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| J. W. JOHNSON.

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We ‘TOPEKA, KANSAS:

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REPORT.

TopEKA, Kan., January 1, 1898.
To the Honorable John W. Leedy, Governor of Kansas:

Str—In compliance with your request, we, the Live-Stock Sani-
tary Commission of the State of Kansas, have the honor to submit
our annual report of the business done in this department for the year
ending December 31, 1897.

On February 10, the Commission was reorganized and Mr. Frank
Weinshenk, who was appointed and confirmed to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of J. B. Vincent, took his place as a mem-
ber. The Commission then consisted of J. 1. Brown, Frank Wein-
shenk, and J. W. Johnson. J. I. Brown was elected Chairman and
Frank Weinshenk was elected Secretary, and as so organized drafted
the rules and regulations for the year 1897.

On the 25th day of March, the time of J. I. Brown having ex-
pired, Taylor Riddle, having been previously appointed by the gov-
ernor and confirmed, took his place. The Commission then consisted
of Frank Weinshenk, J. W. Johnson, and Taylor Riddle, and pro-
ceeded to reorganize by electing Frank Weinshenk Chairman and
Taylor Riddle Secretary.

The duties devolving upon this Commission have necessitated the
holding of 70 meetings during the year 1897.

It will be seen by this report that our state has been comparatively
free from disease of an infectious or contagious character, when the
fact is taken into consideration that nearly three times the number of
cattle were admitted by this Commission than by any preceding it.

From February 1 to November 15 there were admitted into the
state for grazing and feeding purposes, from the safe districts of
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, old Mexico, Missouri, and Oklahoma
territory, by affidavits and permits issued, the total number of 424,-
249 cattle, against 183,845 during the year 1896. They were credited
to the above-named states and territories as follows: Texas, 233,444;
Arizona, 82,048; New Mexico, 29,819; old Mexico, 31,090; Missouri,
7,851; Oklahoma, 30,497. This does not include cattle which came
through La Junta after June 17, as no inspector was maintained at
that station after that date.

Only one serious outbreak of Texas fever occurred during the year,

beet -/

4

which was upon the ranch of Mr. C. P. Dewey, at Manhattan. He
lost a total of 93 head. Other small outbreaks occurred in Cherokee
and Jackson counties, among the cows and cattle of the various farm-

ers, as follows: . |

On July 14 the premises of O. R. Thomas, J. Banning, Matilde
Turner, Chris. Johnson, F. Happerman, C. M. Clark and Dennis
Kinney were placed in quarantine, as they had allowed their stock to
drift across the quarantine line into the Indian territory, thereby
crossing infected trails and grazing upon infected lands, and con-
tracting the fever. The total number dying from this outbreak has
not been reported to this Commission. i

On August 19 the Commission met in Hoyt, Jackson county,
Kansas, and placed the ranch of J. D. Small in quarantine, together
with all the cattle thereon—in all about 1,250; and on Septem-
ber 16 the premises of Sam McCalister, B. M. Brown, David Rice,
C. F. Marple, A. Marple, Isaac McComas, J. W. Knox, A. Shultz,
Sid. Martin and Mr. White were placed in quarantine, together with
178 cattle which had been exposed to the infection known as southern
(or Texas) fever on account of a public sale, September 1, on the farm
of J. F. Morris, who at that time had Texas (or southern) fever infec-
tion among his herd, which caused fever on the farms where said
cattle were taken, and quarantined on September 16. The ranch of
J. F. Morris was also quarantined, together with the cattle thereon,
making the total number of cattle held in quarantine in Jackson
county 1,940. The above cattle were released from quarantine on
October 19, 33 head of the entire number held having died. No in-
ee could be gained as to where these cattle contracted the

ever.

There were also 373 head of cattle seized and placed in quarantine
for having violated the law of the state of Kansas in relation to quar-
antine regulations, by driving cattle across quarantine line during the
closed season. Fifty-five head of cattle belonging to Henry Trait-
hart were driven from Big Creek, Indian territory, to Galesburg,
Kan., and there shipped to the Kansas City stock-yards; but before
sale had been made information reached this:-Commission, and they
were seized and sent to the southern division and placed in quaran-
tine. They were held from August 23 to September 14.

