Report on Infectious Diseases of Animals. BY A. CLARK HUNT, M.D., STATE MEDICAL INSPECTOR. To the Board of Health of the State of New Jersey: GENTLEMEN-During the year ending October 31st, 1906, seventy-six cases of anthrax were reported. On March 7th, 1906, Whitfield Gray, D.V.S., of Newton, reported that there were cases of a suspicious nature upon a farm located near that town. Specimens from the diseased animals were forwarded to the State laboratory of hygiene, and it was proven that the animals were suffering from anthrax. Seven of the animals died and one recovered. Dr. Gray administered protective vaccination to twenty-five animals. The investigation as to the cause of the epidemic led to the conclusion that in all probability the disease was introduced upon the premises by meat scrap which had been purchased as food for chickens. It was first noticed that the chickens that had been fed meat scrap were dying, and very shortly after the animals in the barn were affected with the disease. The disease did not extend beyond the farm upon which it first appeared, and no further cases have been reported in Sussex county. On May 18th, 1906, S. C. Tremaine, D.V.S., of Bridgeton, reported the death of an animal in Cumberland county from anthrax. The total number of deaths from anthrax in Cumberland county from May 18th to August 28th, 1906, was fifty, and in addition to this five deaths of animals in which no diagnosis was made, but which were undoubtedly caused by anthrax, were reported. On July 17th, 1906, W. B. Kille, D.V.S., reported two deaths from anthrax in the vicinity of Salem, and from the above date until July 31st, 1906, thirteen deaths of animals in Salem county were caused by this disease. For the prevention of the spread of anthrax in Cumberland county Dr. Tremaine vaccinated nine hundred animals, and in Salem county, under the supervision of T. B. Rogers, D.V.S., eleven hundred animals were vaccinated. The history of the outbreaks of anthrax occurring in Cumberland and Salem counties indicates that the owners of animals in this section should each year, prior to turning the animals out upon the meadows, have protective inocculations applied to each animal. If this is not done it may be expected that from year to year recurring outbreaks of the disease will appear. The total number of cases of glanders which have been reported during the year is one hundred and forty-seven as compared with sixty-nine reported during the previous year. The most serious outbreak which occurred was in Middlesex county. During the month of July, 1906, twenty-four animals having glanders were destroyed in Perth Amboy and vicinity. The investigation of the outbreak showed that the disease had been introduced by animals which were purchased at sale stables. During the month of August, 1906, in South River, Middlesex county, fourteen animals having glanders were destroyed. These animals were used in the clay banks and brick factories, and in all probability the disease was introduced by animals purchased at sale stables. During the year ending October 31st, 1906, six cases of rabies were reported, and four cases of tuberculosis in cattle reported to this board were referred to the State tuberculosis commission. The following is a list of the cases of glanders which occurred in New Jersey during the year ending October 31st, 1906: Name of sanitary Belleville Newark South River.. East Rahway.. July 22, 1906, 1......J. W. Little, D.V.S.............Animal destroyed. 3......D. D. Chandler, H.O..... 2.... .W. H. Lowe, D.V.S... 1......D. D. Chandler, H.O.. 1......W. H. Lowe, D.V.S.... The total number of cases of glanders reported was 147. Of this number thirtyeight cases occurred in Newark, twenty-four in Perth Amboy, fourteen in South River and ten in Jersey City. |