CIHM Microfiche Series (IVIonographs) ICI\AH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming are checked below. D D D D D U D D D Coloured covers / Couverture de couleur Covers damaged / Couverture endommag^e Covers restored and/or laminated / Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculee Cover title missing / Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps / Cartes g6ographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black) / Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations / Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material / Relie avec d'autres documents Only edition available / Seule Edition disponible Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin / La reliure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge int6rieure. Blank leaves added during restorations may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming / II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutees lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais. lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 film6es. Additional comments / Commentaires suppl6mentaires: L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a et6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exem- plaire qui sont peut-6tre uniques du point de vue bibli- ographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m6tho- de normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. I J Coloured pages / Pages de couleur I I Pages damaged / Pages endommag§es Pages restored and/or laminated / Pages restaur6es et/ou pellicul6es Pages discoloured, stained or foxed / Pages d6color6es, tachet^es ou piqu6es I I Pages detached / Pages d6tach6es I /[ Showthrough / Transparence I I Quality of print varies / Qualitd in^gale de I'impression Includes supplementary material / Comprend du materiel suppldmentaire Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image / Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 film6es k nouveau de fafon k obtenir la meilleure image possible. Opposing pages with varying colouration or discolourations are filmed twice to ensure the best possible image / Les pages s'opposant ayant des colorations variables ou des decolorations sont film^es deux fois afin d'obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item Is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below / Ce document est U\mi au Uux de reduction Indlqui cl-dessous. lOx 14x 18x 22x 1 26x 30x J 12x 16x 20x 24x 9Bt 'iOt, The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library Agriculture Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemptaire filmA fut reproduit grAce d la gAn^rositA de: BIbllotheque Agriculture Canada Les images suivantes ont M reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de I'exemplaire film«, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimAe sont filmis en commenqant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmis en commen9ant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un das symbole^ suivants apparaltra sur la derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — »- signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmis i des taux de reduction difftfrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film« i partir de I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 MICIOCOfY RCSOIUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 21 1.0 I.I 132 H 1^ ^ 140 2.2 2.0 1.8 1-25 III 1.4 nil 1.6 jd /APPL I ED IM/1GE Inc ^^ •f'-i tasi Wc - Su*et r^S "uchfstff, Ne* 'o'k '4609 JSA .JSS : ■"6) -.82 - 0300 - Ph-one as; i,^'6) 285 - ')989 - fa. DKi'.umiK.vr (,K A(;it„r.;n i!K CAXADA HEAI/rH OF ANIMALS BRANCH ^i'EClAL RE|>()frr isatEAj^m ox i^ICTOU CATTLE DISEASE 1906 . O T T A W A GOVKHNMENT PRINTING RIreaU Mtnr ??r - ,'1 ^?|?? SPKCJAL REPORT ON PICTOr CATTLK DISEASE, 1906 Ottawa, March 31, 1906. I Imve the honour to report^that the results of the investigation into the nature and causes of Pictou Cattle Disease, which was begun at Antigonish in OctoIxT, 1903, have been sufficiently definite to warrant ine in recommending the removal of this malady from the list of those coming under the operation of the Animal Contagious Diseases Act. For upwards of twenty years it has been the policy of the department to order the slaughter of affected animals and to pay compensation for them, as also to insist on the disinfection of the buildings in which they have been kept. During the whole of this time, and in fact for inany years previous, the more intelligent residents of the district in which the disease prevails hav;e been of the opinion that it is not only non-contagious, but that its prevalence is due to or connected in some way with the weed kno\.n as Senecio Jacobea or Ragwort, locally known as Stinking Willie. Evidence existed to show that the disease was unknown until the weed in question was accidentally introduced with ballast brought from Scotland to the town of Pictou some fifty years ago. Once established the plant spread gradmilly through the surrounding country, extending, however, owing to the prevailing winds, the seed being light and easily carried by their agency, to a much further distance eastward than westward of its original starting point. Shortly after- wards the di.seasf m vde its appearance, and although wme years elapsed b-* .!