On August 24, 205 cattle belonging to J. A. Jarbo were seized.
One hundred and sixty of these had been driven across quarantine
line in violation of the law, from the Indian territory into the state ©
of Kansas.

On August 29, 50 head of cattle were seized on the premises of
Susan Drew, 39 of which, belonging to HE. C. Dent, had been driven
across quarantine line from the Indian territory into the state of

5)

. Kansas contrary to law. From information furnished this Commis-
sion, E. C. Dent, Henry Traithart, Charles Traithart, Ben Jarbo and
J. A. Jarbo are believed to be the parties who had driven the Dent,
Jarbo & Traithart cattle above referred to into the state of Kansas,
and complaints were filed with the county attorney of Labette county,
with this Commission, by Dan McCunninghan, one of our cattle in-
spectors, and warrants issued for their arrest.

On June 5, John Turner and Dan Late drove two car-loads of cat-
tle across quarantine line from the Indian territory into the state of
Kansas to the shipping pens at Perkins station, in Montgomery
county, and shipped them over the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad
to the native division of the Kansas City stock-yards. Upon infor-
mation furnished this Commission, the above-named Turner and Late
were arrested, the grand jury having previously found true bills
against each of them.

On July 16, at a meeting in Columbus, Kan., information having
been furnished this Commission that cattle smuggling was being car-
ried on at the south line of the state from the Indian territory into
Cherokee county, contrary to law, warrants were issued for Louis
Goodner and , and they were placed under arrest by the authori-
ties of Cherokee county. We are confident, from information gath-
ered from the settlers along the southern borders of the state between
the stations of Caney and Baxter Springs, a distance of about 75
miles, that in the past the quarantine law has been continually vio-
lated by parties smuggling small herds of cattle into Kansas from the
Indian territory. In order to break up this practice and protect the
honest cattle dealers of our own state, special attention has been given
this locality, resulting as above stated in the arrest of nine persons,
the conviction of two, the acquittal of one, and the dismissal of one,
with five others yet to be tried, with good prospects of convicting each
of them. With the same vigilance in the year 1898 that was main-
tained in the year 1897, we expect violations along this line to cease.
Many of the cases of Texas fever in the past which could not be ac-
counted for we are now satisfied were smuggled in along this line,
shipped to the native division of the Kansas City stock-yards from .
some station in the healthy area, and from the Kansas City stock-
yards distributed to the feeders and grazers of Kansas, thereby spread-
ing the disease. In breaking up this infamous system of smuggling,
which endangered the legitimate cattle business of every man in the
state, we were greatly assisted by Daniel McCunningham, cattle in-
spector for the bureau of animal industry and also for this Commis-
sion, located at Coffeyville, Kan.

On or about October 20, 22 head of cattle were driven across quar-

6

antine line near Coffeyville, and, upon information being furnished
this Commission, the above-named cattle were placed in quarantine.
Parties charged with bringing these cattle over, or who had a money
interest in them, were HE. Plattner, N. A. Armstrong, S. M. Benefiel,
and the firm of Hayden & Inch. No arrests have yet been made in
this case, although the evidence of guilt as to some of the parties is
conclusive. On September 24, 33 head of cattle belonging to Paul
Shultz were placed in quarantine, as the cattle were believed by this
Commission to have been smuggled into the state contrary to law.
The presumption of guilt against Mr. Shultz is very strong; but as
positive proof has not yet been found, no arrests have been made.

We believe that, with the gates well guarded, and with the cattle
smuggling —as referred to in this report — broken up, southern fever
will soon be unknown on Kansas soil. The Commission adopted a
policy to assist in protecting the tremendous cattle interest of the
state of Kansas, which interest pays a larger sum in taxes into the
state treasury than any other single interest in the state except the
railroads. ‘The gain in numbers brought into the state this year
over the year 1896 proves conclusively, what many cattle dealers have
long contended, that the natural resources of the state are very favor-
able to cattle raising, and that, if the farmers would turn their atten-
tion to this industry, they would find it much more profitable than
raising grain for market. This industry is taken care of with less
expense to the state than any other that aggregates a like sum; and
it asks from the state only one small, inexpensive commission 'to look
after its vast interests. That the cattlemen appreciate the good done
by this Commission, we only need to cite the instance of last winter,
when an attempt was made in the legislature to cut down the appro-
priation of this Commission to such an extent that its usefulness
would be greatly crippled. It would have succeeded if the cattlemen
—and especially those who were members of the legislature — had
not rallied to the support of the Commission and demanded that this
mistaken economy be not applied to their department.

