V 



486 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. , 



north from Texarkana, on my way to Chicago from an official inspection at Madi- 

 sonville, Tex., I saw Mr. A. Emonson in the smoking-car. On my inquiry as to the 

 condition of his cattle, he said that statements made to me, while on his place on 

 the previous week, were not correct. That neither the spleen, liver, nor any of the 

 organs of the abdominal cavity "were found diseased. That the lungs alone, and in 

 all cases, either one or both, were extensively inflamed and discolored, and that he 

 believed that the 12 Holstein cows sent to him from Duquoin, 111., were really af- 

 fected with pleuro-pneumonia. That this had prompted him to resort to a continued 

 treatment with fever medicines, and first to use ordinary blisters on the chest, and 

 as these latter did not act as desired, the more severe applications of spirits of am- 

 monia and croton oil were resorted to. While on my first visit to his place, I was 

 informed that there had been no coughing among the diseased cattle; I was now 

 told that they had all coughed more or less, especially mornings and evenings, or 

 at milking time. I knew that I had given the 2 remaining convalescing ones a 

 very careful examination, and doubted very much whether I should have made 

 such a mistake as not to recognize the existence of pleuro-pneumonia, even in re- 

 covering cases. Still, the fact that a thorough physical examination was impossi- 

 ble on account of the effects of the severe and extensive blisterings, together with 

 Mr. Emonson's present statements, made me doubtful, and as the train neared Lit-* 

 tie Rock station I concluded to change cars, go to Carlisle, and re-examine the 4 

 remaining Holstein cows. 



I found the 2 cows that had remained healthy since their arrival still healthy and 

 in good condition. In the 2 convalescing cows respiration was 20 and 26, the pulse 

 70 and 80, and the temperature was increased to 104 F. and 105 F. respectively. 

 The facility for percussion and auscultation was worse now than before, because 

 the cuticle over the whole of the blistered surfaces of both cows was beginning to 

 separate, being cracked, bulging, and dry, \vhile the underlying surface was infil- 

 trated with pus and presented long furrows of raw surface, which made the ani- 

 mals shrink at the least touch. The crackling noise of the dried and shriveled 

 portions of cuticle caused by attempts at laying the ear against the chest, made all 

 efforts at auscultation futile. I heard these 2 cows cough; it was a repressed, 

 dry, husky cough, but not exactly the one peculiar to pleuro-pneumonia. 



The 12 head of Holstein cows were brought here with a view of starting more 

 extensive breeding of this class of stock in the Southern States; and Mr. H. Horn, 

 of Duquoin, 111., who sent them here, retained a half interest in them. They were 

 valued at $875 each; and as already 8 of the lot had died, Mr. Emonson was un- 

 willing to entertain any proposal, even for pay, to slaughter the worse appearing 

 one of the 2 convalescing cases. 



Taking into account the above conflicting statements of post-mortem appearances, 

 the obstacles to a thorough physical examination, and the withholding from me of 

 all information as to the real cause of the disease and deaths (as will be shown 

 further on in this report), I concluded not to make any special or definite diagnosis 

 before I could have an opportunity to examine into the condition of the cattle kept 

 by Mr. Horn, at Duquoin, 111., and possibly from him obtain information that might 

 throw some light on the cause of the losses at Carlisle, Ark. This opportunity was 

 kindly given me by your order of April 25, based upon my dispatch giving a brief 

 statement of existing conditions at Carlisle. 



Calling on Mr. Henry Horn at Duquoin, 111. , I was informed by him that he owned 

 2 Holstein bulls, 11 Holstein cows, and a number of yearlings and calves of this 

 breed. Also, 5 Hereford bulls, 20 Hereford cows, and a number of yearlings and 

 calves of this breed. Also, about 60 head of grades and natives, cows, yearlings, 

 and calves. These were kept on four farms, located in different directions from 

 Duquoin; and from among these were shipped the 12 head of Holstein cows to Car- 

 lisle, Ark. 



After a careful examination of all the above cattle, I am satisfied that no com- 

 municable or contagious disease exists among them ; and upon inquiry of Mr. Horn, 

 as well as of a number of disinterested persons in this locality, who are in position 

 to know if any disease has existed among his cattle, I am informed that, with the 

 exception of some small tumors on the necks of a few of them, and which tumors 

 are of a scrofulous nature and common among cattle in many localities, no dis- 

 ease or losses from disease have occurred among Mr. Horn's cattle during the last 

 past twelve months, I have found the cattle here all in ordinary good flesh and 

 condition. 



Now, therefore, I conclude that the losses by disease and death which have oc- 

 curred among the Holstein cattle, taken to Carlisle, Ark., from Duquoin, 111., hi the 

 beginning of March last, were due to local causes, as I suggested while at Carlisle^ 

 but the exact nature of which I was unable to determine while there, because of 

 reasons already stated. My opinion is confirmed by statements made to me by Mr. 