<. s„ took .Ht.■^.^^ to ciudicatf tlie i)li,iit from tlu'ir farm.s an.l to indvicf then iwigli- lM)urs to ilo likewi>«'. with the result that their i iiinu.W remained unafteeted, while thos.' kept on weedv farms siekened and died Thes.- conditions were esiH'ciallv notiei>al>le when, "in addition to keeping th.' w.ed down in the pi stur. s, care was' taken to remove it from the hay fed di. ; the winter It was alw obsi-rved that in v.-ars when seareity of hay lue. ilaled wint.'iing cattle on straw animals so" treated s«'emeil to 1h' immune. In the light of our recent exiHTiments, it seems almost incredible that thes«- and similar facts did not sooner force a full recognition of the trtu- sitimtion, which would have undouhl- cdlv Inen the means of inaugurating a campaign of extermination agi.inst the weed at a time when such a task wouhl have Uen much less ditlicult than now. For some years Dr. CJilmth, Chief \'eterinarij,n and Hncteriologist to the Government of New Z«'aland, devoted considerable attention to a iMculbir liepatic cirrhosis known in that colony as Winton Dis«'a.s«', and from which, ui) to I'.Mtl. ami thes<' in one locality only, hon^-s had ajUMared to suHer to a erealer extent than either cattle or sheep. Dr. Gilruth initiated st)me experi- ments and tinallv reached the conclusion, without doubt well justified, that the trouble was entirely due to the ingestion of Ragwort. His exi>eriments, while convincing, were not, owing to apparently uiuivoidable circumstances, condu- «;ive although strengthene. (iovcrimient Veterinarian, to the agencv of another plant of the .sjime sp«cies, Senecio Burchelli. Tor the'alM)Ve and other apparent rea.sons, such as the different climatic, ecoii' ic ami dietetic conlicy even had it Ix'cn made public U'fore the inaugura- tion of our exp'rimeiital work at Antigonish in \WA. The latter has Ixen very interesting ; nd its n suits are convincingly cor- n.lM)rative of the view.- of those who have consistently held to the nigworl Sly last reiHirt containcil a full account of what had Ixcn done during the year p'receding OctoU-r M, l»t04, together with our findings up to that dfitc init in order to make the ca.se i)ei1'ectly clear, 1 think it best to n'Cai>ituhite thr main oohits Moiv ])roceetling to deal with the intervening jHTiod. In OctolK'r, 190;5, I. with your approval, leased, for exiierimenbil puriH)s(s, a farm of _'()() acres at Cloverville, county of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Thi- farm is. of coui-se, situat. d within the ragwort area, but is further well known as one on which the di>t:i.s«> in former yeai-s frcciuently made its a[>p«'arance. Thirty-four cattle wi're purcha.f)rted from (^lelx-c. Fom- wck given :i litx'ralallowance of sf)und Imy with a full grain ration, four a lilHTal allowance of hay with a smaller grain ration, four a liU'ral allow: nee of h:i> without grain, and four a limited allowance of hay only. •rr- md llu- ol in- nnhti'oti head were pUn-.l in «i, rnlirclv m-w »{Mv, rm-ted iit M ccnsKU'nililc dwtaiicc from the nl.l buildinKH. Sixtron of thos,. wen> divided mto (iUHrtptt«.s and fed in oxactly tli.- siinf wav a- alnm- inentionrd rxri-pt that til., hay given to tli.-ni, l».ing woun-d in the n«'igli»)ouili.K)d, rontainod a ronsidj-rat)!.' i|uantity of ranwort. The remaining two rattle wen- houH»-.l together in a M'pamte coriiiwrtiiient ot the new stable one lienig fed on ehopix-d ragwort and the ot5ier on oat .ntraw, ;i siiiall ration of bran U-ing given toeaeh. The progn-ss of the eX|K-riineP(s up till Oetolx-r .{1, liMM, was der*cril)ed 111 n.v reiH)rt of that date, but in vi "w of fh,. remarkable results obtained, and ul all the eireumstances in eonneetion with the ea.s«., 1 have thought it Ix'st to make the pn-sent stalem.-nt eoiiiplete in ils,.lf, although it in, after all, but a lesun,,. of the exhaustive reix.rt furnished bv Dr. I'.'lhirk, whieli is printed lierewith. ' I^'avhig..ut .ietails t.) lie dealt with by him, 1 ii.av state thatal, the sixt.'en eatlle kept in the old and supiH)SrimentM were in propres.s although m the summer of 1905, eight (.f thes«. eattle wore kept in a weed-infest^Ml pasture, in whieh fc.urteen animals had died of hepatie eirrhosis m the short spaee of five months. S-veral of thes,. animals had also U-eii phiee.l troin time to tim<- in elo.se and eontinued n.ntaet witii (li,s«.a.sed animals, with ;. view to ascertaining whether or not the dis-a.se was transmisHibl.. in this wav Dining the sumii.er of 1905, also, ten of thes»- animals wvre iiioeulate.l in varioas ways, (4ther with I.UmhI or abdominal ascitic fluid, tak.