While a greater number of cattle have died from southern fever
this year than some others in the past, it was a less per cent. of the
number coming into the state than that of former years. Therefore,
we think we can say without successful contradiction, that the gen-
eral result of the labor of this Commission this year has proved a
greater benefit than that of any which preceded it.

The cattle industry of the state of Kansas, in the nature of things,
is closely related to the railroads of the state, as many hundreds of
thousands of cattle that are fed on the immense crops raised in our
state are brought in from other states and territories. Without the

7

friendly assistance of the railroads in the past year, considering that
the number of cattle brought into our state exceeds that of any other
year by many thousands, much more infection and contagion would
have worked in.

But the greatest assistance rendered this Commission in preventing
violation of the quarantine law has come from the cattlemen of
Kansas. Buyers, shippers and sellers have been very careful in
handling southern and western cattle, and looked closely after their
bills of health and clearance papers, and also invariably reported to
this Commission any attempt on the part of others to evade or violate
any of the quarantine regulations. To this fact and others hereto-
fore stated is due in a great measure the successful handling of such
vast herds with so little loss from disease.

Perfect harmony has always existed between this Commission and
the government department, presided over by Albert Dean, of the
Kansas City stock-yards. We have received much valuable assistance
from his department. We can also say in our own behalf, that our
department has given him aid whenever opportunity offered.

FRANK WEINSHENK,
TAYLOR RIDDLE,
J. W. JOHNSON,

Commissioners.

TEXAS FEVER.

This is a specific fever communicated by cattle which have been
recently moved northward from the infected district south of quaran-
tine line. The claim that the southern cattle-tick (Boophilus bovis)
is the sole transmitter in all outbreaks is supported by numerous ex-
periments. The proofs that have been obtained in all experiments
held prove beyond a doubt that the tick is the only efficient agent in
producing Texas fever. This a matter that has been well investigated,
and a mass of evidence points to the conclusion that the disease is
never transmitted in any other way. The tick infection is not a theory
but a settled fact.

SYMPTOMS.

The period after which cattle, when exposed, will show symptoms
of the disease varies from 13 to 90 days. The first noticeable change
in the animal is a weakness, dulness, loss of appetite, and tendency to
leave the herd and stand or lie down alone. The temperature rises
from a normal of 101 to sometimes as high as 107, which temperature
will continue with little or no change until recovery or death ensues.
The bowels are constipated during the fever. The urine shows noth-
ing abnormal until near the termination, when it may be deeply
stained with blood. But of one thing you may be assured, ifit is Texas
fever the tick is always present, sometimes in large numbers, but fre-.
quently only a few will be found. The ticks are usually found on
the inside of the thighs and flanks. They are occasionally on the
neck, and back of hind quarters. The young ticks are very small, and
will require a careful examination of the animal to detect them. This
is especially true of the ticks on northern cattle. Symptoms of de-
lirium will be observed in some cases. Death may ensue in from three
days to several weeks after the beginning, but usually occurs in from
four to seven days.

Owners of herds who observe sick cattle among them with any
symptoms herein described will do well to at once examine them for
the fever ticks, and if found you may set it down as a case of Texas
fever, and notify the Live-Stock Sanitary Commission at once.

TREATMENT.

The bowels should be opened by giving one quart of linseed oil
raw, or one pound of salts, for the adult animal. In addition to any
medical treatment, the ticks should be promptly removed from the

9

animal or destroyed. They may be destroyed or killed by applying
grease to the animal. For general use, a mixture of lard or oil, 75 per
per cent., and kerosene, 25 per cent., will be found efficient. Such a
mixture can be applied rapidly and effectively by means of a brush.
A stanchion or chute can be so constructed that the oil can be ap-
plied rapidly and effectively to an animal, and for small herds this is
probably the best method for freeing cattle from ticks. If permis-
sion can be obtained of the Live-Stock Sanitary Commission, cattle
should be removed from the infected ground, as this removes the pos-
sibility of them being attacked later by more young ticks. On most
farms this cannot be done, and under no circumstances should it be
attempted, except with permission of the Live-Stock Sanitary Com-
mission. ‘Texas fever causes great losses every year; but after all it
is a disease that may be easily stamped out if every stockman would
see to it that all cattle brought from south or east of quarantine line
were free from cattle-ticks, and would give all assistance possible to
the Live-Stock Sanitary Commission to see that the sanitary laws
were strictly enforced.

