SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE ~{UINE-STOCK SANITARY CMMSSIO OF THE STATE OF KANSAS. ESO OO KANSAS PUBLISHING HOUSE: OLIFFORD C. BAKER, STATE PRINTER. 1891. 4 ye / i 1 “ A 4 ms « . { ; f i] { F e ¥ g ‘ ‘ a : > x hy ; i / o y x f miro 4 +) } . ¢ 7 aH e NP ° Qe. . ne Prt rik * t 4 DAE bea Gee og a Ni ragR } Ay) Vas: . a ‘> SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE LIVE-STOGK SAMEARY COMMISSION OF THE ete OR KANSAS. ene Ses 0r KANSAS PUBLISHING HOUSE: CLIFFORD C. BAKER, STATE PRINTER. 1891. | REPORT: Hon. Lyman U. Humrurey, Governor of the State of Kansas: Str—We have the honor to submit herewith our second biennial report, in accordance with section 1 of the act of the Legislature of Kansas, approved March 24, 1884, “for the protection of domestic animals,” for the years of 1889 and 1890. During the year 1889, this Board held ten meetings in different parts of the State throughout. The health of the domestic cattle was good; no disease of any infectious or contagious nature affecting them, except Texas, Spanish or splenic fever in a few isolated places, occasioned by Texas and Arkansas cattle being shipped to Kansas City, and reshipped to points in Franklin, Miami and Anderson counties, in violation of the rules of this Board, and without the knowledge or consent of the State Inspector — causing the loss of about 75 head of native cattle in Franklin county, about 20 head in Ander- son county, and 20 head in Miami county. By reason of these outbreaks and the reported death of several hundred head of export cattle on ship- board, alleged to have died from Texas fever, supposed to have been con- tracted in the Kansas City Stock Yards, and at your Honor’s request, the Board met at the Kansas City Stock Yards, July 27, 1889, to investigate and determine what methods, if any, could be adopted for the prevention of the spread of Texas or Spanish fever among the cattle marketed at the Kansas City Stock Yards. We found there was a prejudice amongst the exporters of domestic cattle against purchasing export cattle from Kansas City, for the reason that certain insurance companies refused to insure cattle, while in ocean transit, that had come from the Kansas City Stock Yards. While we did not find that it was true that said export cattle did contract any disease at Kansas City or elsewhere, we deemed it advisable, and recommended to the Stock Yards Company, that their yards be divided into three divisions, and that which is known as the Chicago & Alton side should be set apart for the exclusive use of native cattle; and we ordered that all cattle from the terri- tory lying east of the east line of the Indian Territory, and south of the 36th parallel of north latitude, and east of the 21st meridian of longitude west from Washington, and south of the 34th parallel of north latitude, shall be unloaded at. separate chutes set apart for that purpose, and yarded in yards on the west side of the Kansas river. Under this order it became necessary - to appoint four brand inspectors, whose duties were to inspect all cattle being g 4 LIVE-STOCK SANITARY COMMISSION. shipped from the south, and determine what cattle should be unloaded and yarded as above designated. In view of the limited appropriation ($1,500) made by the last Legislature, we were compelled to ask the Stock Yards Com- pany and the railroad companies handling these cattle, to bear the expenses of this inspection. The State commerce in cattle has become very great indeed, and a large number of stockmen purchase cattle annually in the stock yards for feeding purposes. During the eight months ending December Ist, 1889, there were shipped into interior points of Kansas from the Kansas City Stock Yards, 60,947 head of cattle, as shown by the report of the State Inspector, Albert Dean, now on file in this office. The very large crop of 1889, and the low prices at which it sold, made the feeding of cattle very remunerative. It was therefore evident to this Board that there would be, during the coming season, large numbers of cattle shipped into the State from the great cattle ranges of the South and West, for feeding purposes, and from these cattle would come great danger of splenic fever to our native cattle. Recognizing that practically all the cattle from the State must pass through the Kansas City Stock Yards, and seeing the necessity of keeping all cattle liable to communicate Texas, splenic or Spanish fever separate and apart from our native cattle, and believing that the Gen- eral Government was as much interested in protecting the cattle interests of the country as was the State of Kansas, at a meeting held by the Board January 8th, 1890, a resolution was passed directing the chairman to confer with the Hon. J. M. Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture, and to invite his co- operation in establishing a uniform quarantine line, and to ask him to assume, on the part of the Government, the expense of maintaining inspection at Kansas City, Chicago, and St. Louis. In pursuance of this resolution, the conference was held with the Honorable Secretary of Agriculture, and after a full discussion of all the interests involved, the Secretary asked this Board to make their request in writing; and on February 11th, 1890, we formulated and passed the following resolutions, and asked your Excellency to transmit the same through your office, with such recommendations as you might deem necessary, to the Hon. J. M. Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.: “On the 10th of February, 1890. the Live-Stock Sanitary Commission of the State of Kansas approved and adopted the following resolutions: “Whereas, The State of Kansas has, on account of its very large cattle interests, and also its particularly exposed position geographically, an especial interest in pre- venting any outbreak or spread of any Texas or splenic fever, or other infectious cattle diseases; and “Whereas, The State, through its Live-Stock Sanitary Commission, so long as there were any appropriations by the State Legislature to defray the expense, did recognize the above fact, and did employ inspectors, whose duty it was to prevent the introduction into the State of any and all cattle capable of communicating any infectious disease whatsoever; and “Whereas, The Legislature made no appropriation that was available for this SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT. 5) purpose for the years of 1888, and 1889, and 1890, and thereby the aforesaid inspect- ors could not be retained at the expense of the State; and “Whereas, The Kansas City Stock Yards Company, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé; Missouri Pacific, Chicago, Rock Isiand & Pacific, and Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad companies, did, at our request, assume and have met the expense of five inspectors up to December 1, 1889, and this without any law or power from the Board to compel them to do so; and “Whereas, These inspectors were appointed and received their authority from our Board, and it attempted by paying them through the State Treasurer to relieve the several companies furnishing the money from censure by a portion of their patrons, who owned cattle south of the danger-line, and this secret, notwithstanding the prevention taken, has become known to such an extent as to materially injure the companies named; and ‘““W hereas, The inspectors appointed, as above explained, have, notwithstanding the especially exposed position of the State, been uniformly successful in determin- ing the origin of the cattle which received from them permits to enter the State of Kansas, that we have the past two years been almost clear of Texas fever, although the number of cattle imported for feeding purposes is greater than ever before; and “Whereas, The plan and system adopted by these men of inspecting entirely by brands, in the knowledge of which they are especially expert, and giving no cre- dence to any statement or history not agreeing with the origin shown by the brands, and that they have demonstrated absolutely that this is the only way to inspect against Texas fever with any guarantee of success; and “W hereas, The expense of this inspection and onus has in the past entirely fallen upon the State of Kansas, and certain corporations hereinbefore mentioned, while the benefits accruing from it have been directly shared by all other States and mar- kets in the Missouri valley, and indirectly by all States and markets in the United States, since the industry cannot be protected locally without benefiting it gen- erally ; and “Whereas, The necessity for protection is greater than ever before, owing to the greatly increased number of cattle being fed this winter, the majority of which will, when marketed, be what is termed export cattle; and ‘“‘Whereas, The inspection under the authority of the State of Kansas carries no weight in adjoining States or in European markets, whose rules differ more or less from those adopted by the Kansas Live-Stock Sanitary Commission, and at the same time is a source of jealousy and disputes between this and other State authomi- ties ; and : “Whereas, This system of local inspection is in force in but few of our States, and thereby the impression is created in the other States, and abroad, that it is an evidence of the existence of the disease, rather than a desire to keep it out; and “ Whereas, If the Government of the United States should assume and control this inspection, there would be great advantages gained for the cattle industry, as follows : “1st. The permits issued by the inspector would be indisputable, and would be accepted in all of the States, and also in Europe. “2d. The inspectors, could, through advices from the Department of Agriculture, at all times guard against the introduction of other diseases, as well as Texas or splenic fever. “3d. National inspection, instead of State inspection, would everywhere be ac- cepted in the light of preventing the introduction of disease, rather than an attempt to eradicate it. “4th, The high authority of the inspection would be a pledge of impartial and 6 | LIVE-STOCK SANITARY COMMISSION. honest work, and it would beget a confidence and respect that would tend to raise the values