ANIMAL HEALTH
Washington State State Veterinarian's Heritage
(By Decades)
Overview 1860 1870
1880 1890
1900 1910 1920
1930 1940 1950 1960
1970 1980 1990
1853 - 1889 Washington territorial days -- there is no regulated control of veterinary medicine.
1869 A Territorial law entitled "An act to prevent the
introduction of Texas Cattle, or cattle infected with Texas fever in the
Territory of Washington," was passed over the Governor's veto.
1870's First Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the United States occurred in 1870 alarming Washington stockmen.
1888 - 1889 Winter weather wipes out 30 to 40 percent of
Cattle in the Western States.
1889 On
November 11, 1889 Washington is granted statehood.
1893 Washington State Fair organized by legislature.
1895 First
Dairy law enacted and first State Dairy Commissioner appointed.
1895
Regulatory veterinary medicine in the state of Washington began with
the enactment of House Bill No. 491 (Chapter 167) Session laws, 1895,
Defining the Duties of State Veterinary Surgeon. The law became effective
March 22, 1895. It created the office of State Veterinarian which was vested
in the professor of veterinary science of the Agriculture College and
Experiment Station.
The statute provided that the State Veterinarian was to be chosen in the same manner as other members of the faculty and station staff and serve without compensation in addition to the salary paid by the College and Experiment Station. He was required to be a graduate of a regular and established veterinary college and to be skilled in veterinary science.
In addition to his duties as professor of veterinary science, he was to be a member of the State Board of Health.
He was to have general supervision of all contagious and infectious diseases of domestic animals within or in transit through the state and was empowered to establish quarantines against diseased animals or animals exposed to diseased animals. He was given the authority to make rules and regulations and to call upon peace officers for assistance in enforcing them.
He was authorized to cooperate with the United States government in carrying out the objects of the act. The federal agency with which he would cooperate was the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Industry (now Veterinary Services). The bureau was created May 29, 1884, in response to the petitions of frustrated farmer whose livestock was so plagued with disease that overseas markets were refusing to buy from this country.
1895 - 1913 Dr. Sofus B. Nelson, DVM. The first State Veterinarian was Dr. Sofus B. Nelson who joined the faculty of the Agriculture College and Experiment Station at Pullman, Washington on September 3, 1895. Dr. Nelson was a native of Denmark. He graduated from Iowa Agriculture College in December, 1890. He was described as "well trained, energetic, and enthusiastic... A man of vision and ambition..."
As defined by law, Dr. Nelson not only served as State Veterinarian, but also as the professor of veterinary science at the Agriculture College and Experiment Station and as a member of the State Board of Health. He had established a veterinary practice in Spokane in 1890 which he continued to operate after his appointment as State Veterinarian
Dr. Nelson served as State Veterinarian until 1913 when the duties of State Veterinarian were transferred by the legislature to the Director of the Division of Dairy and Livestock under the newly formed State Department of Agriculture. Dr. Nelson served as Professor and Dean of the Veterinary College until 1919 when he resigned and was appointed Director of the Agriculture Extension Service.
Dr. Nelson served more years as State Veterinarian than any subsequent holder of the office.
1895 The State Veterinarian had to wait until funds for
expenses could be furnished by the Legislature before diseases could be
investigated.
1895 The
first rules requiring testing and examination of livestock by a veterinarian
prior to importation into the state were promulgated soon after passage of
the 1895 law entitled "Defining the Duties of State Veterinary
Surgeon". The rules required that "...sheep brought into the state
must be dipped within thirty days prior thereto, or, must be dipped within
thirty day after having been brought into this state". An
addendum on the bottom of the signed order gave recommendations for a sheep
dip as follows:
"Strong tobacco - 15 pounds
Concentrated lye - 3 pounds
Water - 100 gallons"
1897 Canadian authorities quarantined all the horses
employed in freighting between Marcus, Grand Forks, Republic, Greenwood,
etc. This international quarantine was enforced, impeding traffic,
causing severe losses to the American freighters and considerable
inconvenience to the public for over three weeks. Had the State
Veterinarian been in possession of available funds, the quarantine could
have been raised in a few days.
