinarians In the area.
No doubt there were other cases Of
infection in which a veterinarian
was not called and hence no re-
port came to the board.
After compiling all the informa-
ton by the Bureau of Animal In
dustry of the U. s. Dept. of Agri-
culture and the Livestock Sanitary
Boards Of the various states in
which this disease has taken it's
toll, the state and federal bodies
feel free in encouraging the use of
vaccines, if used early in the sea-
son, and considered very good in
surance.
What Is a vaccine? Sleeping sick
ness vaccine is prepared by treat
ing virus bearing brains, taken
from artificially infected horses,
with formalin. This material will
protect laboratory animals against
killing doses Of the virus. After
DOLcTCy dIlu SAFETY SCoto CIV AAAoNS
the vaccine is released for use. This
product is the only one recommend
ed by the U. s. Bureau Of Animal
Industry for the treatment of sleep
ing sickness.
How should the vaccine be used!
The vaccine is administered to
horses and mules in two doses ten
days apart and immunity Is not
conferred until 1914 days after the
second dose Is administered. This
vaccine should only be administer
ed by a qualified licensed veterin-
arian who understands the techni-
que of it's application and the prop
er precautions and methods that
should be carried out in order to
prevent local swellings, ASSESSES,
etc.
What results can be expected OF
vaccination? DR.. J. r. Moller,
CONTINUED on Page 10 Col. -