to the producers and generally benefit the live-stock industry. “Sth. That many thousands of cattle are shipped direct from the range to the feeding-grounds north of the established quarantine line, which could be more closely watched by the inspectors through advice from the Department agents, who are traveling in the range territory much of their time. “Therefore be it resolved, That it is the sense and opinion of the Live-Stock Sanitary Commission of the State of Kansas, that the inspection of all cattle being moved across the quarantine line established by the United States Government, should be made by inspectors appointed by and under salary from the Government. And beit still further | “Resolved, That we are most thoroughly satisfied from our experience of the past two years, that the system of inspection against the introduction of splenic fever should be by the brands of the suspected cattle, and by men who axe especially expert in the reading of and knowledge as to the origin of such brands. And be it further “ Resolved, That providing the Department of Agriculture decides to assume this inspection, we would respectfully recommend that they employ the same men who have done the work the past two years, fully believing that the experience gained will be of invaluable benefit, and knowing them to be honest and faithful and especially vigilant and capable. J.T. Wurtr, Chairman, Cuas. COLLINS, KEENAN HovRsT, Live-Stock Sanitary Commission. W. H. Gorna. Secretary.” In answer to this, the Hon. J. M. Rusk issued the following order: » U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 24, 1890. To the Managers and Agents of Railroad and Transportation Companies of the United States : In accordance with section 7 of an act of Congress approved May 29th, 1884, ’ entitled “An act for the establishment of a Bureau of Animal Industry, to prevent the exportation of diseased cattle, and to provide means for the suppression and extirpation of pleuro-pneumonia and other contagious diseases among domestic animals,” you are hereby notified that a contagious and infectious disease known as_ splenetic or Texas fever exists among cattle in the following-described area of the United States: All that country lying south and east of a line commencing on the Mississippi river at latitude 36° 30’ north, thence running westward on that parallel of latitude, being the southern boundary of Missouri, to the eastern boundary of Indian Ter- ritory, thence running northward to the southern boundary of Kansas, thence west- ward along said boundary of Kansas to the 100th meridian of longitude, thence southward along said 100th meridian of longitude to the southern boundary of Childress county in Texas, thence westward along the southern boundary of the counties of Childress, Hall, Briscoe, Swisher, Castro, and Parmer, to the eastern boundary of New Mexico. From the 15th day of March to the Ist day of December, 1890, no cattle are to be transported from said area to any portion of the United States north, east or west of the above-described line, except in accordance with the following regula- tions: Provided, That these regulations shall not apply to any cattle taken into or SL SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT. rf through the State of Colorado for feeding purposes in accordance with the regula- tions of that State: : First. When any cattle in course of transportation from said area are unloaded north, east or west of this line to be fed or watered, the places where said cattle are to be so fed or watered shall be set apart, and no other cattle shall be admitted thereto. Second. On unloading said cattle at their points of destination, pens shall be set apart to receive them, and no other cattle shall be admitted to said pens; and the regulations relating to the movement of Texas cattle, prescribed by the cattle sani- tary officers of the State where unloaded, shall be carefully observed. The cars that have carried said stock shall be cleansed and disinfected before they are again used to transport, store or shelter animals. Third. Whenever any cattle that have come from said area shall be reshipped from any of the points at which they have been unloaded to other points of destina- tion, the car carrying said animais shall bear a placard stating that said car contains southern cattle, and each of the way-bills of said shipment shall have a note upon its face with a similar statement. At whatever point these cattle are unloaded they shall be placed in separate pens, to which no other cattle shall be admitted. Fourth. The cars used to transport such animals, and the pens in which they are fed and watered, and the pens set apart for their reception at point of destination, shall be disinfected in the following manner: (a) Remove all litter and manure. This litter and manure may be disinfected by mixing it with lime, diluted sulphuric acid, or, if not disinfected, it may be stored where no cattle can come in contact with it until after December Ist. (6) Wash the cars and the feeding and watering troughs with water until clean. (¢) Saturate the walls and floors of