BLACKLEG.

Blackleg is an infectious disease that attacks young cattle, and
preferably those in good flesh. Like all other infectious diseases, it
is caused by a micro-organism, in this case the blackleg bacillus.
This organism propagates either within or outside of the animal body.
The soil and climate conditions of certain sections are very favorable
for its development. Other sections are very unfavorable for its de-
velopement. ae

Blackleg does not usually spread from one animal to another, like
many other infectious diseases, but all animals in an infected herd be-
come infected from the same source, viz., the soil, or by food con-
taminated with infected soil. The carcass of an animal that died with
blackleg may, however, infect another animal, and it may also perma-
nently infect a district that was before free from the occurrence of
the disease, provided soil and climate conditions are favorable for the
development of the germ. These statements explain why blackleg
occurs in certain districts and not in others, and also why the disease
does n’t spread over the country like other infectious diseases.

SYMPTOMS.

Infection of an animal always takes place by the entrance of the
infectious material into a wound in the skin or mucous membrane of
the mouth or intestines, and sometimes even through the lungs.

Anthrax is characterized by its rapid and usually fatally termi-

10

nating course, the symptoms of fever, the appearance of rapidly devel-
oping tumors under the skin, and in many cases a stiff or unnatural
gait. Attending the fever may be noticed loss of appetite and rumi-
nation, separation from rest of herd, etc.

The characteristic swelling may appear in various parts of the body,
especially the upper portions of the legs — the region of the shoulder,
neck, and back. Sometimes the swelling appears in the mouth, at the
palate or the base of the tongue.

At first the swelling is small and painful, but in a short time (within
a few hours ) it may attain enormous proportions, sometimes affecting
nearly the whole body of the animal.

When the hand is passed over the swelling a peculiar and very
characteristic crackling sound is produced, which is due to the dry,
parchment-like condition of the skin and the accumulated gases under
it. The middle portion of the swelling assumes a dark or blackish
color, and when incised it emits a dark red, foamy, ill-smelling fluid.
The insision is usually painless, due to the fact that the tissue has
become necrotic. One or more of these swellings may be present.
As the swelling increases in size the other symptoms usually also in-
crease in prominence and intensity, respiration increases and becomes
more difficult, the animals groan, and sometimes show symptoms of
colic. Asa rule the disease terminates fatally within the first two or
three days after the appearance of the first observable symptoms.

TREATMENT.

Medicinal treatment of the disease is practically useless. Nearly
all affected animals die. A rational procedure, however, is to make
deep incisions (vertical) into the tumors that appear, allow the gas-
eous and liquid contents (which swarm with disease germs) to escape,
and then apply strong antiseptics, like 5 per cent. solution of carbolic
acid. At the least this treatment can do no harm.

Prevention is the all-important treatment for blackleg. Knowing
that this disease occurs only in certain districts, and often only in
certain fields of a farm (which the germs inhabit permanently), we
can prevent the disease by avoiding the use of these fields for pasture
purposes. Such fields or farms should be used for. the production of
cultivated crops. These can then be fed to stock with much greater
safety than allowing the cattle to pasture on the fields that produced
the crops. Rough fodder, corn-stalks, etc., that can produce the
slightest wounds on the skin or mucous membranes of the mouth in-
crease the chance of infection, because infection invariably takes
place through such a wound. We have here another indication
of how chances of infection may be lessened.

The observance of the precautions above suggested is sufficient

i

on many farms to avoid blackleg altogether. On other farms, and
especially on large ranches, these suggestions are very impracticable,
and we must look to other methods for a way out of the difficulty. It
is a matter of common observation that the few animals that survive
an attack of blackleg are seldom, if ever, attacked a second time. Re-
covery from the first attack produces in them an immunity against
future attacks. Whether the first attack was violent or mild, the
immunity produced is the same. On this observation is based the
theory of protective inoculation, which consists, essentially, in the
artificial production of a mild form of blackleg by means of inocu-
lating with a quantity of blackleg germs that have been artificially
weakened in their disease-producing power by subjecting them to the
action of a high temperature for a certain time.

