New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-30


and impressed With the conviction that It sksuIe
b instantly stopped. reported two very snnssst
bills. which. after much debate, were passed. as&
approved. The expenses of the special sesuos
proper ~ere S25, 900; the time of some TIRES hund
red men was consumed for fortoght; beside the
6rst $40 900 given last session, 100000 more WAS
placed ia the hands Of the Commissioners for sx-
pendture, Unnecessary; and still the disease l. urt
ing in the bodies OF eleven hundred cattle msrked
for destruction. All this because four diseased
Dutch cows we're landed ct Boston wharf, All this,
and even more; since there is reason to believe
that the infection has crept into New-Hampshire
and Connecticut. Perhaps elsewhere; who knowst
How much trouble coming from the infection OF four
cows, which should have been thrown to the sharks
before ever they were suffered to enter the port!
To our mind, this experience suggests very simple
precauton, which would undoubtedly save US
repetition of such calamity. At each OF our
principal sea ports, but especially OF New-Yorhs
Boston. Philadelphia and Baltimore, there should
be connected with the Custom-House three CON-
petept veterinary surgeons, whose duty 1t should
be to examine every animal imported, and certify
IN its being free from contagious disease, before
it could be permitted to land. These persons
need not be in the constant tenure OF SINE
cure places, but simply at the disposal Of
the Collector and paid fair fee tor each
examination At New-York, the greater part
of our imported stock is landed and even here the
amount is small; 80 that the expense OF inspecs'oa
TO the Government would be merely nominal whils
the saving to Massachusetts alone would have bcea,
perhaps, o quarter Of million in one year. A
the case stands DOW with ouI farmers, they are
helpessly exposed to the loss Of their stock, Tor
such thing as Veterinary College barely exists
In the whole country, aud thorough veterinarians
are almost unknown. Near while, all banen
and sales OF animals are made without the
usual medical guarantees which protect En-
plish purchasers, and pleuro- pneumonia, or
any other terrible contagion, may invade the
farmers stables, and be viii merely repeat the e.
perience of Mr.. Cheuery in 1865, Dir. Prentice Ia
1853, or Mr.. RICHARDSON in 1857.
The disease in Massachusetts, is now modified
in form, but none the les. dangerous. The warm
weather, soft air, and open pastures, seem to keep
it in allegiance, and viii undoubtedly lead to
fancied. security on the part of cattle-o~ners.
In our opinion, the mslady will remain
latent to q considerable extent Until Fall,
when it will probably reappear with re-
newed viralence. This result will be the moro
certain if those cattle which have been presented
to the contagion are left exposed to the cold niga
of October, as is the usual custom Ia New-En-
Gland. Mr. Flint, who shares in THE conviction
doubts if the identical disease exists In othSs
States, except perhaps in New-Hampshire aad
Connecticut, in both of which the cases have been,
traced back direct to Brook6ed or Braintree.
There is no longer q doubt as to the co..
taeious nature of the disease. nor that isols-
ton is the sole effectual preventive against
its spread. Our advice, therefore, we repeat,
that cry farmer n the districts infected, or
those subject to invasion in future, should carefully
watch his herd, Oh the appearance of the hrst
symptom isolate the sick beast and if no improve
ment follows kill 1t is far better to lose one cow
or steer than the whole herd, aud that viii be the
almost Inevitable result, in the present state Of
cattle doctoring in this country. The Massachu-
sets bill just passed provides for proper quaran
tine farm and Board of Medical Examiners, t.
learn the cause and cure if any, Of the pest; but
We might as well conclude that pleuro- pneumonia,
OF whatever be the name It should bear, is pract-
cally incurabe, and act accordingly. Always, Of
course, excepting preventive treatment for ia ear
rlier stages. 1t especially behoOves NeS-HamP
shire and Connecticut to wall about and eradicsts
the disease before Fall. These States are nos
more less infected aud it may Turk inactive unt2
all suspicious are luDed and then break out in Octs
Der or November simulta ueously in score Of pla s,
as viruleDt as in aly caee at Braintree. The
Connecticut farmers near the line know this vel
en- yugb, and already the Cattle Commissioners r.
Gently appointed BY the Legislature have posted
notices in al the Dor Ter towns forbidding the in
port of any cattle, well or unwell from Msssacha-
sets, under penalty of $500 6ne, and X MONTH
Imprisonment.