the cars and the fencing, troughs and chutes of the pen, with a solution made by dissolving four ounces of chloride of lime to each gallon of water. Or disinfect the cars with a jet of steam under a pressure of not less than 50 lbs. to the square inch. The losses resulting yearly to the owners of northern cattle by the contraction of this disease from contact with southern cattle, and through infected cars, and by means of the manure carried in unclean cars from place to place, have become a matter of grave and serious concern to the cattle industry of the United States. It is necessary, therefore, that this cattle industry should be protected as far’as pos- Sible by the adoption of methods of disinfection in order to prevent the dissemina- tion of this disease. A rigid compliance with the above regulations will insure comparative safety to northern cattle and render it unnecessary to adopt a more stringent regulation, such as the absolute prohibition of the movement of southern cattle, except for slaughter, during the time of year that this disease is fatal. Inspectors will be instructed to see that disinfection is properly done, and it is hoped that transportation companies will promptly put in operation the above methods. Very respectfully, J. M. Rusx, Secretary. We do not feel that we can appreciate too highly the benefit and general good to the cattle industry of our State by the work done through the in- spectors appointed by Secretary Rusk to carry out the provisions of these regulations. Inquiry at the inspectors’ office elicits the fact that up to December 1st, of this year, 11,336 cars of cattle were sent to the quarantine pens at that place alone, and this without an error on the part of the inspectors; and also 8 LIVE-STOCK SANITARY COMMISSION. that 69,000 head of cattle have received permits ‘from our inspectors to be shipped into Kansas to be fed, and from these cattle there has not been a single outbreak of Texas fever. Realizing the difficulties and obstacles which the inspectors have to surmount, this record we consider almost beyond praise, and to it is due the general feeling of security that has prevailed with those who have so largely bought feeders at Kansas City. And we feel justified also in saying, that in our judgment the prevailing low prices of our cattle would have gone much lower under a poorer system of inspection. As anticipated, there was an active movement of range cattle from New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, western Texas, and the Indian Territory, for grazing purposes in the State. This movement was so great that it taxed the railroads to their utmost capacity, and during the spring months they could not furnish cars when ordered, to accommodate the shipments. Under these conditions there was a widespread feeling of insecurity among farmers and stockmen throughout the greater portion of the State, and in some instances armed resistance to the unloading of these cattle was offered. There being large areas of unoccupied grazing-land in many counties of the State, and a great excess of rough feed, that otherwise would not be utilized, and would thereby be a loss to the owners, it was very desirable that the healthy cattle should be admitted for feeding purposes. In order to effect this object, and at the same time protect all Kansas cattle from infectious diseases, the Board, on the 22d day of April, issued the following rules governing the admission of cattle into the State of Kansas: KANSAS QUARANTINE RULES AND REGULATIONS. OrFicE Live-Stock SANITARY pea Torrxa, Kansas, April 22, 1890. To Whom it may Concern: From and after this date, and until further notice, all cattle coming to Kansas from that portion of New York lying south of the north line of the State of Connecticut, all of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Mary- land, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia and the Dominion of Canada will be required to enter the State at Kansas City, where they will be held in quarantine, at the risk and expense of the owner, for a period of ninety days, and until they shall receive a bill of health signed by the State Veterinarian of Kansas. Cattle from all other districts may enter the State, provided the shipper satisfies the State Inspector at Kansas City that they are healthy, and have not been exposed to any contagious or infectious disease. 1st. All cattle coming into the State from or through the Kansas Oity Stock Yards will be required to have a permit from the State Inspector stationed at said stock yards. 2d. Cattle from south of the south line of the State of Kansas that have been kept, since the first day of December of the previous year, west of the east line of the Indian Territory, and north of the 36th parallel of north latitude, or west of the 21st meridian of longitude west from Washington, D. C.,and north of the 34th paral- lel of north latitude, may be admitted to the State of Kansas under the following rules: 3d. That the owner or person in charge shall first show, by affidavit of two repu- table, disinterested persons, that they are acquainted with the cattle sought to be SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT. a shipped or driven, and that they have known said cattle since the first day of De- cember last preceding, and that said cattle have been kept in the territory described above, and have not come in contact with any Southern cattle, and give number and kind of cattle, and of what brand or brands. And upon the presentation of such affidavits, if satisfactory to this Board or the State Inspector, permits will be issued to ship or drive such cattle to any point in the State of Kansas. 