1898
An act to provide against adulteration of food is passed. The
Dairy Commissioner becomes the Dairy & Food Commissioner.
1899 - 1900 In his third biennial report,
(1899-1900), Dr. Nelson expressed his concern that he was spread too thin to
adequately cover his assigned duties. He asked for an assistant to take over
some of the work at a salary of about nine hundred dollars per annum.
Another problem identified in this biennial report and in correspondence
between Dr. Nelson and the Governor was that funds appropriated by the
legislature ran out approximately eight months prior to the end of the
biennium. When the funds were exhausted, much of the work was simply
discontinued or carried on at the expense of the owner of the sick animals.
Correspondence between livestock owners and the Governor's office and
between the Governor's office and the State Veterinarian attest to the
dissatisfaction of many of the livestock owners due to this method of
operation.
1903
One hundred and thirty-two hogs lost to Hog Cholera.
1904 Twenty-five
thousand doses of Blackleg vaccine furnished to 424 stockman.
1907
The Veterinary Practice Act, passed by Legislature of 1907, a
provision was made for a Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
1909
Washington State Veterinary Medical Association (WSVMA) is formed.
Dr. J Hilton is the first President.
1909
Glanders in horses followed the import of large number of horses
for use in railroad building.
1911 1,698 horse examined for Glanders with 255
reactors ordered destroyed or quarantined. There is
considerable inclination on the part of some owners to hide the disease when
it breaks out, thereby spreading the disease.
1911
Public Health begins to address Tuberculosis. From the historical
records of Woodstock, Illinois it is interesting to note that Illinois
passes a state law making the Tuberculin Test Ordinance illegal. Judge
Edward D. Shurtleff of Marengo led the campaign against the ordinance -
first developed by the Chicago City Council in 1908 - from his lofty perch
as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives at Springfield,
Illinois.
1913
In his final report, which covered the period September 1, 1912 to
June 12, 1913, Dr. Nelson summed up the results and costs of his eighteen
years of service as State Veterinarian: "In turning
over the office of State Veterinarian after nearly eighteen years of
service, I beg to say in resume' that the office has inspected 24,483
horses, 43,449 cattle, 68,194 sheep, and 13,056 swine, a total of 149,182.
Of the cattle, 26,292 were given the tuberculin test and 6,136 horses were
given the mallein test, which enormous figures show that the State
Veterinarian's work in protecting the livestock of the state of Washington
has been a very important one." "All of this work during the past
eighteen years has been done at an expense of less than $45,000 or an
average of $2,500 a year. I dare say without contradiction that this
state ranks among those states in the Union where more work and the best
work for the least money has been done by the State Veterinarian's
Office".
1913
The Department of Agriculture and Division of Dairy and Livestock
was created by Chapter 60 of the session laws of 1913, which passed Senate
Bill 247, entitled: "An Act Creating A Department of Agriculture,
Providing for the Organization and Administration Thereof, Defining the
Powers and Duties of Its officers and Employees in Relation to Agriculture,
Horticulture, Livestock, Dairying, State Fairs, Foods, Drinks, Drugs, Oils,
and Other Kindred Subjects, Providing Penalties for the Violation Thereof
and Repealing Certain Acts and Parts of Acts."
The Department was created by bringing together:
State Veterinarian
$15,000
Dairy and
Food Commissioner 46,000
Commissioner of Horticulture 75,000
State Oil
Inspector
18,800
Bakery
Inspector (from State Commission of Labor)
State
Fair Commission and SW Washington Fair Commission - 40,000
Licensing
and regulation of Jacks and Stallions (from Washington State University)
Commercial feed concentrates and commercial fertilizers (from Washington
Agriculture Experiment Station)
Total
$195,400
1913 - 1917 Harry T. Graves, DVS. Dr. Harry T,
Graves, a 1910 Washington State College graduate veterinarian, was named
Acting Commissioner of Agriculture and was named Acting Commissioner of
Agriculture and was also placed in charge of the Dairy and Livestock
Division. Employees of that division included four dairy inspector and
one veterinary inspector. Dr Graves served as State Veterinarian from May 1,
1913 to March 21, 1917.