According to the first experimenters along this line, Arloing, Cor-
nevin, and Thomas, two successive inoculations, with inoculating
materials of different strength, are required to produce immunity. It
requires some degree of expertness and care to perform the inocula-
tions properly. ;

The virus used for this purpose is prepared on a commercial scale
and offered for sale by several firms in this country.

TUBERCULOSIS.

This is the most widely spread and among the oldest known diseases
of domestic animals. It is an infectious disease that is caused by a
micro-organism known as the tubercle bacillus. Nearly all domesti-
cated animals are subject to it. The ox, the pig and the fowl suffer
most. Horses, sheep and goats are much more rarely affected. The
fact that consumption in human beings is identical with tuberculosis
in animals, and that the disease is communicable from animals to man
and vice versa, together with its wide-spread occurrence, makes it a.

subject of the greatest interest and importance to the citizens of any
state.

There is a common belief existing in this state that Kansas dairy
herds are free from tuberculosis; that the hygienic effect of our climate
is such that tuberculosis cannot exist; and hence there is a tendency
among our farmers to neglect this most important question.

There is no doubt whatever that tuberculosis exists to a greater or
less extent in some of our dairy herds. Personally, I have examined
only one herd in which the disease was well established, and here and
there isolated cases that were undoubtedly of a tuberculous nature
have come to my notice.

It might, however, not be unreasonable to assume that tuberculosis

12

exists in Kansas to a less extent than in the great majority of other
states of the union, especially the eastern states. For this very rea-
son, however, it is especially important that proper attention be paid
to this question now. The results of recent scientific research point
to the fact that tuberculosis is a disease that can be stamped out of
existence. In some of the eastern states, in which it is safe to say
that the percentage of tuberculous animals vastly exceeds that of our
own state, hundreds of thousands of dollars are being expended on
work in this direction. The effect is most gratifying.

There can possibly be no better time than now for such work to be-
gin in Kansas. Kansas is the great live-stock state of the union; her
interests in this direction are growing rapidly. Efforts—very suc- -
cessful efforts—are being made to promote the dairy interests, and,
with this, all those conditions that favor the existence and develop-
ment of tuberculosis are being created. The time will undoubtedly
come when every state in the union will be forced — by public senti-
ment if not otherwise —to do something in this direction. There
never will be a better time than now for Kansas to begin.

Extermination of this disease means sacrifices of animals. That is |
the chief expense. Dairy cattle are showing a tendency to increase
in value in the future, and tuberculosis a tendency to increase in
prevalence. Before either of these processes goes on too long, is evi-
dently the best time to begin operations. Much work can be done
in this direction by individuals independently of state action, but
there is only one way of doing it thoroughly.

A veterinarian, with a proper corps of assistants, should be em-
ployed to make a study of this question, discover the extent to which
the disease prevails, and then estimates could be made of the probable
cost of the work, and plans for its execution formulated. As long as
work of this character is not taken up by the state, the only thing
that can be done is for the individual to look out for himself.

When a herd of cattle is suspected of being affected with this dis-
ease, prompt measures should be taken to discover to what extent it
exists. The use of tuberculin is, of course, the proper means to re- ~
sort to. Every professionally educated veterinarian is familiar with
the use and application of this diagnostic agent. If proper obstruc-
tions are observed, any intelligent farmer should be able to carry on
this work, at least if he has once assisted in the work; and thus the
expense of conducting such an examination can be greatly reduced.

Cattle found to be infected should be culled from the herd and
destroyed. The stables in which they were kept and other places
that could be contaminated should be disinfected, and then the re-
mainder of the herd should be kept free by repeated examinations

13 e

_ with tuberculin, general hygienic treatment, and the exercise of care
in the introduction of new stock from strange herds. New cattle
should never be bought from herds not known to be free from tuber-
culosis.

The limited space allowed for this article has compelled me to refer
in a general way only to all points of interest and importance.

A special bulletin on the subject of tuberculosis is in preparation
at the Agricultural Experiment Station. It will soon be ready for
the printer, and is intended to give a more detailed account of the
disease, instructions to disinfect, etc., together with a report of the
work lately done in regard to this disease in the Agricultural College
herd. Pau FIscHER.

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