4th. Inspectors will be appointed for the State at the following points: One at Chetopa, for Baxter Springs and Chetopa; headquarters at Chetopa. One at Coffey- ville, for Coffeyville, Caney, and Elgin; headquarters at Coffeyville. One at Arkansas City; headquarters at Arkansas City. One at Caldwell, for Caldwell and Hunnewell;: headquarters at Caldwell. Address the above points, in care of railroad agent. 5th. All railroads, express and other transportation companies or individuals are forbidden to transport or drive any cattle into this State, except in compliance with the foregoing rules and regulations, under the penalties of the following statute : [| EXTRACT FROM CHAP. 2, SPECIAL SESSION Laws oF 1884. | ** Suc. 21. Except as otherwise provided in this act, any person who shall violate, disregard or evade, or attempt to violate, disregard or evade, any of the provisions of this act, or who shall violate, disre- gard or evade, or attempt to violate, disregard or evade, any of the rules, regulations, orders or di- rections of the Live-Stock Sanitary Commission establishing and governing quarantine, shall be deemed. guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than one hun~ dred nor more than five thousand dollars.”’ By order of the Live-Stock Sanitary Commission, State of Kansas. W. H. Gorne, Secretary. Owing to the insufficient appropriation made for this Board, to carry out the above rules, we were compelled to ask of the railroad companies trans- porting cattle into the State from the south, to furnish the means necessary to defray the expense of such inspection. Under the practical working of these rules there were shipped into the State of Kansas more than 300,000 head of stock cattle, of which 69,245 were shipped from the Kansas City yards, with but one outbreak of Texas fever, causing a loss of 35 head of cattle, which was near Ottawa, in Frank- lin county, caused by a shipment of cattle from a point 55 miles south of Coffeyville, in the Indian Territory. This fully demonstrates to us that cattle are capable of communicating Texas, splenic or Spanish fever, from further north than has been formerly believed. There have been arrested and held in quarantine, 7,496 head of southern cattle capable of communicating Texas fever, at the expense of the owners. In many instances large numbers of southern cattle were prevented from coming into the State, and on July 4th our inspector at Coffeyville quarantined seven cars of southern cattle shipped from Morrelton, Arkansas, and billed to Pleasanton, Linn county, Kansas, over the Missouri Pacific road. These cattle were believed to be capable of and liable to communicate Texas fever, and the railroad company not being able to deliver them to their point of destination, they were permitted to re- ship the cattle to the place from which they were billed. The order of Sec- retary Rusk requiring railroad companies to thoroughly cleanse and disinfect all cars that have been used in carrying southern cattle, was not generally complied with by the railroad companies, from the fact that it was almost impossible by the reason of interested parties removing the placards and in a 10 LIVE-STOCK SANITARY COMMISSION. the rush of business the cars were often distributed to various parts of the State to be used in moving native cattle. Therefore, on the first day of July, 1890, this Board issued the following order, which has been rigidly enforced : OFrFicE oF LivE-Stock SanrraRy COMMISSION, ToprexKa, Kas., July 1, 1890. To all Railway, Live-Stock-Car, Express, or Transportation Companies doing the busi- ness of Shipping or Transporting Cattle in the State of Kansas: It is hereby ordered, that on and after this date all cars, of whatsoever description, that are used or offered to be loaded with native northern cattle for transportation in the State of Kansas, that said cars first before being loaded with native cattle, be thoroughly eleaned and disinfected, as follows: All litter and old bedding to be re- moved, and, in the case of stable cars, all hay left in the racks from former ship- ments must be removed, and the watering troughs cleansed. The floor and walls of the cars must be washed, until clean, with water; then disinfect the car by saturating the walls and floor with a solution of 4 oz. of chloride of lime to 1 gallon of water, using at least 4 gallons of this preparation per car. All stock-yard companies doing business in the State of Kansas are hereby ordered not to ioad native northern cattle into any cars that have not first been cleaned and disinfected