1913
The Stallion and Jack registration law is of prime importance to
the livestock industry in that it protects the public from dishonest
stallion owners.
1913-1914
Rabies is rampant in Washington State in King and Pierce counties
and is a menace to human life. Fortunately there were no human deaths
reported undoubtedly due to the protection afforded by the Pasteur
treatment. The biennium report for that period said "Theoretically
Rabies is one of the most easily eradicated diseases, all that is required
is the muzzling of dogs for a sufficient time. The Department,
immediately after the out-break in King and Pierce counties, undertook to
enforce a muzzling regulation, but in the absence of a penalty section in
our present livestock law, it was impossible to make the regulation properly
effective. It is therefore urged that the legislature amend the
present statute so as to give the Department sufficient power to undertake
the eradication of Rabies. A new livestock sanitary law, containing
special provision in reference to Rabies, will be offered"
1914
Animal diseases investigated and acted upon during the first
biennium of Dr. Graves administration according to his first biennial
report, included Tuberculosis, Glanders, Hog Cholera, Rabies, Keratitis,
Phtheriosis (lice), Contagious Mastitis, Actinomycosis, Pyemia, Enteritis,
Ringworm, and Forage Poisoning. Of these diseases, Tuberculosis,
Glanders, Hog Cholera, and Rabies have presented a difficult obstacle to
success in the livestock business for many years. Each of these diseases
except Cholera are transmissible to humans and thus have also constituted a
public health hazard.
1914
Two rail cars of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) exposed cattle
enroute from Wisconsin to Roy, Washington arrive in Spokane, Washington on
Wednesday, November 13,1914. Quick action by veterinarians, state
agriculture officials and the owner averts a potential Foot and Mouth
Disease outbreak before it can happen. The shipment consisting of thirty-two
pure bred Holsteins and seventy grade Holsteins were appraised at fifty
dollars for pure breds and thirty-five dollars for grade animal, making a
total of four thousand and fifty dollars. By Saturday, November 21, 1914,
all the cattle had been killed and cremated, cars thoroughly disinfected and
all pens, litter, etc. safely disposed of.
An outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease during the fall of 1914 presented a serious menace to the livestock industry of the United States. First appearing in Michigan, the malady spread to twenty-two states and the District of Columbia. This disease is of such a highly contagious character and the infection so easily spread, that its immediate control and eradication was of great economic significance.
There have been five outbreaks of FMD previous to the one in 1914. The first three occurred in 1870, 1880, and 1884, and were trifling when compared with those of 1902 and 1908. The disease reoccurred once more in Texas and California in 1924-25 after the 1914 outbreak was brought under control in 1916. An outbreak of FMD also occurred in California swine in 1929.
In the Historical records of Woodstock,
Illinois, it is stated that after a two-year battle with hoof (sic) and
mouth disease, McHenry County is declared disease-free in April.
However, 36,758 animals on 500 Illinois farms were slaughtered as part of
eradication procedures. The backlash from such
"indiscriminate" killing of entire herds - and the resulting
unfair pricing by the big milk processors - prompts the Producer's
Association to urge their members to strike in the Spring. Borden at
Woodstock would close, but A.J. Olson's Congress Northern Dairy is not
affected after Olson agreed to meet the Association's price demands.
1915
The first Tri-State or Pacific Northwest Meeting of veterinarians
is held in Bellingham. As a region, the meetings continue
until 1955 when Washington withdraws to concentrate on in-state issues.
1916
The School of Veterinary Science at Pullman becomes the College of
Veterinary Science, complete with deanship.
1916
Sheep Scabies (mange) made its appearance in the feed yards of the
Union Meat Company at Lyle, Washington, Klickitat county.
1917
Three persons in the state die of Hydrophobia (rabies). Sixty
persons given Pasteur treatment by State Health Commissioner after being
bitten by rabid dogs, cats or coyotes.
