with a small spear-shaped needle grass which pricks the skin, causing some uneasiness.

I was told by a number of prominent sheep feeders and shippers that any railroad in the West would accept for shipment sheep suffering with scab, if the shipper was willing to take the chances of having his sheep stopped en route. I was also informed that a bill of health from the different Western States could easily be obtained, regardless of the condition of the sheep. One shipper from Utah had with him a clean bill of health, while about 10 per cent of his sheep were suffering from scab.

In talking with these feeders, I find that most of them seem very anxious to cooperate in any way they can with the State and Federal inspectors. But they complain that the laws relating to the control of scab in the various States are not enforced, nor are the inspectors who are appointed in counties and districts competent to perform their work.

I believe that part of Order No. 5,1 of June 18, 1897, regarding the disinfection of cars, is very poorly complied with by the railway companies. They say they can not tell scab in its early stages. At some of the feeding stations where scab is detected a tag is placed on the car directing that it be returned from Chicago to the feeding station for the purpose of disinfection. As there are no inspectors at these feeding stations, I think little disinfection is done, and many of the cars are not returned at all.

Respectfully,

Dr. D. E. SALMON,

Chief of Bureau of Animal Industry.

T. A. GEDDES,

Inspector.

REPORT FROM DR. ROBERT H. TREACY.

Under instructions from the Bureau, dated February 24, 1897, Dr. Robert H. Treacy visited several points in Iowa where sheep were being fed, to ascertain the prevalence of scab and also its source. At Ashton he obtained the information that a firm of sheep dealers, during the years 1889 to 1893, inclusive, had shipped 40,000 sheep from Wisconsin and Michigan to points in South Dakota. Here they were distributed in small flocks among the farmers, being sold on time, and paid for in wool and wethers. These sheep remained healthy until 1893, when another dealer brought in 6,000 head from Montana, and distributed them in the same neighborhood in the same way. These latter sheep were affected with the scab, which spread through all the flocks on the summer ranges, largely though the exchange of bucks, until it now exists, so far as Dr. Treacy could learn from people who have a money interest in sheep, in several counties of South Dakota, namely, Hyde, Hand, Spink, Sully, Potter, Clark, Marshall, and Faulk. A great many of these sheep come into Iowa for feeding purposes. Judging from their methods of handling sheep here, it is safe to say that scab will remain in both States. The sheep are dipped after shearing but once, and the feeders dip again before going into winter feeding.

This order appears on p. 151.

At a later date Dr. Treacy writes as follows from Battle Creek:

So far as I can learn from observation, from commission men at Sioux City, and from stock agents whom I have met, I am of opinion that only a small percentage of the sheep going to market from Iowa are raised there. The larger number come from small ranches in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado. The reason given for this is that there are more small breeders in these States, who sell their sheep on the farm. The large breeders market their own flocks.

Dr. Treacy's further observation at this point was that sheep on the large ranches were healthier than those on small ones, as the sheep on the large ranches are dipped regularly and handled by experienced help.

At Ida Grove a flock of 3,000 sheep were inspected, 2,200 of which were "Colorados," brought in September 15, 1896; they were healthy then. Eight hundred were brought in from South Dakota October 27. This latter number was scabby. Both lots were fed in the same yard. The South Dakota sheep were dipped at Omaha once, but scab reappeared in January. Although these have been dipped twice since, scab has now appeared again. A load of these sheep was placed on the Chicago market March 1; 500 are being held for shipment to Missouri for breeding purposes; and the balance will be sent to market as soon as they are put in condition.

At Arthur Dr. Treacy inspected a flock of 750 sheep, 250 of which had come from South Dakota.

soon after arriving at the farm.

These were affected with the scab
They were all dipped twice and are

now healthy. His concluding report was as follows:

ANAMOSA, IOWA, March 22, 1897.

SIR: I have visited all points in Iowa, in accordance with instructions, and have to report that I found sheep scab in every county visited except Jones. There was in this county last winter a flock of 840 sheep affected with scab, but on this account were marketed on January 22.

I would estimate the loss from scab to the feeders of this State to be about 15 per cent of the natural profits of the business. Some were forced to put sheep on the market before they were prime, and others have held back and lost a great deal of the wool. Some flocks were nearly naked.

The farmers here are in the sheep business to stay. All are looking for sheep. They are afraid of scab, however, very few knowing anything about it.