according to the above order. This order will be enforced under the provisions of section 8, chapter 2, Laws of Special Session 1884, which is as follows: “Src. 8. It shall be the duty of the railway corporations doing business in this State to cleanse and disinfect the cars used by them in transporting stock in this State, at such times and places as the Com- mission may designate, whenever in the opinion of the Commission any such order may be necessary to prevent the spread of infectious or contagious diseases. Any such corporation violating any of the provisions of this section shall be liable to a penalty of five hundred dollars for each offense, to be re- covered in a civil action to be prosecuted under the direction of the Attorney General, in the name of the State of Kansas.”’ By order of the Live-Stock Sanitary Commission, State of Kansas. W. H. Gorne, Secretary. There were, however, several outbreaks of Texas fever in the southern part of the State, in Chautauqua, Cowley, Sumner, and Greenwood counties, caused by southern cattle being shipped in during the last days of February, prior to the taking effect of the quarantine law; and from the shipment of cattle in Butler county on the 21st day of March, in violation of the quarantine laws; also, by another shipment of cattle to Butler county on the 7th day of July, 1890, shipped from Wichita Falls, Texas, by way of Denver, Colo., via Salina and McPherson, and then reshipped to Potwin, Butler county, over the Missouri Pacific Railway. The outbreak of Texas fever in Chautauqua county was the most severe that has occurred in the State for several years, causing the death of about 450 native cattle. The history of this case is about as follows: W.H. Gibson, John T. Frazier and the Ames Brothers bought 2,064 head of Texas cattle near Baird, in Callahan county, Texas, in the latter part of February, and shipped the same from Baird, Texas, to a railroad station south of Coffeyville. - From there they were driven into the State of Kansas on the evening of the 28th day of February, 1890. These cattle were fed hay and corn fodder on the farms of the owners and others near thereto in Chautauqua county, and ss cia ee RT Se ates te SF Wace eae Tes terest: = c= = Sena ae = SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT. all native cattle coming in contact with the feeding-places of the Texas cattle, contracted the fever. Parties living at Dexter, Arkansas City, and at other points along the State line, shipped southern Texas cattle into the State during the last days of February, and in every instance, native cattle coming in contact with the feed-lots or grazing-grounds of the southern cattle, contracted Texas fever, and in the counties of Cowley and Sumner caused the loss of about 150 head of native cattle. From the history of these and several similar outbreaks of fever from Texas cattle being shipped into the State of Missouri in February of last year, with the like results, this Board is of the opinion that it is un- safe to permit any cattle, capable of communicating Texas, splenic or Span- ish fever, to be shipped or driven into the State of Kansas during the month of February. From our experience the past year, we are of the opinion that it takes a period of time to eliminate the germs of the disease from these southern cattle, and that cold weather alone is not sufficient to make it safe to mix them with our domestic herds. And we do most earnestly recommend that section 1, chapter 191, laws of 1885, be amended by striking out the month of March and substituting the month of February. HOG CHOLERA. Hog cholera prevails to a very limited extent in the State at this time; but that in the near future we shall experience another outbreak of this dread disease as severe as we have had in the past, cannot be doubted. One cause of the spread of this disease is from the shipment and handling of stock hogs through the public stock yards, and cars that have been used in transporting cholera hogs, and we believe that it is true that all public stock yards and cars are infected with the germs that produce this disease; and we believe that the best and safest methods to prevent its spread is a thorough cleansing and disinfecting of all cars, and establishing such quarantine rules as will prevent the shipment of stock hogs from the public stock yards at our mar- ket centers. Under the law as it now is, the Sanitary Commission has no power to prevent the spread of hog cholera. We would respectfully ask the repeal of section 22, chapter 2, of the laws of 1884, so this disease may be dealt with in the same manner as other con- tagious and infectious diseases. GLANDERS. You will observe that in our report we have said nothing in regard to glanders among horses and mules in the State. We here refer to Dr. W. H. Going’s, State Veterinary Surgeon, report, which we think covers the ground entirely, and we commend it to your consideration. And we now desire to say, that in the opinion of this Board Dr. Going has rendered very valuable service to the State during the time he has been in office. ‘ 1 LIVE-STOCK SANITARY