Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-24
ARouT THE CATTLE PLAGUE.

catOn signed ., III WHICH tHe Sat'iS uisS"SS
is discussed in a rather noticeable way. ltap'
pears from one paragraph in the article that
the writer is member of the board OF agrl'
culture, and we infer from the temper that
comes out in some passages that the newspa
per articles discreditng several of the reported
cases of pleuro-pneumonia have given him con-
siderable disturbance. 1t is better, however,
that he should be disturbed little, and even
lose some credit for sagacity, than that an un-
wholesome panic should be created and
spread without cause. 1t is quite certain
now that there have been some cases of
panic which there was nothing to warrant
We are entirely convinced that there has
not been a single case of malignant pleuro-
pneumonia in Connecticut; where there
was at one time so much noise about 1t,
and that it has had no existence in some other
places where panic in regard to it has been
created. The disease has existed, and does
still exist, in a few places in this state; but
we are satisfied that it has not prevailed as ex-
tensvely as many have been led to suppose
and, as the question in regard to it is a matter
seem to us that the fear of causing little per-
sonal disturbance in some quarters, should deter
any body from seeking to allay or prevent un.
necessary panic.
The correspondent of the Journal gives his
attention chiefly to the cattle in East Lexjng-
ton that were suspected of pleuropneumonia.
He states the facts very nearly as they were
stated in the Spy, save that he shows very
strong desire to have it believed that the dis
ease really existed in the heifers that were
taken from East Lexington to Hillsboro, N.
H., and this exception is explained by IS"
himself, who tells US that be was the first per
son to create the excitement in New Hamp-
shire. He went to Lexington when the report
of pleuropneumonia in that place was started
in May. After stating that the Lexington
cattle were put under injunction for a time,''
he says =
eve were then informed that two heifers,
also, were in the barn at the time OF the ex-
posure, and had now gone into pasture, with a
large herd, in Hillsboro', n. H. Considering
the possibility of danger in the connection of
these heifers with so many cattle, after their
exposure here, we thought it proper to notify
the seectmen Of Hilsboro' of the facts and to
request them to examine and watch the heif.
ers, or to separate them from other cattle. The
people of HillsbOro' were at once, and very
reasonably, alarmed. The heifers wore exam
ined, killed, and by Dr. Cutter and others pro-
nounced diseased of pleuro pneumonia. 1t is
not for us to doubt or dispute the correctness
of the decision of these medical examiners.
DR. Cutter, it is said, had seen several cases of
ba in al1
rapidly through section of the country where
large herds of cattle are pastured, many of
which are from Massachusetts. DIR. George
Bates OF Boston, was sent for by the authoTi-
tics of Hillsboro', and on examining the herd
into which the heifers had been turned, he
found three animals diseased. These were
killed, and they presented unmistakable evil
dences of the genuine contagious pleuropneu-
monia OF course the apprehensions OF Mr..
Wellington and others were now increased,
with respect to the danger of disease in the
cows in his barn. second examination of
them was made by the commissioners and
others. A calf of one of the COWS was killed
and found TO be diseased with ordinary pleuro
pneumonia and tho injunction upon the cows
was renewed"
And yet, after saying all this, he admits that
"strong proof" finally made it appear that
the disease" to the cattle in East Lexington,
land probably were incapable of communicate
ing it," That is to say, the disease has not
existed in East Lexington the cows killed
there were free from it, there had been no
actual exposure in that place; and therefore
the heiiers in question must have been free
from the disease when taken to New Hamp-
shire. With some consciousness of this diff
Guilty, rs" puts forth the following notable
paragraph =
whether the heifers killed at Hillsboro
actually had the disease, and if so, whether
they received the infection here and communi-
Gated 1t to the other animals that were found
to be diseased there, or whether these animals
were first diseased and communicated the i'll
lection to the heifers, yet remains to be deter.
mined"
Why not come to the point, at once, in man.
ly style, and admit that those who protested
to find malignant pleuro- pneumonia among
those cattle, in New Hampshire were entirely
mistaken? The mistake is undeniable There
has not actually been a case of the disease in
that state, or, at any rate there is no satisfac-
tory proof that a case has occurred there, and
the public interest requires that this should be
said frankly. We do not question either the
medical science or the common sense" of
those who reported that they had found the
disease i'll Hillsboro' but we know very well
that medical science and common sense" are
liable to make blunders when they undertake
to be oracular on matters that are new or I'M
familiar to them and we know also that any
man who feels that TO maintain good reputa-
ton Tor professional knowledge, he must never
seem ignorant Of any thing, nor incapable Of
giving an immediate solution of the most in
ulca'e mystery, is sure to give some worthless
opinions II is great thing, to be wise and
soh-rehaht enough to withhold such opinions
ana 10 say frankly" 81 do not know p or az am
III ooupl' when truth requires it, while the on.
p0slte fashion Of behavior does nat soo,, q, -.
entitled to respect. 1t is, in our view nnh,;o
ohense' deserving severe Reproduction, to perse-
we're, against proof to the contrary in ronro.
senting that the malignant cattle plague er;s,.
in any place where it was not supposed 70 a~
list, and that many animals have been exoosod
10 it nor does ii lessen the offence to do mi,
out Of tenderness to anybody's medical sci
ence. 1t does man no discredit to comics
that he has made mistake. On the contra
ny, such a confession persuades us that he wi
henceforlh be more careful and more worth
Of confidence.
Perhaps VIC ought to say here, that the COW