My information leads me to believe that Montana and the western parts of North Dakota and South Dakota have healthy sheep. Montana, in fact, is supposed to have been free from sheep scab since 1893. This is what I am told, but I have no accurate information. New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, the southern portion of North Dakota, and the river counties of South Dakota, with the exception of the reservation, are affected with sheep scab to a great extent.

The following table shows the flocks affected by the scab which were visited by me, the locality, and the States whence imported:

Table showing the flocks of scabby sheep inspected in Iowa.

a This flock had at first 350 sheep, but all but 12 were shipped in February.

b This flock had originally 383 sheep, but all but 77 were shipped thirty days ago.

One feeder at Malcolm had 500 sheep free from scab. He had 1,500 head in the fall, but had shipped them, afterwards selling 1,000 healthy ones. At this point I inspected three other flocks of 737, 514, and 130 head, respectively, and found them all free from the disease. They were diseased in the fall, but had been dipped.

Dr. Don C. Ayer, inspector at South Omaha, reported the delivery at that place of scabby sheep as follows. In each instance the Bureau promptly notified the shipper and the railroad transporting the sheep that it was in violation of law, and inclosed the regulations of this Department governing such cases:

July 22: Two cars containing 436 sheep affected with scab were received from Casper, Wyo. They had been fed at Grand Island, Nebr.

March 24: A consignment of sheep from Sidney, Nebr., received, 215 of which were affected with scab.

April 17: Four hundred and thirty-three sheep from Magdalena, N. Mex., and 903 from Las Vegas, N. Mex., all affected with scab, were received.

April 27: There were delivered 238 head of scabby sheep from Raymond, Nebr.; 1,239 from Las Vegas, N. Mex.; 476 from Hooper, Nebr., and 434 from another shipper at Hooper, Nebr.

May 18: A Colorado dealer delivered 1,084 head affected with scab. May 21: There were delivered from Socorro, N. Mex., 253 head of scabby sheep.

The information embodied in the above reports showed that proper care was not being exercised by shippers and transportation companies to prevent the interstate shipment of sheep, and consequently many flocks of sheep having scab were delivered at the feeding stations preparatory to being placed upon the markets of Chicago and the cities farther east. So far as possible the offender in each case was notified by letter of his duty under the law, and Order No. 51 was given the widest circulation among sheep men and transportation companies.

'This order appears on p. 151.

ANTHRAX IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.

During the spring and summer of 1896 there prevailed in the northern part of the State of Louisiana and in a few of the adjoining counties of Mississippi and Arkansas an exceptionally widespread and fatal epizootic of anthrax, or, as the disease is named by Frenchspeaking peoples, charbon. In the extent of country infected, and in the number of animals attacked, this outbreak of anthrax is unprecedented in the scant history of the disease as it has appeared in the United States.

EXTENT OF INFECTED TERRITORY.

The infected territory was situated in one of the richest agricultural districts of the lower Mississippi Valley. It included Madison, Morehouse, Richland, Tensas, Concordia, East Carroll, and West Carroll parishes in Louisiana; Phillips and Chicot counties in Arkansas; and Bolivar, Issaquena, and Claiborne counties in Mississippi. Louisiana suffered by far the most severely, not only as to the extent of territory infected, but also as to the virulence of the plague. In that State several thousands of horses, mules, cattle, and hogs were attacked, and in some parishes a heavy percentage of them died. few instances also occurred of its communication to man. In some localities a veritable panic prevailed. The loss of large numbers of farm animals, at a season when the crops were being made and harvested, seriously crippled agricultural operations, and the irreparable losses by small farmers of their entire animal power deprived many of them of the very necessities of life.

In Mississippi and Arkansas the infected territory comprised a much smaller area than in Louisiana, and the epidemic assumed in those States a much less sweeping and virulent form. In Mississippi the cases were few in number, and in Arkansas heavy losses were reported from Chicot County only.

INFORMATION, AND EFFORTS TO SUPPRESS THE DISEASE.

The press of the State devoted liberal space to news and discussions regarding the epidemic, and the opinions of leading veterinarians as to its cause, treatment, and prevention were eagerly sought for and given wide dissemination. Both Federal and State authorities were earnestly requested to suggest some means of staying the plague, and in the meantime recourse was had to every prophylactic and curative measure that veterinary science, observant experience, or mere empiricism could suggest.