KEPOET OF THE BUKEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTEY. 485 



proved that tuberculosis has occurred from drinking the milk of tuberculous cows. 

 It may be suggested that the floors of aviaries, whether of soil or sand, and the cage 

 itself, as far as practicable, be disinfected semi-weekly with Platt's chlorides, cop- 

 peras, or some other disinfectant. This can readily be done with a small sprinkler. 

 The subject is of great interest and importance. 



DISEASE AMONG ARKANSAS CATTLE. 



In April, 1887, the Department was informed that a disease was 

 prevailing among a herd of cows belonging to Mr. A. Emonson, of 

 Carlisle, Ark. , which was supposed to be contagious pleuro-pneumo- 

 nia. Dr. N. H. Paaren was directed to proceed to the locality, make 

 an investigation as to the nature and cause of the disease, and report 

 the results to the Department. His report, bearing date of April 30, 

 is as follows : 



Mr. A. Emonson, of Carlisle, Ark., has a ranch of about 1,600 acres of mostly 

 grazing land, on level prairie, bounded by woodland east and west, upon which are 

 kept about 200 head of native cattle. To this place were brought from Duquoin, 

 111. , on the 2d of March, this year, 12 head of registered, imported Holstein cows. 

 They are said to have been in poor condition of flesh when they arrived at Carlisle. 

 Here they were kept by themselves, well housed and well fed, so stated by Mr. 

 Emonson. On or about the 16th of March, 2 of these cows got sick with what was 

 supposed to be pneumonia. One of these died on the 20th and the other on the 21st 

 of March. On the 28th of March 2 more died, and a week thereafter 3 died in one 

 day. Four days thereafter another death occurred. 



On my arrival at the ranch, on the 15th of April, I saw only the remaining 4 head 

 of Holstein cows. Two of these have remained healthy since their arrival, and were 

 in fair condition of flesh. The 2 others were said to have been very sick, but are now 

 recovering, and in very poor flesh. I found respiration in one of the latter to be 30 and 

 in the other 36, pulse 76 and 90, and the temperature 102| F. and 103 F. . respectively. 

 On account of the lungs having been supposed to be affected, these two'cows had 

 recently been extensively and severely blistered with spirits of ammonia and croton 

 oil, on both sides ; in fact, to such an extent that the resulting tenderness and swell- 

 ing almost completely rendered both percussion and auscultation impossible except 

 on a narrow strip along the upper part of the thorax, at which place I could detect 

 nothing abnormal. On being turned out on a grass lot by themselves, these two 

 recovering cows moved around in a dragging, emaciated manner, picking at the grass 

 with apparently very little relish. One of them made a single dry and husky cough ; 

 the dung was soft and of a peculiar dark or black color, and the urine was clear but 

 scanty. 



The symptoms presented during the activity of their ailment, I am informed, 

 were in all cases nearly similar. Breathing was much accelerated, pulse from 70 

 to 90, ears drooping, head held low, indifference to surroundings, suspension of ru- 

 mination, loss of appetite, and occasional coughing. Three of the cows that died 

 aborted while sick. 



In regard to the cause or causes of tin's disease, I could elicit nothing whatever 

 from the owner and others in position to know something about it. It would be 

 but mere guessing if I were to attempt to form an opinion from an imperfect de- 

 scription of symptoms, or from the present appearance of the two slowly recover- 

 ing cows, with the additional obstacle to a thorough physical examination, caused 

 by the very severe blistering above stated. I learned that some of the cows that had 

 died were opened and examined ; but the statements by persons who were present 

 do not agree. In. some of the animals the spleen was said to be abnormally large, 

 of a dark blue color externally, and the cut surface dark brown and soft ; the 

 stomach full of food, said not to be very dry or impacted ; one or both lungs slightly 

 congested. Liver normal. The animals were sick three to six days before dying. 



If more time had elapsed before the animals began to get sick, it would appear 

 that they might have died from splenic or so-called Texas fever. The statement 

 made as to the appearance of the spleen made me first suppose that this might be 

 the case; otherwise that there must have been some local cause or influence in op- 

 eration; but my inquiries in this direction were fruitless, and it appeared to me 

 that the facts in the case as to the cause of the disease were studiously withheld 

 from me. I concluded that there was no contagious disease on this range, after 

 looking over all the cattle kept here. 



One week subsequently, or on the 23d of April, while on a train a short distance 