-n fn.m an animal .dTected with Pictou Cattle Di.s«.as<., to such an extent that Dr. Higgins, our pathc.logist, re,K)rted the cirrhotic lesions of the liv.-r to Ik- more extensive t lan in any of the others which he h id examined In spite of thes*- .seven' tests the animals continued to thrive, and when 1 last .saw them in S«.ptemlK.r, 1905' were in excellent condition, those which had Ix-en fed grain pre.s,.nting a remark- Mi. ly hneapiH-an. nee. Thirteen of thes.- cattl. were slaughteiv.l h-tween '»< olK'r 10 and .\ov<>mlK-r ], under the careful in.s,H'ction of Dr. I'ethick, as uHl as of several exix'iienced butehei-s, all organs In-ing found healthv and III." tle.sh ot su|H-rior quality. Six-cimens fr the different organs were also I'.rw.nled to the lalx)i-ator>' here, and pronounced by our pathologist to In- iLsolu ,ly free from disease. The other three animals, Ix'ing pregnjint cows, \\.ie allowed to live, and, according to latest .re|)orts, are in excellent condition, .11,1 in fu'. flow of milk, after having given birth to healthv calves < t the sixteen animals which were kept tn the new "stable an. 1 fed u|x.n I,"' A' , '^V contained a considerable quantity of ragwort, Hfteen died of I iiiHU ( attle Disease Ix'twecn July 19, 1904, and August 21 , 1905 I mav ad.l !lMt to prevent the po.ssibility of doubt as to the cause of death in thes.- animals, -lircimens Irom the internal organs of each were forwarded to Dr. Higgins, >1M. v.-nhed the .liagnosis in ever>- case. The sixt.-enth animal, X... 12 of Dr. ''■'lucks reiif>rt, was .slaughtered on Octolx-r 13. 1905, and although to all M|;in::l ap|x-aian.-es healthv, the pathologi«-al .-xamination of the organs showe.l Might attection of the liver, and the presence of sevei-al charact.-ristie ulcers ' t lie lining of the true stomach. ( )t the two other animals mentioned abcjve, one of which was f.-d on chopped ■!i\yMt. and the other on oat .straw, each rec-iving a small allowance of bran, '"'"'P'" died of acute hepatic cirrho.sis on Julv 22. 1904. while the latter ^ i '-l b- - 6 n'li.ain.Ml h.-althv -lurinn tlu- .'iitiri' tost, and, whvu slaUKlitort'.l on U-toU-r .», \\M)-t was foiiiulto \m' !il.s«.iiit<>lv free from th.' «light«'M ai.iH-arance (»f .Iwaw \ calf Hix riioiith.x ..1.1. Ix)rii on tin- prt'iiiiscs, was ft>.l t\vio«« daily u|H)n u Miixturr ..f out' part of nifjwort Ix'forc fJowt-riiiK, aii.l tw.'iity [Mirts of clran liay, r.'iiiforw.l l)V a .lailv ration of two |K.iin.l.H of fn-sii oats, 'nus .•xixTinionI, whi.-li WMs un.lcitalvrii for tin- puriK)*- of asc-rtnining if tlu- w.r.l w..ul.l prodiio.^ th.' .iiscasc at this sta^r of itn )?rowth. Irpm on iHwinlN-r 1, MKM Ihf cait .lied on .May Jt), 1".H>"). jx.-t inortcin nn.l patliologioal .-xaniinations ivvrahnR an ■idvann-d sia^.- of hepatic cirrhosis. The contact and inociihition cx|K'riiiicnts, which an- .IcscrilnMl in full detail in Dr I'cthick's n'iK.rt, wciv ahsohitdy with- o\it ivsult, it iH'ing cvidcjitly practically iiniKissihlc to transmit ;h. diseaw from one animal to another. ■ • , , . In view of the rei^iilts of thes*' pr.ictical ex|HMiments, which have l)een carrie.l on with the >;ivatest |H.ssil)le care an.l exactitu.le, there nee.l, 1 think, \h- no lonf^'er anv doul)t as to the eau.se of I'ictou Cattle l)is«'as«' and I have, therefore, altva.iv recommend.'d that it U- n-moved at once from the list of alTections dealt with umler the .\nimal ('ontaj;ioiis Disea.-^-s .\cl. While sul).sidiarv exiieriment.s conducted by Dr. i'ethick show that some iHiielit undouhtedlv' results, esi)ecially in incipient cas«'s, from the strychnine jiii.l iron treatment"descriU-d hv iiim in a previoas reiK.rt, measun's of this kin.l are of little real valu.'. Tlie effort.s of the local authorities and of t..e stnek owners in the alTected district should at once Im- dir»'cte.l towards the era.lica- ti.ph of Itie |)l.int, which is un.louhtedly the eau.se of the whole trouble. OwiiiK to the toiH.piaphicid and other oon.litions existing in the district, it will Ix' finite im]H.ssil)le to fiet rid of the weed by cultivation, although, on iiial.le l.in.l. much can. of cours«', Ik- achieved by this means. There is, how- ever, much rougli ami partially wooded country, niost of which i.s baiUy infeste.l with ragwort, to er.nlicate which, by any ordinary methods, will In- practically im|>os,sil)le. Ill It has long Ix'en noted bv intelligent residents that sheep s(H"m to Ik- al)le to eat the weed with impunity, although some hold that, after a considerabl.' period, injurious etTeets are pro.luceil, which, if the diet is continued, eventually cause death. It is also hel.l that, even where the [)lant do<>s not prove fatal, the mutton is rendered r.nmarketable by >> yellow staining, which, after a time, l)ecoiiies distinctly noti'-able. As to f.ne fact there