1917
The first continuing education program for veterinarians is held in
Pullman. It is sponsored by the college and assisted by the fledgling
state association and northwest veterinarians.
1917
State-Federal Tuberculosis eradication began - county by county -
5% of cattle in U.S. infected.
1917
- 1920 R. J. Donahue, DVM. Dr. Donahue (WSU '12) was
appointed as State Veterinarian by the Commissioner (Director) of the
Department of Agriculture continuing to be the case after the office of the
State Veterinarian was transferred to the State Department of Agriculture.
Dr. Donahue was President of the WSVMA in 1924.
1918
Sheep Scab discovered in Okanogan county in October. Dipping orders
issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
1920 The College of Veterinary Science's first
African-American student, Winfred A. Jordan graduates. Dr.
Jordan is a transfer student from the soon-to-close San Francisco Veterinary
College.
1920
Johne's Disease reported from several districts in western
Washington. It is usually found in low, wet pastures or those that
frequently become flooded.
1920
- 1924 L. C. Pelton, DVM. Dr. Pelton appointed State
Veterinarian. Dr. Pelton served from April 1, 1920 to October 24, 1924. Dr.
Pelton was President of the WSVMA in 1915 and 1916.
1922
The prevalence of contagious abortion (Brucellosis) in cattle
herds, has, during the past few years, been of great significance.
1924
- 1934 Robert Prior, DVM. Dr. Prior appointed State
Veterinarian. Dr. Prior served from October 24, 1924 to an unknown date in
1934. Dr. Prior was President of the WSVMA in 1915.
1925 The College of Veterinary Science becomes
the College of Veterinary Medicine at Pullman Washington.
1925
Upon the application of the owners of 51% of the cattle in any
county for a tuberculin test, it becomes compulsory for all the cattle owned
in said county to submit to tests and examination.
1926
The first roads are pushed into Ilwaco in Pacific County
Washington. Prior to this, all transportation to the area was by boat,
hindering veterinary care among the coastal farms.
1927
A legislative act for the "Prevention and eradication of
diseases of domestic animals.", the first comprehensive law on this
subject outlining the powers and duties of the Director of Agriculture and
the Division of Dairy and Livestock.
1928
Skagit County becomes the first county in Washington to begin a
bovine tuberculosis eradication program.
1928
Four outbreaks of Anthrax diagnosed in widely separated districts
in the state of Washington.
1928
Bacillary White Diarrhea (Pullorum Disease) causes great economic
loss to poultry breeders.
1929
Washington State appropriates extra funds to begin tuberculosis
testing King County's 40,000 head of cattle. At the first testing,
over 8,000 head are identified as positive reactors. Herds of up
to 150 head are often found to be 100 percent reactive. It will take
until 1988 before Washington is declared Tuberculosis free.
1932 In addition to the handling of
contagious diseases of livestock the division of Dairy and Livestock took
over the duties of veterinary service for state institution animals.
This made possible substantial savings to the state. (and undoubtedly raised
the ire of private practitioners)
1933
Washington State College graduates its first female veterinarian,
Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Roberts. She goes on to be the
first licensed female veterinarian in California and is among only twelve in
the nation at the time.
1934
- 1936 (Acting) Marvin R. Hales, DVM. The exact term
for Dr. Hales (WSU '26) as acting State Veterinarian is in doubt as the next
State Veterinarian appears to have been appointed in 1938. It is possible
that the office was vacant for a period of time. The economic
depression took its toll. Type-written Biennial Reports only exist.
Some are missing and contain scanty information. Dr. Rolla Sexauer
(State Veterinarian from 1985 to 1988) recalls that Dr. Hales was on the
state field force stationed at Longview when Dr. Sexauer began employment
with the state in 1959. Dr. Hales retired in the mid 1960s.
1934
Equine Glanders eradicated.
1934
State-Federal Brucellosis eradication is begun nationwide as part
of a cattle reduction program from the severe drought conditions of the
1930s. It will not be until 1988 that the state is declared Brucellosis
free.