COMMISSION. CONDITION OF CATTLE AND THE FUTURE PROSPECT. In our opinion, the present low prices of cattle upon the market cannot. long exist. The causes of the present depressed prices are various, and at- tributable to different causes, among which are the following: The great. number of range cattle that have been thrown upon the market, and the moving of the cattle from the territory south of the State, which has caused. almost the entire number of cattle from all that vast country to be thrown on the market in so short a period of time, and the short crop of corn and other feed crops through the West, making it out of the question for farmers. and feeders to hold their stock, as well as marketing of large numbers of she stock, that otherwise would have been kept on the farms and stock ranges for breeding purposes. There is no doubt but there is a shortage in the number of cattle being kept and bred; and upon the whole, we think the future out- look is very bright for better-paying prices for stock of all kinds in the near future, and there seems to be a more hopeful feeling existing in all parts of the State over the prospect than was shown earlier in the present season. The mild weather continuing so far into the winter thereby saving feed where feed is scarce, and keeping growing stock in excellent condition, is very en- couraging, and we feel confident that as a whole the live-cattle interests of the State are in very good condition. J. 0. WA CHAS. COLLINS, KEENAN HURST, Live-Stock Sanitary Commissioners. SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT. 13 REPORT OF THE STATE VETERINARIAN. To the Lnve-Stock Sanitary Commission of the State of Kansas: GENTLEMEN-—I have the honor to submit herewith the annual report of ‘the State Veterinarian, which covers the year ending December 31st, 1890. During the period which I have held the office of State Veterinarian (one year and ten months), about two thousand communications have been re- ceived. They relate to the following subjects: Texas fever, black-leg, farcy, gilanders, and to cattle dying from feeding upon corn-stalks, etc. All letters ‘requiring replies in writing have been promptly answered. Circulars, quar- -antine rules, and other printed matter, have been sent out as required. Copies -of the letters cf importance sent out from this office, have been kept. I have visited sixty-four counties in the State, some of them as often as ‘three or four times. Most of those visits were made at the request of the -county sheriffs, who reported contagious diseases among domestic animals in ‘their respective counties. Ninety-three horses have been killed, upon my pronouncing them glandered. Eleven mules have been killed and buried under similar circumstances. Nineteen mules and twenty-nine horses have -died while in quarantine. Thirty-nine horses which were found to be glan- ‘dered, but which the owners refused to destroy, have been placed in close quar- antine. One hundred and eight animals have been placed in quarantine, on -account of having been exposed to the disease (glanders). Eighteen cases of farcy have been dealt with, in the same manner as those that were -glandered. | I wish to state here, that four-fifths of the cases of glanders and farcy re- ‘ported to this office were from the counties bordering upon Nebraska, in the ‘north, and upon the Indian Territory, in the south. The few cases which were reported from the more central part of the State were almost always ‘traceable to some diseased animal which had been got from some traveling ‘trader, who came from either Nebraska or from the Indian Territory. I should, also, wish to state that the “field work” of this office could be ‘much more efficiently and economically done, were a clerk allowed to the ‘State Veterinarian, as the clerk could advise the State Veterinarian, by wire, ‘to go from point to point, when his services were required, without returning ‘to his office after each separate trip of inspection, to examine his mail and -find out where to go next,.as under existing order of things he is obliged to do. ‘GLANDERS AND FARCY. Glanders and farcy are the most dangerous contagious diseases to which the ‘equine species is.subject, for ithe reason that the disease is readily communi- 14 LIVE-STOCK SANITARY COMMISSION. cable from the horse to man and from man to his fellow-beings. One man in this State died of glanders last summer. He took the disease from a horse owned and handled by himself. Some writers claim that glanders and farey are highly infectious. My experience is, that unless glandered animals are kept in badly-ventilated and badly-drained stables, and healthy animals are crowded in with them, they are not very likely to take the disease by infection in the dry climate of this State. Of course, no sensible person would place an animal, known to be glandered, with healthy stock, as there is always danger of inoculation by the discharge from the nose of a glandered animal, becoming attached to the feed-box, hitching-post, etc., and virus being’ after- wards taken up by the healthy animal. Glanders, in its mild chronic form, is not always