is, howev<'r. no doubt, viz., that the keeping of sheep on land infested with nlg^vort i.s one of the most certain means of bringing about its complete eradication in a short time. This l)eing the Cim\ and in view of all the circumstances, i decided to inaugurate a series of experiments for the l)urt)ose of ascertaining \ hether or not sheep could profitably Ije utilized for thi- purpose. I. therefore, eirly in 1«K)'), authorized Dr. Pethick to purchase four •sheep, which were kept during the summer on four acres of very weedy pasture, with the result, as shown Ijy the accompanying pictures, of completely destroy- ing the ragwort which fornierly grew in profusion. So far, these animals hav. slu.wn no sympt(ims of disease. Several other sheep were i)urclfased a littl. later for tlu' jirpose of a.seertaining at what st^ige, if any, the ti.ssues l)eg.iii to exhibit the yellow ^tain to which reference has already Ix-eii made. Tho. animals have Ix^en slaughtered at intervals, and the flesh carefully examine.! but no abnormal appearance has Ix'en so far ol)served. The leas<' of the premises Ix^ing for three years, I determined with voin peniiission, upon the conclu-i.in of the experiments with cattle, to purch.i- I^tfl ... I 1 .. • '".iiiiiioi mi.-iiatiiln at the t)n's<'iit tiiiic w i<>n hv.rli -.1 ,u..i ,Mutt..n an- . .nvasin^ an.l likHv ... i;..-.... i,I p,,-., will'pr;;':;i;;;i;: As «tatnl alH.vr tla.r.. is rmuh rn„Kh paslun. whil,. ||„. amhl.. la.i.l has ii. a ra.s<.s K...„ s.M-.ou.sly nn,H.v,.ri>l,...l l.y th. .t.uI.. .n..tl.o.ls of u! hr»i. ;:; :^:^zl::z::::}z:r'' ' ""'' '"""■"^"■"' "^ ''-' ^""""'^ '""'•'' .vl.i,.l,\vor'li'"i '!'."*'••"«•'•/'"• Purclias... i„ N„v..M,U.r last, of fortv .hvvn I'-ight goats wciv also purchas,..!. four U-in^ pl,,.,.,l with ,.aoh lot of sh,...„ ah lot ,1. dean pastun-, and a sin.ilar ..umiImt on pactum ba.llv infesM ^Y I. . .gwort. By this means it ought to Ik- ,H,ssibl,. t.. a c-rtain w h a naso. ..I. ■ .l(.gr,.e or (•.•rtainty what an- the a.-tual ..ffc-ts of n.Rvvort upm sh^n s "HI as to a a.rtain extent also u|Km goats. *^ ^ '^^' '" It might. jH-rhai)s. be advisable to eontinu.' this exiHTiinent •■ven loiiir,..- (an >s pro,H,se.M,ut I an. in ho,H. that by the cIo,s<. of t a p elt 4^ so we 11 I- m a ,H,s.t.on to give .letinite and r.-liable a.lvin-as to the u iuSn f Concurrently with the aJK.ve. an exiHiiinent is U'lng eanied on with the lalie cirrhoMs Ihree healthy young cows have Ix-en. since NoveinU-r 1 »... fed on locally grown hay from which all w, has Imh-u n-nue while >lMve others are fed on similar fodder containing the ordinarv (luantitv . Lw w^ 'M..d y produced in the meadows of the neighlK>urhood ' ^ iMn. fed"/^rc?'.l"T v''""'." '"'"^^- ■""'■^' "^ "*^'*" ^■"•"•' "-''^ I'"'-^-»'"^ of 1)1. Pethick, who deserves much credit for the svst.'matie. exact and ""Making manner in which he has carried <.ut these imj^utant exp 'imem Honourable The Minister of .\griciiltun' OttAwa. J. (J. lU TIIERFORD, Veteri)iari/ Director (Ifucnrl. W. II. PKTHICK, V.S. Anticonish, Octolxr 31, 1905. Sin,--I have the lionour to sul)iiut ii n]K)rt of the iiive.stigatum hito the cause of the Pietoii Cattle Disease, confhicted at the Goveminent Experimental .■station, Antinonish, (luring the year just ended. liefore dealing with the experi- ments, which I have had the honour of conducting under your direction, I ln^g lilx-rty to offer a few general remarks on the subject. The early history of Pictou Cattle Disea.se, we nuist confess, is somewhat shrouded in mystery, l)ut from careful infjuiry of the older inhabitants, we learn that the di.sease first made its apjK-arance in the town of Pictou, about fifty years ago. .Mr. Council, of the Customs Department, remembers the first outbi-eak. The older p<'o))le interviewed all claim that the plant 'Rag\vort' (Senecio jacol)ea) had by this time a footing in that town. They .say that the weed was imported in 1 aliast from KurojH' and landed at Ilatton's wharf, and at an early date was U'lieved to Ik- the cau.se of the new cattle di.sea.se, and so firmly was this Wieved, that Mr. (Jordon. who was then street commissioner, nnposed a fine ujx)n tho.se who did not destroy the weed found growing in front of their lands. We are tolil tliat from the town of Pictou the weed .spread to West River, then<'e to (Ireenhill, New Glasgow, Eraser's Mountiiin, Merigomish, and along the gulf .shore into Antigonish county, as far east as Cap«> George. We are told the di.s(>ase followed, and in no instance did the di.st^ase overstej) the weed limit, and when' there was no weed no di.sea.se. existed. rpon looking at the accompanying map, you will see tlie extent of the present weed area. The jwrtion .shaded .shows wheiv it exists as a troublesome agricultural weed, that is in ])astures ami hay fields and as a stray plant along the roadside and railway it probably extends over nearly the whole of Pictou and Antigonish counties, and is making some progress hito the northern part of Guy.