1935
Drought in mid-western states causes importation of many swine and
swine diseases.
1935
Brand registration transferred from county to state.
1935
National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) for chickens was formed
with Washington poultry producers as charter members.
1936
The State Department of Agriculture and the State Board of Health
initiate the first ever meat inspection regulations in Washington State.
C. L. Norris is appointed to head up the service by Marvin Hales, supervisor
of Dairy and Livestock Division.
1937
Washington's bovine Brucellosis program is changed from a
"cattle reduction" program to a "disease eradication"
program. This signals a major shift in herd health management
thinking.
1937
Brand inspection law passed.
1938-1944 Mansel O. Barnes, DVM. Dr. Barnes (WSU
'27) served two separated terms as State Veterinarian (1938-1944 and
1948-1951). In between terms as State Veterinarian, Dr. Barnes was
employed by the Federal Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in Olympia and was
assigned during 1947 to the Mexican-United States Commission for the
Eradication of Foot and Mouth disease in the Republic of Mexico. The 80th
Congress had appropriated $9,000,000 for the BAI's use in assisting in the
campaign to control the disease in Mexico rather than to await the outbreak
in the United States. He died at Kennewick, Washington, December 28,
1952.
1941
Vaccination of calves with Brucellosis strain 19 vaccine started.
1941
Only Virginia leads Washington among all 50 states in Brucellosis
eradication at this time. It has been a monumental veterinary effort
recognized nationwide and especially in Washington due to its rugged
geography and harsh winter weather
1943
Washington State Poultry and Turkey Disease Control Committee
formed and Turkeys added to the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP).
1944-1946
Herman A. Trippeer, MVD. Dr. Trippeer had an office in the
old Capital Building in downtown Olympia in a very formal setting. He
also was on the State Board of Veterinary Examiners Committee. Dr. Trippeer
was President of the WSVMA in 1923.
1946
The Poultry Laboratory at Prosser furnished with equipment and a
veterinarian, as well as one at the Western Washington Experiment Station at
Puyallup. This was the first such service which the poultry industry
has received.
1947
Layton Bailey, DVM. Little is recorded about Dr. Bailey's
service as State Veterinarian.
1948
H. F. Beardmore, DVM. Again little is recorded about Dr.
Beardmore's term as State Veterinarian.
1948
- 1951 M. O. Barnes, DVM. Dr. Barnes returned from
Mexico and served a second term as State Veterinarian. Dr. Barnes was
President of the WSVMA in 1942.
1948
The first graduate degree ever awarded by the College of Veterinary
Medicine is earned by one of its alumni. Dr. John Gorham (WSU '46)
earns his Masters of Science Degree in pathology under Dr. D. R. Cordy.
Later the pair go on to discover a rickettsia that is the cause of salmon
disease in dogs and foxes.
1950 The South Puget Sound Veterinary Medical
Association is started. Puyallup's Dr. William F. Harris (WSU '43) is
elected the first president.
1952
- 1957 A. E. Crouse, DVM. Dr. Crouse served as State
Veterinarian from July 1, 1952 to June 30, 1956.
1954
All-out state-federal cooperative eradication effort to eradicate
Brucellosis begins.
1955
- 1957 Washington State animal health authorities pioneer
blood screening on slaughter house samples. The method
attracts nationwide attention as a method to detect infected herds that may
have been missed in area testing. Slaughter house testing is now the
mainstay of the United State's surveillance for Brucellosis.
1956
On June 1, 1956 Modified Certified Brucellosis free status for the
state of Washington achieved. The status meant that the individual animal
infection rate was <1% and the herd infection rate was<5%.
1956
Western Equine Encephalitis (Sleeping Sickness) reported in Grant
County in late July. During next six weeks, 69 cases were
diagnosed and reported in 11 eastern Washington counties. WEE can also
affect human so Public Health authorities tract equine cases as an sentinals
that the virus is active in bird populations.
