The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-21 00:00:00

The Cattle Disease.

The following paper has just been issued by the
Royal Agricultural Society of England in relation
to the Cattle Plague :

The gradual extension of the Cattle Plague in different
parts of the country, together with its appearance in locali-
ties hitherto exempt from it, induces the Veterinary Com-
mittee of the Royal Agricultural Society to call upon its
members to co-operate with the Government, and with other
agricultural societies, in the efforts which are being made
for suppressing the disease.
The existence of this disease being regarded as a national
calamity, it was right that the Government should take the
initiative in adopting means for its suppression ; and their
having done so leaves little for the Royal, or any other agri-
cultural Society to do, except to second the efforts of the
Government.

The several Orders in Couicil which have been put forth,
well calculated as they are to arrest the progress of the
malady, will, nevertheless, prove non-effective to a conside-
able extent unless they are backed by individual exertion.
One of the chief, and in many instances the only cause of
the extension of the disease into several fresh districts has
been the reckless manner that many persons have dealt
with infected cattle. Not only have these been driven from
place to place, and turned into fields separated only from
large herds of healthy animals by an ordinary fence, but
many have been sent to fairs and markets ; and thus, by
commingling with others, have spread the disease far and
wide. All preventive measures are thus rendered of little
avail, and unless practices of this kind are prevented by the
vigilance of agriculturists and others, thousands of cattle
will be lost to the country, in addition to those which have
Everyoneshould be impressed with the
fact that the disease is the ulfmt infectious mo well as the
most fatal which is known to affect cz.ttle, akin in its deadly
effects to the smallpox of sheep, but not giving warning to
persons by an eruption upon the body. Like smallpox of
sheep, also, the poison lies latent in the system for several
days after being inhaled, ;and during this time the animal
gives no indication of being affected, so that the most cau-
tious persons may be deceived in the making of purchases.
Another fact of equal importance, but not generally known,
is that the special poisonous material, or infectious matter,
on which the disease depends for its existence, is multi-
plied to an extent scarcely to be estimated in the system
of every fresh victim, so that it is quite possible for one
diseased animal to be ultimately the cause of the death of
thousands. The Veterinary Committee conceive, there-
fore, that the precautions which have been put forth by the
Society's Veterinary Inspector will not be inaptly repeated
here, although they have been previously brought to the
notice of the members of the society through the ordinary
channels of publication.
These precautions are
1. That all persons should abstain as much as possible
from the purchase of "store stock" in fairs and markets, and
should not purchase from cattle dealers withoutawarranty
against the disease.

2. That all newly-purchased cattle of every kind bekept
apart from others for a period of not less than twelve to
fourteen days.
3. That cattle, the subjects of thin disease, should notbe
allowed to remain in any meadow or pasture field, unless
they can be perfectly isolated from all other animals, as
well as kept at a distance of not less than a hundred yards
from all roads along which sound cattle may be driven.
4. That every aaimal which is violently attacked with
the disease be killed and buried without delay, and that
the skin be placed in some disinfecting fluid before being
sent off the premises.

5. That no animals be allowed to go near to the burial-
places until several weeks have elapsed.
6. That no person who has the charge of the sick cattle
be allowed to go near the healthy ones, and that all in-
direct communication by dogs, or other animals, between
the infected and the healthy cattle be strictly prevented.
7. That all healthy cattle, after removal from the dis-
eased, be well washed and cleansed.
8. That no fodder or straw which has been used about in-
fected cattle be taken to other animals, oreven thrown into
the fold-yard, or upon the manure heap, until it has been
first well incorporated with chloride of lime, or some other
disinfecting powder. Whim practicable, it is desirable that
all such fodder and straw should be burnt.

9. That all manure in the sheds or stables, occupied by
diseased cattle, be daily sprinkled with some disinfecting
powder, and that no evacuations of the deceased be re-
moved without being first disinfected.
10. That all sheds and stables in which diseased cattle
have been located be thoroughly washed, cleansed, and ven-
tilated, and likewise disinfected by white washings with
quick lime, before any other cattle are placed therein.

- 11. That all railway cattle-trucks, station-pounds, ships
used in the cattle trade, wharves, and other places whero
cattle are brought together, be kept as clear as possible by
frequent washings ; and that disinfectants be used when-
ever there is reason to believe that they have been occu-
pied by diseased animals.

12. That no store-stock, milking cows, or cattle of any
kind which have been exposed to the influence of the infec-
tion, by being located with the diseased, be sent to any fair,
or market, in less than a month after such exposure.
13. That in all cases in which it it determined
.to slaugh-
ter animals which have been on a farm or premises where
the disease has broken out, but which animals are believed
at the time to be healthy and fit for human food, they be
sent with all due care and caution direct to the nearest
slaughter-house, if not killed on the premises, and as a
further precaution, their skins be placed to Some disinfect-
ing fluid.
14. That, although experience has shown all animals of
the ox tribe, whatever may be their age, sex, or condition,
to be susceptible oftheactionoaft v
teheerTecactuiosne,wiht
iieshnteevnedrs-
theless essentially necessary that
to weaken the constitution should be carefully avoided.
Protection from inclement weather, supplying animals with
nutritious food such as cake or corn, and especially with
pure water, are imperatively demanded at a juncture like
the present.

In addition to a strict observance of these precautions the
committee would remind the members of the necessity of
recognising
the early symptoms of the disease, and not con-
founding them with those belonging to other maladies
common to cattle. For this purpose they here insert the
leading symptoms of the Cattle Plague, and of the two other
epidemic affections to which cattle are subject:-
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.

The early symptoms of the plague are usually a remark..
ably dull and dispirited condition of the animal, which
will stand with its head hanging down, ears drawn back,
and coat staring, refusing all food, and occasionally shiver-
ing. The eyes have an unusual expression of anxiety, and a
mucous discharge flows from them, and also from the nos-
trils. The skin is hot, but sometimes chilly ; the tempera-
ture varying from time to time. The extremities are cold ;
breathing short and quick, and frequently accompanied
with moaning as an indication of pain. The inner part of
the upper lip and roof of the mouth are reddened, and often
covered with-raw-looking 'spots; MIS bowels are- occa-