«borough county. The spreading of the weed to a greater distiince east of Pictou than to tlic west is accounted for by the fact that the prevailing vinds here in winter arc from the northwest. The heavily shaded portion indic.(t<'S the territory where tlie eat tie disease exists. A noticeable feature in the spread of the disease is a tendency to remain stationary in a locality for ix'rhaps ,i year or two and then extend somewhat rapidly, taking in a few more miles of territory and again U'Coiiiing stationary. 1 have not an opjxirtunity of obtaining very iiccurate statistics. Dr. Williaiii Mci;,nchran states in his rtjHjrt that up to ISSl, one thou-sand thre( himdred and ninety-six head of cattle hiid died, and during that year two Iji'.nilred .".rii! tb.ree ;n!!!!!,'ds lijul .snceuiJilied Tliis seems tn hisve Ix'en tl"? irreatest mortality in any one year to that date. Since then, if we can sjiy thai .1 considerable numtn'r of (•as '< WJ.S (liscoveret near Sours tlH- last M-vcn „r Hehtvoa -^ C'.. ' 'V',?'"'^""ntal.l.. for th. loss of sixty or s-vonty reasons to fear thar thi. f r«,.'i i ^^""'"'<^ ' 'a«t summer, and wo have jrood lK.th onihe iimUn.lmaiSr"'^ "'"'*'''^' ^^'^^"^ -<'*— ed in localities .ati.f ':Ss^rS.^'^;;;;:;t'p 'r" ^"i;^"-"^>> -^e investi. Adami, and the late DrUW iT ^ ^ ''o^^*^'- ^V'lHam Osier, Professor Has du; to thr^tfngT , "^!;Yi 1 .^^^ ""^'"•'^^ "'""'"" ^'^^» 'he disease -"•"hu-t<"d un.Ier the^ uJnSrof T)r U'^^^ ex,x.ri,nents Iving •"■"ts. so far as thev extendi Tv,.,.' ""'"I -^'''^^^'-h'-an. The.s,. experi- 'l".'ntly prolunmoedlnrocen ' an tKMV■''"^'A ""''/'"' '''""^ ^"''^ ^''"■- -'He tmknown contagir4s'a!£red to ""•' *'"' '*"' '''""'^ ^^'"^ ''"*' ^« isast;:;.!:';^ ^"l^ZJilr f^r^^^^^^ - 1«^^. «"•• realizing the aunties. (IeciaM. «,vStestuXd'Tl"r''V ''"'■''". "'.^^•" »''^ -li-^ase-area l".ted. an.i continue. o,^/iS'' ^^C'-'J^ «"'' "'ther ex,.eriments con- .hisive. sufhcient length of time to make the result con- ■i-aii':^'t^;::' Iss t^ z;^' st'^' i ^^■"^"^ """ ''"'-^'- --^^ '■' >■'■«.! I.v manv interested ?o2 . I"-..l.al..l,ty that this re,x)rt mav 1.- MS last iK^en .settled Ix vl. I . . ! *" ^'"" ''^"•"*'' "^ ''•'•^*^^' ''«"'<' 'I'sea.si, '" 'xternunateVh^ ant -h'1 "'"'I'-'r ^^'^' '■"•' "'at a united effort In- nmde 'i-ase. grows at th c^l'j.et'^^ril.S'f 'l ""'f^ ^'"^' r^-""«''''' ^-- -"><' ^..ricultm-ist in every s^i.J of tl e wor V"'"','*'""^'' "'"' '■* «" *■'""">• "'' 'he '•' '!"■ .liffoit^nt cx,x.HMums wh ;. T'- ' ^'*f '•;«\'' ^" ^'i^'*' « «'<''"il'''l account V 'iii- diivction. '^ """"'■' ^^h.ch I have had t^e honour of conducting under --•'fi:o;i;';t;-i,::-,^.zi''i,::;-u:^^' '^t '''t^^ '•"-■•- "-•" '^"- -<- '■""'• 'ii*a.s<>. • So, K;SthIt '"*""':'•• "'^"'■•'"'^' *'"' •''^"■^'- "f "''■ l'i<''»" '"'■'l''io.« in the for , 7 • ''ai'-^tive agert exists in th.. soil of cert<.in ■''i- while othe,. w ,": of f ' ' ••' "'!?'•'■ "'"^ '"f^'^'^'l '^f^'-'-^^ «ere acco.mf- ^- ^-*^^'lK.gr;^rn,,l.';rT ''■'•■ u^ ^"""''^^^-"' '-"S accounlaiae, ■' ■" pasture (.r, 'I al-.H ' ^i^''^/, *'''' 'T'^ ''''^ 'l""'' ^^''ih' the animal "'- ■'"■vod wi, 11,, , .n , ""l i "!'"''-y'^'*^. 'h.> w.ed was only injurious f"< !'..> an.i ted dunng the wniter months. A few lK>lieved \M1( 10 that the plant, if got Ijefore flowering, was innocent. Xeaiiy all were of the opinion that good or ixx)r feeding rendered animals more or less liable to the disease, manv claiming that good feeding gave complete protection. Your wisdom in investigating the cause, with each of these theories m view is obvious, and those who will read this report to the end will find their ui)inion either confirmed or negatived by a thorough and practical experiment. In order that the reconls of the cx{>eriments may l)e the more complete, I have thought well to copv in part from my rejwrt of last year's work, and liave added thereto the additional information gained, giving the results to date. EXPERIMENT No. 1. Tlie ()l)ject of this experiment was to ascertain whether the disease was commimicable through the medium of infected stables, if so, iloes feeding, good or poor, render the animal more or less liable to contract the disease. In this test sixteen animals ranging from one to five yeai-s old were employed They were housetl in an old frame stable, in which thirty-six head of cattle had"previou?ly suffered from Pictou cattle ilisease The building was not ilis- infotfted, or anv precautions taken to guard against infection from that source. These animals were fed ujwn hay absolutely fiw from 'Ragwort,' imported from Quebec . , ■, These were subdivided into lots of four, and the following daily ration allowed: — A— I), full hay mtion with four ijounds grain mixture. E— H, full hay ration with two pounds grain mixture. 