1957
(Acting) Barney Benedictson, DVM. Dr. Benedictson (WSU
'46) served as Assistant State Veterinarian under Dr. Crouse and later under
Drs. Balch and Hostetler.
1957
Roscoe Balch, DVM. Dr. Balch (WSU '47) resigned after a few
days as State Veterinarian. He later was employed for many years
by Wilcox Farms as their resident poultry pathologist. He previously had
been employed by H&N International, a poultry genetics firm and by the
Poultry Laboratory in Puyallup, Washington. Dr. Balch is presently retired
and lives in Roy, Washington adjacent to Wilcox Farms and acts as a
volunteer advisor in poultry matters to the present State Veterinarian.
1958
- 1959 Roy I. Hostetler, DVM. Dr. Hostetler (WSU '39)
was in veterinary practice at Goldendale, Washington when he was appointed
State Veterinarian. He became the WSU Extension Veterinarian after
leaving the Department of Agriculture. Dr. Hostetler was President of the
WSVMA in 1955.
1958
New poultry diagnostic and research laboratory at the Western
Washington Experiment Station in Puyallup opens.
1958
-1959 Chater 16.49 RCW. "State Meat Inspection
Act", Chapter 16.50, "Humane Slaughter Act" and Chapter 16.65
RCW, "Public Livestock Market Act" passed by legislature.
1959
Chapter 16.49 Revised Code of Washington (RCW) "State Meat
Inspection Act", Cahpter 16.50 "Humane Slaughter Act" and
Chapter 16.65 "Public Livestock Markets" implemented through the
writing of regulations.
1959 - 1966 Delbert A. McGill, DVM. Dr. McGill
graduated from Washington State College (now Washington State University)
College of Veterinary Medicine in 1941. Dr. McGill is the only State
Veterinarian to die in office.
1960
The Humane Slaughter Act passed in 1959 goes into effect.
1962
- 1964 Washington is first state to use Market Cattle Testing
program to reaccredit counties for Tuberculosis.
1966
(Acting) LaMar Gaw, DVM. Dr. Gaw was President of the
WSVMA in 1949.
1967 - 1969 Donald Spangler, DVM. Dr. Spangler served
as State Veterinarian from April 1, 1967 to June 30, 1969. He
previously had been President of the American Veterinary Medical
Association.
1967
Washington achieved Certified Brucellosis free status on January 1,
1967. The status meant an individual animal infection of <0.2% and
a herd infection rate of <1%. Allowing some infection
while being declared free of the disease became an undoing of the program in
the late 1970's
1967
Washington declared Hog Cholera free.
1969
New State-Federal cooperative agreement merges the Federal and
State animal health units for operating purposes. Federal employees in
charge of the federal office would also serve as State Veterinarian.
1969 - 1972 (State-Federal) John K Atwell. After
leaving Washington State, Dr. Atwell had a long career with USDA, APHIS and
is presently the State Veterinarian for North Carolina.
1972
(Acting) (State-Federal) Billy Johnson, DVM. After leaving
Washington State, Dr. Johnson had a long career with USDA, APHIS and is
presently retired. He has been associated recently with the USAHA's
Mexican-US cooperative efforts to control Brucellosis and Tuberculosis in
Mexican States particularly the Northern tier.
1972
- 1974 (State-Federal) Richard Evinger, DVM. After
leaving Washington State Dr. Evinger had a long career with USDA, APHIS, VS
and returned to Washington as the Area Veterinarian in Charge of the Federal
Office in 1988?. He retired from federal service in 19?? and presently
lives in the Olympia, Washington area.
1972
Washington Meat Inspection and Poultry Inspection turned completely
into a Federal Program under Federal Wholesome Meat Act.
1974
- 1977 Otto Montgomery, DVM. Dr. Montgomery was the
first State Veterinarian appointed by the Director of Agriculture after the
grand experiment of the dual position of the State-Federal cooperative
agreement.
1975
Washington Validated free of Swine Brucellosis.
1977
Bovine Brucellosis reappears in Whatcom County. Emergency
rules adopted requiring change of ownership testing and import testing.
