Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-06-21


ture of the disease became more clearly appar-
eut, and every means which could be devised
to meet the emergency was promptly sought.
Veterinary surgeons were at once sent for
Those herds in which the epidemic had shown
itself were at once secluded from contact with
all others. Cattle known to be infected were
killed without delay Legislative assistance
was asked, which was Immediately granted. to
the amount of ten thousand dollars Twenty
thousand dollars more were added by private
| subscription. Commissioners were appointed,
who were charged with the duty of investigat-
ing the nature of the disease and who were
clothed, at the same time, with full power tc
take whatever steps might seem necessary for
the purpose of putting an efectual check up
on its raYages. Under their directions eight
| hundred and forty-two cattle have been killed
and the amount already expended to remuner-
ate the owners for the loss they have sustain
ed. exceeds twenty thousand dollars. 1t is
! believed that, in Massachusetts alone, at least
Que thousand additional head of cattle win
have to be sacrificed in u similar manner. and
/ that it will require an appropriation of at
/ least one hundred thousand dollars to meet
Z the charges of the Commission la view of
{ the urgency of the matter, all extra session of
/ the Massachusetts Legislature has been called
h by Governor Banks, which has now under
consideration the best mode of eXterminatipg
I the disease On the western line from Brook
/ field to Ware the energetic measures adopted
4 by the Commissioners have proven very sue
/ cesSful, but in other directions the disease is
steadily extending itself OF the sixty cattle
! owHed by NJ. Cheuery, thirty had died or had
! been Sunmarlly slaughtered, and it was thought
advisable that the remaining thirty should be
killed. To kill all the cattle within certain
4 limits, or 10 isolate them entirely from contact
( with all others, appear to be the onlg availa
( ole remedies proposed Under more favora.
/ Ule conditions Fr. i,oring. Que of the Com
I misSionerS, was convinced that twenty per cent.
/ of all the eases would prove fatal. aud that
! under existing conditions, not ROre than ten
cattle in every hundred head could be saved
I Unfortunately, the disease is 10 longer con-
I iiued to Massachusetts, In New Hampshire
five cattle have already died Of it, aud as hen
dreds have already died of it, aud as hundseds
/ OF others have been exposed to the contagiun.
the excitement among the farmers of that
region is very great. la New jersey also it
has broken out, on a farm near Newark. and
on another near Chatham, eight miles from
AoruStOwn. But in both of the latter in
stances, although some twenty or twenty-five
head OF cattle have died, the symptoms, as
described, are rather such as are common to
CaseS OF AGATE pneumonia, and therefore, diff
fer very materially from that typhoid form OF
the disease which has proven SO fatal in Mas
sachusctts.
For the information Of those who feel an
interest in a subject which is engrossing much
attertiou at the Eastward, it may be proper
10 state shat pleurc pneumonia really is. Di.
vested of all technical phraseoIoey, it may be
described as inflammation Of the membrane
which envelopes the lungs and lines the cavity
of the chest. On the walls Of each cavity of
the chest the pleera costalis-as it is there
called--iS formed by a sheet of fine and elastic
cellular tissue loosely attached TO the ribs the
iuterc0stal muscle, and TO other Sphiacent parts
Ga the exterior of the lang the pleuro .pulmo-
uaris IS composed of thin superficial layer of
hne cellular tissue, aad deeper layer of coar-
ser hhruuS tissue, which being very elastic,
affords important assistance in tie act of re-
spiraticn Between the two surfaces CT the
pleura which are continuous with each other
is a space that is called the sac of the pIegra
Into which i small quantity Of Serogs fluid is
constantly secreted, that moistenS the opposite
surfaces Of the lung and the wal Of the chest.
and permits their free motion up6n each ether
The difficulty of detecting pIeuro pneumonia in
its earlier stages is one of tue reasons why re-
NEEDLES which might prove serviceabIe have not
been of any avail. At the FIRST the animal
droops . little and is feversh, but as it fIe-
aueptly rcgaipS temporarily its Iiveljness aud
its appetite, and shows oatwardy all those
signs which farmers are accustomed to regard /
as Indicating recovery, suspicion as to the true
nature of the disease is in many instances com /
pletely Iulled. After the lapse, however, of I
short period cough sets in the appetite fails
the breathing becomes painfully oppressed |
the eyes grow bright and watery the mouth
dry, aud the breath hot aud fetid OF course, /
the disease in this form is inevitably fatal. A
post mor.an examination Of cattle thus affected
5sclQses the fucr that the lungs have become
- one mass Of frothy, cheesy corruption II
is this, the worst aud most dangerous type of |
the disease, that nov enlists the attention of
the Legislature OF Massachusetts,, assembled 10 /
extra session. Governor Banks gery properly !
suggests that, in addition to authorizing the !
adoption OF such prompt measures as shall get
rid of every yestige Of the disease within the
limits of the State, due regard for the safety
OF other States demands that all exports OF
cattle from Massachusetts, shall be, for the |
present, prohibited So far. the adviceS is
good but, independently of any action which
NAV be taken by Massachusetts, il is in eumbent
upon every State, WHICH has heretofore been
accustomed to draw supplies Of cattle from
Massachusetts,, TO pere4ptoriiT forbid any
further import of them until such time as all
fear Of the disease is at an end We believe
it has been determined by some the Eastern
States that no cattle-shows shall he held dur
ing the nrevalence al The disease in that sec