Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1908 — Horses Killed by Disease. [ARTICLE]

Horses Killed by Disease.

It is estimated that farmers in Pulaski and Starke counties and those in the southwestern part of Laporte county have lost hones since early last summer from a disease of unknown origin. The boras, as a rule, when attacked by tt e mal dy droop as if consumptive, and final'y die. In a few instances they recover, but when they do they are mere wrecks and have to be killed. One man killed four that survived the attack of the disease. An examination revealed the fact that the liver and other organs ot the dead animals were infested with long worms, no larger than a hair, and it is the popular belief that the worms are bred inside the hones from minute eggs taken with the grass from pasture lands. The loss of horses from the affected district has discouraged the farmers. Many of them have lost every ■horse and it is unsafe for them to buy any more to do their fall plowing. Out of seventeen hones one farmer has six left and some of the six are unfit for use. In Salem township the death rate has been exceedingly large. It has been noticed that mules are not affected by the disease and a hors.man of Starke county has gone to Kentucky to buy all the mules he can get to ship into the infected district and sell to the farmers.- Francesville Tribune.