easily diagnosed even by an expert. But when an animal has been exposed to this disease, and afterwards shows even negative symptoms of glanders, it is always safest and best to isolate such suspicious animal for several months, if it is not seen fit to destroy them. In my judgment, this latter course would be the proper course to follow. I have seen a case quite recently, in which a horse that had been herded with glandered stock for some time, but showed no symptoms at all of the disease himself, and was placed in quarantine ninety days on account of having been exposed to the disease. When the ninety days’ quarantine expired, and he still appeared to be all right, he was allowed to go free. Two months later, however, he started to discharge from the nose; ulceration of the lining membrane of the nose took place, enlargement and induration of the sub-maxillary glands followed, and a clear case of sub-acute glanders was developed. : This shows how very cautious we should be in turning loose suspicious animals, or those which have been exposed to this dread disease. When ulceration of the lining membrane of the nostrils takes place, we should not hesitate at all in destroying the animal so affected, as this ulceration of the Schneiderian membrane is a patho-pneumonic symptom of glanders. That is a symptom which belongs to glanders only. So many able descriptions of glanders have been given by authors on veterinary science, that I do not see any necessity to take up space with an additional description here. As there is no successful treatment for this disease known, nothing need be said upon ~ that subject. FAROY. I have found this disease amenable to treatment in its earlier stages, but it is a most dangerous experiment to try, as the virus of farcy will produce glanders in either the horse, mule, ass, or man, when they are inoculated with it. In my judgment the proper way to dispose of all such cases is to have the animal or animals so affected at once killed, buried, and the places where they had been kept thoroughly disinfected, and so stamp the disease — out in this way. HOG CHOLERA. No official communications have been received by me concerning this disease. I have heard incidentally of a good many persons losing large SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT. ne eT numbers of hogs by the disease, but as I have not been consulted concerning the matter by those losing their hogs, 1am unable to give the number of deaths, nor the data. FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. Three or four counties have from time to time reported this disease as at- tacking stock in their different vicinities, but investigation always proved that the disease did not exist'in any form in the places so reported. The au- thorities at Hill City, Graham county, reported an outbreak of the disease among a herd of about six hundred head of cattle near that place. I went to that place and inspected the herd, and also two small herds in the same neighborhood, which were also reported as having the disease. I found, upon examination, that none of the animals reported diseased were in the slightest degree ailing from any cause. I was told that the rumor was started for malicious purposes, on account of the cattle being shipped into the county. CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. Norton county authorities reported an outbreak of this disease among a herd of about sixty head of cattle, at a place about twenty miles from Rich- field, in that county. J went to the place and examined the stock which had been reported diseased, and found the cattle in apparent health. In order to satisfy some persons who appeared to be alarmed, I made an autopsy upon a two-year-old heifer, which was supplied by the parties interested. I found that this animal had indications of having had an attack of enteritis, but that the lungs were in a perfectly normal condition. I believe this State to be at present perfectly free from this disease. BLACK-LEG. No report has reached this office concerning this disease, during the past year. I have been asked by several persons for remedies for this disease, and, also, for preventive remedies. In all cases, I have given the information . requested. | TEXAS FEVER. As this branch of the department has been attended to by the Honorable Board of Live-Stock Sanitary Commission, it is not necessary for me to say much on the subject. I was directed by your Board to visit the ranch of Wesley Best, in Chau- tauqua county, and examine his herd of cattle. I did so, and found several of his cattle sick with Texas fever. I made an autopsy upon one cow about six years old, and upon one calf about three months old. I found that both had died of Texas fever. I afterward made a post-mortem examination upon a Hereford bull, owned by Mr. Best, and found that the animal had died of the same disease (Texas fever). I also made an examination of a steer at what is called the “Gibson place.” I found that he had died of Texas fever. I made an examination of several other herds by direction of your Board. W. H. GOING, M.R.C.V.S., State Veterinarian.