1— L, full hay ration without grain. .M — P, restricted allowance of hay without grain. While all these animals were during the firet summer pastured on lan.l comparativelv free from 'Ragwort,' this season eight members of the herd, numelv (A), '(B), (E), (F), (I), (J), (M) and (N) were grazed, not only upoii weeily i)iisture, but on one in which no less than fourteen head of cattle had died of cattle (li.-<*>afee within five months All the members of this herd remained in i>erfect health during the entu. test which extended over twenty-three months, the younger ones growiii.: nicelv and looking sleek and thrifty AVliile all were at the tune of sale in goo ; market condition, those which had received a grain ration were prime butcher ~ CHttle. ^ In accordance with your instructions, all these animals except (C), (E) ai. i (F), which were held over ljecau.-si>nc(^ of (•xpcrloncetl butcher-, '•"•' agreed that all the organs were hejdthy, and the flesh of that good colour whi' characterizes healthy lieef. 11 EXPERIMENT No. 2. To decide whether the disease is due to the ingestion of 'RaLrwort ' if so does goorl or poor feeding n?nder more or less liable to di4S ^ ' "' Ihe sixteen animals employed in this test were procured from well outsi.le Thevtr""*"' -"^ ^"^-^ '" ^ "^^^- '^"'-^^^l •'Stable bS fT tL nurwi rhey have never smce been m contact with other animals, or exposed to mS contagion. It will Ije noticed that while all were fed on hay Sta n m"' R^ .r wort ' every four received a different nition. as follows - ^ containing Rag- \~t' =!!ffi •*^"! ^^ containing 'RagAvort' anrl four pounds gmin mixture q ?2^,fffi""^\'^' containing ' Ragwort ' and two pounds grain mix r"' 9-12 sufficient hay containing 'Ragwort' without grain. A Ti!- ' ^ ''t^'l^ted allowance of liay containing 'Rag^vort' witiiout ^nin As this experiment is most important. I I,eg leave toiix^a ^pSe Record of each ammal, luring the entire test. As this must of neces-S? i hHef T shall only mention conspicuous syiuptoms an.l postmortem Son" ' Animal No. 1. oxi^nment goes to show that this disea.^ is p ogrUsive knd lis . muet^ 'fi. herd appeared comfortable. The bowels are irregular, the pulsJi th ! in ^\/lT^ quite strong, temperature slightly fSov^ norSf 'n .\ld\ 16 the more characteristic symptoms set in, visible mucous mot.. '"'-,... pal., eyes amaurotic, slight diarrhc^a, emaciation tHu,:, 'atufe So"''''"'' '""'^ -^-^--^^^h very weak, staggering gait, pulse 81, t- nfvlo ' lavs'Trom td^Tnin '''f '^"'^^ ' ''' ^''^'.H"'"^ ^'s'^*^"^ '"«"ths and ^-n,.,oZvere noticed ^^ '^ expernnent, and fortv four days after first ^>''-^t h^^ ^'"1 «"^cntal fat, which is )psicai. iiie second and third stomachs are partlv filled with food the 1 .': '':' ^?^«^ aboinasum is thin and covered with blebs or .seron. fluid ,nt of,! ■■■■ -wanLt-u will, fiuid and dotted here and there with ulcers' some ulcers are ' ^n:;;';;:; "%r '''''"! "'^^ ^^^ ^'-^'^^^^ ^l- Hver is nonnann size Sm . Mottled. The capsule is very adherent, anrl the pulp appears ciiXtic. •'■ aRo, given are those of the ani.naU at o-.tn.nen.'empnt of experiment. 1V( Utik 12 The gall bladder is much enlarged ami wall.s thickened, all the other organs ap|M'ar fairly normal. Pathological sjiecimens were forwarded to the Biological I^abor- atorj'. The pathologist's rejwrt confirms my diagnosis, and to a^- -d repetition, 1 may just say here that specimens of liver, kidney, spleen and 'mph glands, and when necessary, stomach and other organs, were forwarded for examina- tion to the Biologicjii I^lwratory, and in each instance, the |i;ithologist found lesions of Pictou Cattle Disease, thus leaving no room for doubt as to the caus<^ of death. Anim.m- Xo. 2. Steer, two years old. This animal aj)i)eared to Ih' in good health, feeding well until Felwuary 7. 190o, when we find the following entry:— Not doing well; variable apjx'tite; rather unthrifty; the hair apj^ears as though greased and then rubl)e(l the wrong way; shows much irritability of temjx'r. If tinned out, he will stand and shiver. The temjx'rature, i,s is usual at this stage, is slightly above normal. April 1. The animal exhil)its severe nervous disturbance. A\hen at large, is almost constantly in motion. Temi)erature, 103; jjulse. SO. For some days some imj)rovement is shown, but on April 17, visil)le cerel)ral symptoms are exhibited, the animal i-unning madly alxiut; the eyes are exceedingly iiiiiaurotic; blood extravasation into the conjunctiva is noticed. April 2'.i. .\ppetite gone; nuich nmscular incoordination. April 2"). Animal is now Iving do^^^^ and seems indifferent to surroundings. Temperature hi.s fallen to m'. Died on April 30, 1905. of Pictou ("attle Dis- ea;^, l)eing .seventeen months and six days from lx>ginning of exix'riment, and eighty-two days after first suspicious symptoms. Post-mortem shows gross lesions, veiy similar to that of No. 1, b»it in tlii.