Typed and spelled as written: Kay Cunningham
The Marlin Democrat
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, February 11, 1904
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They Fear It Is Anthrax
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People of Lott Have Asked For
Investigation.
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There is some apprehension at Lott that the disease commonly believed to be
blind staggers is anthrax possibly in a mild form.
The disease has killed a great many mules and horses in
this county within the last few months and as the immediate cessation it has
caused a general uneasiness to be felt among stock owners. The ravages of
the disease have seriously hampered many farmers by taking off some of the best
of their stock and at a time when they could ill afford to lose them.
This condition seems particularly in evidence in
certain communities west of the river, though the disease has and does exist to
some extent in nearly every part of the county. The symptoms are those of
blind staggers and it has been generally believed that this was the trouble.
On Tuesday, Judge Hunnicutt received a request from
citizens of Lott, through Dr. E. C. Gordon, that the disease be given an
investigation and diagnosis by a competent veterinary surgeon. Judge
Hunnicutt thereupon called up Gov. Lanham and laid the matter before him.
The Governor referred him to teh Texas Live Stock Commission of which W. J.
Moore of San Antonio is chairman.
The Judge dispatched a telegram to Mr. Moore, laying
the matter before him and requesting that the commission send a veterinary
surgeron here, as soon as possible, to make an investigation.
As stated in a recent issue of this paper, Dr. Knight,
state veterinary surgeon, made an investigation in territory between Bryan and
Temple, of the causes of the death of so many stock believed to have died from
blind staggers. He stated that he found every case he investigated to be
anthrax.
It is not known here whether the doctor visited any
sections of this county, but it is believed that he did not.
Dr. King Will Investigate.
Judge Hunnicutt has received a telegram from Chairman Moore saying that he had
instructed Dr. King, state veterinary surgeon, to come to this county and make
an investigation and he is expected to be here at once.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for
printing by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.