1977
- 1978 Peter Bidlake, DVM Dr. Bidlake graduated from WSU in
1952.
1978 Mass Brucellosis testing by a Federal-State
task force begins in Washington's Northwest counties. A number of lawsuits
are initiated from Dairymen in the area. It took many years for them
all to be decided. The state prevailed in all cases.
1978
Milton Skov, DVM Dr. Skov (WSU '55) served less
than a year and returned to private veterinary practice in The Dalles,
Oregon
1978 Intensive Brucellosis testing continued in
Whatcom and Skagit counties.
1979
- 1981 John Doherty, DVM. Dr. Doherty (WSU '57) has
been in state poultry inspection and on the animal health field force. He
graduated from the WSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 1957. He
resigned in 1981 to return to a field position. He retired in 19?? and
presently lives in Buckley, Washington
1979
- 1981 Whatcom Country testing continues by task force.
That last few infected herds were adult vaccinated with Strain 19
Brucellosis vaccine and tested repeatedly with removal of titered animals.
1980 Exotic New Castle Disease diagnosed in several
pet stores. Origin was smuggled birds from Florida.
1981
- 1982 (Acting) Peter Bidlake, DVM. Dr. Bidlake
returned to the State Veterinarian position as an acting appointment.
He them retired from state service, but returned to the Department under Dr.
Rolla Sexauer to run the custom meat program. He retired the second time in
19??.
1982
- 1984 Dean Smith, DVM. Dr. Smith (WSU '49) came to the
position of State Veterinarian from Oregon State Department of Agriculture
where he was Assistant State Veterinarian. Previous to that he was Director
of the Oregon State University Laboratory. He retired in 1984
and returned to his home town, Dayton, Washington.
1983
- 1984 Vesicular Stomatitis strikes Washington state and
several other Northwest states. Dairies were affected and was from an Idaho
dispersal sale of dairy animals that had been exposed to the virus.
1985
- 1988 Rolla Sexauer, DVM. Dr. Sexauer was appointed State
Veterinarian by Dr. Alan Pettibone, Director of Agriculture on August 1,
1985. He had previously been the Assistant State Veterinarian serving
under Dr. Dean Smith since 1982. Dr. Sexauer graduated from Washington
State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1945. He worked a
few months for WSDA under Dr. Trippeer in 1945 before being ordered to
report for induction into the army. However, he was deferred before
induction. He then practiced at Bellingham and Menlo Washington from 1945 to
1947. From 1947 to 1949 Dr. Sexauer was assigned to the Mexican/American
Foot and Mouth Disease Commission in the campaign to eradicate foot and
mouth disease in Mexico.
From 1949 to 1950 he was employed by the USDA Bureau of Animal Industry in the Tuberculosis and Brucellosis eradication programs in Pocatello, Idaho. He spent 1951 to 1954 with the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps at Fort Lewis, Washington in procurement inspection. He then worked for the Oregon State Department of Agriculture and was in charge of the state Meat Inspection Program from its beginning as a voluntary program to a mandatory state-wide program established by the Oregon legislature in 1957.
Dr. Sexauer returned to employment with the
WSDA in 1959 as head of the newly created state Meat Inspection Program. He
organized, developed and supervised the program until 1968. He left
state employment in 1973 when the USDA Meat and Poultry Inspection Service
assumed responsibility for the state Meat Inspection Program. Dr.
Sexauer returned to state service in 1979 as a field veterinarian in
south-west Washington until 1982 when he became Assistant State
Veterinarian.
1985
Avian influenza in Game Birds eradicated in SW Washington.
1986
Washington came within several months of their 12 month count-down
to Brucellosis free status (true free status) when the last infected herd
was found in Whatcom county. The herd was depopulated and area testing
did not turn up any spread of the disease. The countdown started over
late in 1986.
1988
Washington Certified Bovine Brucellosis Free meaning no infection
for at least 12 months. This classification also required the cattle
feeders to give up quarantined feedlots. The classification were
changed to "Restricted Feedlots" where cattle not vaccinated for
Brucellosis could be fattened for slaughter.