< case the al)donien contains only a veiy small quantity of ascitic fluid, very little abdominal fat, layers of gelantinized fluid cover the visible vi.seera. Blebs of fluid standing out on omentum, the true stomach shows many ulcers, mostly old; the ii\('r is slightly large ; nd gray in apix-an.nce; spleen is normal in size, but darker than u.^ual; heart and thoracic viscera are normal. AxiM.XL No. 3. A heifer, one year old. average size. This animal was a good feeder am! :\iite thrifty, growing nicely until A])nl 1. 190.5, when she exhibited dullne,«s. variable appetite, nuicous membrane pale, slightly yellow; eyes prominent ami l>right; temperature slightly al)ove normal, but rapidly fa'ling when exposcM to cold; pulse .tO and .strong; little change noticed exc( pt the progressive emacia- tion, which, I may say, is an almost constant feature of the disease, until May ]'■'> when change for the worse takes i)lace rapidly. Diarrhoea sets in, tem|)eratuiv falls to 99. i)u]se ((uick and weak; she gets up with difficulty; hind (|uarter .seem- paralyzeil. May IS. Body is covered with cold sweat; abdomen very i)endulous; tin sub-ni.ixill.'ivy tissue i« (jropsical. May 23. There is twitching of muscles and occasional tenesmus. Died o! Pictou Cattle Disease, May .30, 1905, l)eing eighteen months and six days fron^ lj<'ginning of exjieriment and sixty days after first indication of diseas*'. this ca.se there i.s fluid under the niucsu „f all ,1„. inte" nes K i / . " small; substance shows fihrous Imn.l^- a..Il l.l. i '"^f^'^yi'^^- h%ei is somewhat <.unces dark green bile'';!;;;;; v^: ^ 'J J:'' "^.^^ ounces fluid. ' • I'"" ■ l»<'"ra'dial sju- eontains five Am.m.u. No. 4. July t, remiK>rature slightly sub-normal. Pul.st. ven interE „f mh -kin and vis,!,],, mucoas membranes are of a .Ipp^I. n!^ mtemnt ent. Ibo iiangs 111 loose folds, containing inanv u ti \L,v f '' ""^ alx^nuisum The me^nteric lymph glands L maol^Xge a^i 'iof^tl."^^ very dark. The liver, though normal in size, is" n^ i, ^ iv ud •' n /'"/'' '' Jibrous bands. < a<< 1mioii,iii\ lougli, and shows Animal Xo. 5. '-altl.y unlil Fcbrauy 2, 1905. when l„. ixwrn „ „i fle* ■ n , V I ,*,'''l"'"""">' '•..■velop^d violent cerebrfd J n<,m;*':;T^ -^^^ -"^^■ '-• '"■ -■""ally shaking his h.-ad. Sometin e". e wS stnn ? l' '" ?"^'""- "^^•'■'- I'ut apjK^ared unable to swalh.w lablv ue to Z n? f" " '"*" "f S''"^^'^' i;;::;"XhTS"^;;^!^: ;zr 7^ ^~^' ^!xrte^^„, t ^i-v and the animal ..eems to hesiLte at eyZ Z ^"'"- ''"^^■^^■•^'" '^ On the 21st, he .^eenied to have gained new strenatl, f<>. i . lr*a«%« 14 but the liver pulp was very gray. There was also much ulceration of the mucosa of alx)ma(«um. Animal No. 6. Steer two vears old; small. This animal appeared perfectly normal until July 9, 1905, when he exhibited first symptoms of cattle disease. On AuKUst 1. the more acute symptoms developed. In this case, which was the quiet or dull type, which 1 may say is the form usually met with in weak sub ects, the animal would Ix- found in a fence comer atandir-: quiet or lying down, showing no inclination to join the herd, but rather a desire for concealment. , , ^ . , „ i no* \ugust 5 Diarrha-a has .set in and the temperature is sub-normal, 98». The respiration is deep, twenty to a minute; pulse 81. The eye is not so bright as in other cases, and there is no hemorrhage into the conjunctiva. The lower eyelids are nmch swollen, and there is evidence of much ascites. August 10. Lying down. The body is covered with cold sweat, bticky saliva escapes from the mouth at intervals. August 11 Semi-comatose. Died August 12, 1905, bemg twenty months and nineteen days from the beginning of experiment, and thirty-four days from the date when first symptoms were observed. . Post-mortem shows the usual lesions. There was much ascites (fuUy six eallons) The abdominal fat was replaced with layers of jelly-like lymph. The imall intestines contained a considerable quantity of sand (this we noticed in many cases). The stomach ulcers are much pigmented. Anim.\l No. 7. Heifer one rear old, average size. This animal showed no signs of illness until April'l, 1905. when we noticed the first symptoms of cattle disease. She, however, continued to feed well, and kept quite strong. On June 5, the characteristic symptoms developed abruptly, which were similar to those exhibited by animal No. 5. She died June 15, 1905, being eighteen months and twenty-two days from beginning of experiment and seventv-six days from date of first symptoms. Post-mortem examination showed a typical case of Pictou cattle disease. Animal No. 8. Steer, one year old; average size. This animal appeared to be healthy until July' 15. 1904, when I noticed the following entry:— Not'feeding well; losing flesh, and on August 8 slight diarrhcea and usujil symptoms of Pictou Cattle Disease. - , , , , , September 1. The acate symptoms (similar to No. 1; had developed. Died on September 7. 