Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-06-07
The Cattle Distemper.

THE remarkable disease. which is carrying dis.
may and terror amongst the Northern farmers ana
graxiers is getting to DO as much q subject Of dis
cussion as tho Asatic cholera once was. and gives
rise to quite ~ great diversity Of opinion.
The New York Tribune maintains that it is
contagious whilst the Express Of the Same city,
repudiates this idea, at least argscs that prox.
unity of the infection is not necessary to commr
nica,c the disease. The latter journal has the
following interesting account Of its incpiency and
progress in the North
The cattle distemper, which has been masking such
havoc among tho herds in sections of the New
England States, would now seem to be approaching
own vicinity, 1t has already made its appear
In New Jersey, within twelve miles of New
York. that now less than six Of The largest dali
~ and beef producing States have the malndy with
in their borders. We have seen that the combined
deal knowledge Of New England has been unable
Il put check to the distempcr, to discover
She cause for its existence. Contrary to NIL prece-
dcut, this bovine disease does not seem TO rcquire
dose proximity of the healthy, to the affected cattle
order TO communicate the complaint. Instances
cited where herds have been affected fatally, when
fc nearest known cases were Mt least eight miles dis
ttnt. 1t is demonstrated that the timo of exposure
10 The period when the disease is noticeable, varies
from six to fourteen days. and that the stage of the
disease when tho infected ippars to the healthy the
dis,empey is shortly after exposure and before The
,nalady assumes q visible aspect The disease has
been known scarcely twelve months 10 this coun-
Try YET in that time It has spread 10 six States, md
over thirty localities. More than 500 head OF cattle
IN New England have been slaughtered to prevent the
extension OF the disease and over one thousand have
died Of the contagion. All attempts to check the
dtstemper have been unavalne, aud In view Of This
rapid spread of the coniagon, how long will ii be,
ere the pleuro pneumonia, as it is called, will rEe'
every herd aud dairy in the tnon2 II is impossible
TO conjecture how many of the cattle of New Jerse,
have been exposed to it, aud few days may reveal /,
US New Workers state of facts which will create
pleasant feelings OF distase, when we sit ut rof
fee and ten mud consider with what diseases and poi
sons they impregnated, in consequence OF the
worry product of the Jersey dairies. Beef butter ant
! cheese which now form the bulk of the produc,
market must decline, when these facts and the
TO which the disease has attained, become known,
in the use Of milk, We fancy, there will be ex
tensive "panic, than was caused year or two ny,
by the "stump tair' developments.
In view OF these declarations of our New York co
temporary, and Of other facts that have to on
knowledge, 1t becomes a question how far i, will b
safe for US to use longer the product of Northern
diaries TINT comes to US in the form of New Englan
cheese; of which so large a quantity Is used in tn
Southern and middle States. In abstinence only INA
there be perfect safety. We sympathise deeply wit
our Northern fellow citizens in their great caam,,
not knowing either, how soon we may be involved i
n similar disaster. The disease is spreading South
ward, and should II reach the Southern portion G
New Jersey, may not be long in getting to Marylan
aud Virginia.
We are glad to see that a special session of III
Legislature of Massachusetts has been called for To
purpose OF determining what legislation, # any,
necessary to DO adopted for the purpose of arrestin
the progress Of the disease Congress has also take
up the matter but as this affair concerns white me
and their interests It's not probable that will
Ply much of the time of that august body; now chic
ly intent upon patching up the Constitution Of I'll
Democracy, which has been sorely raeked: or in a,
tending the interests Of the "ral splitting" cand
date and his hybrid crew.
From evidence before us, we have no doubt tbs
the Massachusetts, cattle disease Is contagious th'
: it was brought to this country BY cattle importe
K from Holland; and we would therefore suggest |
farmers aud graxers that they be exceeding char
2 for some time to come, Of all important cattle Il
D. may hereafter come from abroad. Better postpone
the prospective advantage to be derived from "tho