1988
Washington Accredited Bovine Tuberculosis Free meaning no infection
for five years.
1988
Washington Classified Salmonella Pullorum-Typhoid clean in
commercial poultry under the NPIP.
1988
- 1999 (Present) Robert W. Mead, DVM. Dr. Mead joined the
WSDA in 1986 as Assistant State Veterinarian under Dr. Sexauer. He is
a graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of
California at Davis in 1966. He came to the department from 16 years
as an Equine Practitioner in California and Washington State. Previous
to his practice years, he was employed by the International Pacific Salmon
Fisheries Commission at Cultus Lake, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Mead
completed research projects on comparison of hatchery, spawning channel and
wild Sockeye Salmon fry and participated in the early research work on the
IHN virus of Salmon and Trout. Dr. Mead was appointed State Veterinarian by
Dr. Alan Pettibone, Director, in July of 1988 after acting in the position
from the time of retirement of Dr. Sexauer in February 1988.
1989
Dr. Clarence Siroky (WSU '74) was selected as Assistant State
Veterinarian. Dr. Siroky served until 1994 when he became State Veterinarian
for the State of Montana. He later became the State Veterinarian of
Wisconsin and continues in that position to date.
1991 The only Pseudorabies infected swine herd in
Washington state history was quarantined and depopulated in the Spokane
area. The producer was a licensed garbage cooker but may have gotten
some exposed hogs in a back haul of cattle from the Midwest. There were no
records that could document such an event.
1993
Washington declared Stage V (free) for Pseudorabies.
1993
- 1998 Washington averages one Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) case
every other year. The same average applies also to the occurrence of
Scrapie in Washington state sheep flocks.
1994
New Federal Voluntary Scrapie control program
begun for sheep and goat flocks.
1995 The first Woman Assistant State Veterinarian
in any of the Western states was hired with the appointment of Dr. Kathleen
Connell (WSU '91). Dr. Connell is 1st Vice-President of the WSVMA and serves
on the Beef Commission. She had previous state service with the Department
of Social Health Services and was in the Army for several years.
1995
Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) hits the SW U.S. and Mountain States.
Washington escapes infection by restricting movements. The VS
outbreaks reoccur in the SW States in 1997 and 1998. Again Washington
does not get the disease. These outbreaks were primarily in horses.
1996
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or so-called Mad Cow Disease
in the United Kingdom becomes a controversy worldwide over whether TSEs are
zoonotic. Recent evidence indicates that in some cases they are zoonotic.
The disease was first recognized in UK in 1986. Cases are still being
reported in UK and some other countries of Europe. No case in cattle
has been found in the U.S.
1997
Under the direction of Jim Jesernig, Director of Agriculture, the
Animal Health Program begins a strategic planning process. Emphasis is
on maintaining the states free status for many animal diseases, emergency
disease and disaster planning and requesting law and rule changes to
facilitate Food Animal Quality Assurance Programs.
1998
Washington began a pilot rule project to allow mature Brucellosis
vaccination of female cattle over 12 months of age. This project
showed no negative effects and was made permanent. This
also facilitated international trade in cattle with Canada by allowing
non-vaccinated Canadian cattle to enter Washington state and be vaccinated
within the state. This was made possible by the advent of a new
Brucellosis vaccine (Strain RB-51) that does not interfere with serologic
testing.
1999
At the request of the Washington Sheep Industry rules were adopted
to begin a Sheep Quality Assurance Program for Blackface sheep (Suffolk and
Hampshire) to deal with the perception of Scrapie in the sheep industry.
Since it is a Transmittable Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE), the potential
for harm to the industry is great if the disease is allowed to exist in U.S.
flocks.
This history is a work in progress. Anyone with information to be added and biographical material on State Veterinarians or corrections please e-mail us at leldridge@agr.wa.gov.
Much credit is given to Dr. Rolla Sexauer for beginning this history project and acting as guide and mentor after his retirement from state service.