1904, lx"ing nine months and fourteen days from Vjegin- ning of experiment and fifty-four days from beginni, i, of sickness. Po^it-'v.ortein fx.Hmination showed a well developed case of Pictou cattli; disease, the only peculiar feature Ix-ing the presence of considerable abdominal fat. This, however, is soft and yellow. The liver was smaller than usual, ant apparently very cirrhotic. 15 Animal No. 9. August ^1, 1905, being twenty months and twenty-eieht d«v« f^m il2 ■ AXI.MAL No. 10. other acute sympton.s set in (LLr to case ^1)- D^dTil > ToS^"?^'"^ eighteen months and nine days from beeinnin? of JZ^J. ! ' !^-^' ^'"^ 'lays after first symptom of iii begun to lose flesh, but feci well until June 7, when the i.cute symptoms Isimihn to No. ')) develo])cd. \'iolent cerebral symptons were noticed. On June It) she broke from the enclosure. U'coming dangerous. Was shoi on June Iti, Ix'ing nineteen months and twenty-two days from Ix-ginning n\ experiment and nine days iifter first sym])toni was noticed. Post-Miortem examination revealed the usual lesions. There was not nmcl ascites, but the mucosa of the true stom;,ch was nuich ulcerated and the ii\i- very cirihotic. .\NI\I\i, No. It). Heifer one year old. This aninii.l ai)p('arcd ])erfectly normal until June - 1004. when we observed the first sym])tonis of the di.sea.se. The more acui' symptoms developed abruptly. These did not vary much in character fron those exhibited by No. '.i. She died July 10, 1904, l)eing .seven months an twenty-six days from Ix-ginning of exiH'riment and forty-seven days from dai of first reliidjie .symptom. Post-mortem examination showed this to be a typical case of cattle di.seas. There was fully five gallons of ascitic fluid in the peritoneal cavity, while il. stomach and liver gave the usual lesions. ' ll^*^- '■•'^:'""N "HHM .'.UM.KUMiK KKn ,||,.U,N,. „„.,„,„ , ,^ llv.Un, AlMdlMS,; i-iKI.I, ,,s „|||, l; MIKKI' « KRK KKII. MI..UIN., KKFICT nN u KKl ■ m^j^^iTV^^^^^^i :yJtiH.iiA L i'kL^h %rJ:-: \- i I "*»•■■' J t^ ♦; -1>1 'M^^^^:m^^;^i'^mBi^m^-^m^: 17 THIIU) KXI'KRIMKXT n.n, of ..x,,..nnu.n, a,„l .1.1;, ,l.ys fn„n .1.,.. of firsr d^finh.l v,,'- .,o "' ''*^"'- _^. Jos.-n,ort..,n ..x.nunut.on ,vv.al...l . wHl .levdop,..! oasj of' l'u,ou cattle AXIMAI. Xo. 18. Sl.yr two v...rs oM This .-nmn.! ,.on.i,u,e,l in ^ood health during the le tot and was >lanoht,.i-cd for hcef on Octol " tlH--.n,onthsfron,lK.frinnin.of,est. All the organs wen-upon earefui exa.nina- , , y was Man^htered for heef on Oetoher 24, 1!)<.;;, hein^ rn "^ .0. lound to i>e pe,fe,.tly nonual. This was verified i.y he path,,iolS Xr e\ainnun v'''J' R '^ ' '^'^f-'''"'' '*' ••;" j"'f'"'' ""^v,.rinjr. w.u.hl produce the disease il iX ;:/dea,! l!!;;-:"' "'^ '•'" '^''"•" ""-'•■■'« --l •--'! -••> twenty tinui A ealf six .nonlhs ohKXo. 19) was f,.,l twice .laiiv upon this mixture -ilsn rOXTACT I'XPEIUMEXT. Two healthy youn^ ani-nals (G. and X.) were, on April 7, 1904 place.l ii ;; ,i,'^: ;..•', r'" *^'' '- ""'-''-• ^-y -^ of the same n,an,er an, altered from one pail. 18 'niis H.I Fii-i..nrulm'(vnn.i.tns,.ff.v^hlM..,nl. Si,,.i-(.).) Tliiny " " lliilVr (L.) i'li'my ascitic iliiii IldftT iM.i rirti'cncul'U' I'.iuinu-trrsot tnMi M"""- llciiVr lO.) Thirty " Jnirai crilinKii] iii<' . . ,, i, i i .,,,1 '"' ' Si,,,,, i\),) rifu.u cuhir nntinntivsof tn-li hlo.>,l. <',,(•!■ lA.) Tliirlv " " ■ • ,1 • 1 Siif!' ill.^ I'ltucn ^ • ^, llriicr U'.) n-.iity '' ,,. i,„„,)l: t, ,1 on ,lulv lo, WOo, tluTo w.,s no swllin- ^^^ „ il) HlV.M. .f rnv n:.tun . -IVrMl-rMun. M. pi 1^. Wo. l',,.t-ir,.rlr'!l cX:'!;.!!!:: liuU ti-V." Iin 1,'S1..I- ol ..11, pniii! (,t inji riicii cr . ivm. iiii'.! iKii-i'u 1 iliuni'jlin 10 .Mid Ocii'li.-r •■;!, i''l''> d( si'iipii-ii n.ll! i:!'"W, I ■nlirr hv u:r:.)!-- i ilK.cul linll, i IM i- I" 11 , . . • ■ ,, ,, ,. .. pa-iur . V (■(lilt: ifMii ( ,a^(l.'iv l.V UirilunMinn nt 'li^rv -•' ' "' ' '>' ^"" 19 TR J. ATM EXT. III} la.st season s ivimrrt wi n tiimhv ,. . ,. , .. i ii .-r . V '" " '" riM:\i:xTi()x. 111' lollowm.ij; (xp, liiiH iit li( ]]» (,, (v.iifiiiii ilii^ ,,1.1.1,,,, r i . '''"'• ■'■"•' ' ^''II'IM' t'\ >ci-llii( n :i ir.ii, Kiwcvcr mI,.,,,-*^;. Iin. H nv|.ssa,y I,.!,,,,. Milliciently ivliai,!,. infonuatiun is .ai.., ^ ^ '^ . Willi.' Hi. ^viKT.lly .•,,!,Mtt,.,l th:.t .luvy, ^^\\\ .l.'m.v 'll^.nuu; ' .1, "'-!-" i:--!^ 0- .f- pi-n i,a>a,, in,i,„.i,„j,,,.H up.!,; ,1.., .;;;;;:",;;., ^^ .111, Si collf! \- ,V ^t■ ininir tl,,, ti<-cii, ,^ . ., I .. . 1 ■ .1 IVlllSIIlrr sickness .■iUll ,|l', fli'sli Uiiiiiaikctahli' in cone' vi-it( ,1 ihi- c, "uiiiImt (if i( '\fy iii'ad i<{ cu 11 V,. Willi.,., ,fn.„sl lM-;.c,ic. lvalue > -1" mcchs 'IuM„n. i .n, irla,i t„ I.e al,],. t,. say that n„ .-(.nta^idus (lis,....,. ],., -.un ry ,lumi. f „. y,.,,, ,l,l,(,uj^h 1 have inv. s,^.Ual h i' us^H n.p,n e,l ,,„,iH..aks. i ha-,., however, oausc-d t.-'^i; sj th e .. ^l^...;s.i.H,,,nt.,.,..,|wi,hPi(.,(,u(,^ ])i iK. 1 IlaVe the hclKiur to I.e. sir. ^ our (.1,. ,Ji(S],i M jvaiit. i" ^■et(.^ill■,^y I)ireai,,r ( ;, i,,.;., ] < Itl.awa,. W. II. I'i THICK. r.5.'-ir^i'-r ■<'^. r^i- * t str 2i_^g^gg^ r^i