CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF UOMESTICATKD ANIMALS 23 



of the rectuui ; vesicles aud ulcers of the udder; diarrhea; a temperature varyiug 

 from 101 to 104.4 degrees Fahr., and the most remarkable emaciation even in cases 

 where the appetite is good. 



TLe excitement now became so great that by your direction I left 

 Washington, March 13, to investigate the nature of the disease and to 

 see what action, if any, was necessary to hold it in check. At Chicago 

 I learned of what was supposed to be a similar outbreak at EflQugham, 

 111., and was requested by Dr. Kauch, secretary of the State Board of 

 Health, and by others largely interested in the cattle industries of the 

 State, to make an immediate investigation. The condition of affairs iu 

 Kansas, however, was so urgent that I concluded to press on as rapidly 

 as possible. 



I reached Topeka March 15, and immediately had an interview with 

 the governor and \\ ith the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture. 

 1 was informed by both that the malady was undoubtedly foot-and- 

 mouth disease, but that it was so quarantined that there was little 

 danger of its immediate extension ; and at the request of the governor 

 I proceeded the following day to Pawnee County, to iuvestigate a sup- 

 posed outbreak of pleuropneumonia. I found the cattle there to be suf- 

 fering from chronic indigestion, the result of feeding too exclusively for 

 a long time on dried sorghum with a probably insufficient water supply. 



I at once returned, reaching N^eosho Falls March 19, and after a care- 

 ful investigation was able to telegraph you on the2l8t that the afltection 

 was not foot-and-mouth disease, but that it had been produced by local 

 causes and that there was no danger of its spreading. 



Returning through Topeka, I reported my conclusion to the governor 

 and was informed that experiments would be made with susceptible an- 

 imals to decide the nature of the disease. I was invited to assist iu 

 these experiments, and at first decided to do so, but 1 soon learned that 

 the investigation necessary to satisfy Dr. Holcombe, who had just been 

 ai)i)ointed State veterinarian, Avas such as to require much more time 

 than 1 could give to it. I accordingly visited Kirksville, Mo., by your 

 direction, where I found an outbreak of the same disease as existed at 

 Neosho Falls, and from there returned to Washington. 



In Kansas I met Professor Stalker, of Iowa, Professor Faville, of Col- 

 orado, Colonel Groom, of Texas, and Dr. Hopkins, of Wyoming, who 

 had been commissioned by their, respective States to report on the nat- 

 ure of the disease and the necessity of quarantining all cattle, sheep, 

 and ])igs from Kansas. 1 was also requested by the secretary of the 

 Illinois State board of health to inform him if there was any necessity 

 for his State to adopt similar measures. Fortunately, each of these 

 States received a report that foot-and-mouth disease did not exist in 

 Kansas, and what threatened to be an almost complete suspension of 

 the live-stock business of the West was averted. There is no doubt, 

 however, that the cattle industry suffered a considerable loss from the 



