The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-06-15

satisfactory by the Southern delegates, they
are most assuredly going on fools errand.
The Southern faction utterly repudiate the
man Douglas, and his principles, and his
nomination by a united convention under the
absurd two-thirds rule is an absolute impos-
sibility.
The Cattle DiSease--Its Origin, its Effects.
and its Remedy.
This truly alarming pestilence is attracting
the attention and absorbing the interest of
all classes and Of all people. 1t has gradu-
ally extended, slowly but surely, till it is now
reported to exist in three States, Massachu-
sets, Connecticut and New Hampshire and
something that appears like the pleuro-pneu-
mon.a is reported in New Jersey.
This disease was introduced into this coun-
try by cattle imported from Holland by a
Mr.. Chenery of Belmont. 1t was supposed
that these cattle were sick from bad treat
ment on shipboard. Last July Mr.. Chenery
sold some of his stock to Young farmer in
North Brookfeld, Mass. In August one of
these cattle was taken sick, the disease was
communicated to others in the herd. and soon
several died. But it was not till about the
middle of February that any particular a
larm was felt, people not believing that the
disease was contagious. About this time
this fearful disease began to attract the seri-
Gus attention Of farmers in No. Brookfeld
and vicinity. a petition was drawn up, and
after appending many signatures, it was pre-
sented to the Massachusetts legislature then
in session. After fooling with this import
ant matter fire weeAS. the Legislature passed
law under which commissioners have since
been acting. This law eontemplates only the
check of the disease by the slaughter of The
infected animals. The greater and more i'm
rortant subject Of circumscribing and head
ing off the disease seems not to have been
thought Of
During all this period of time, from Au-
gnst to April, the farmers of the inft cted dis
trict have teamed and Travelled with their
cattle, bringing them in contact with others,
and thereby spreading pestilence over four
States before tie people become awake to the
Importance of checking it. 1t is feared now
that this disease, confined as it was eight
months ago to one town and one herd will
become as wide spread as the continent it.
sell. SO it is not question of few thous-
and dollars, but hundreds of millions.
We see it stated that Gov. Hall has visit.
ed the infected district of Massachusetts with
a view Of calling session of the legislature
to provide means for preventing the disease
from sweeping our own State Such step
may be advisable. Anything that can be
done to prevent such a calamity should bt
done speedily. We have already heard of
cattle from Massachusetts being taken into
our State to pasture.
! \ stringent bill has passed the legislature
of Rhode Island, to prevent the importation
of cattle from Massachusetts. The Govern
or of Maine has appointed a commission te
visit Massachusetts, and report to the people
of their State of the disease and its rene
dies. A bill has passed the Connection,
House, authorizing the Governor to appoin,
commissioners with power to isolate diseased
cattle at safe distance from others, and ap
proprlatins $4,000 for their operations A
meeting of the New Jersey agricultural soci
ETY. is called to consider the subject of the
cattle disease. and much excitement exists a.
mong the farmers of that State.
Rev. MIR. Lindley, missionary to the Zulu,
of South Africa, was before the Connection,
Legislature last week, and gave the commit
tee an account of the disease in that country
lie said the disease was introduced five wears
ago, from Holland, the same as in the case
of MIR. Chenery Of Massachusetts,, in
two years it spread thirteen hundred miles
up the coast, literally blotting out the neat
stock ofthe country. The question was ask
ed him what was the condition of the cattle
that were left MIR. Lindley said there were
none-he had never known but one to get
well. There is the strongest proof that the
disease in that country is contagious and not
epidemic. The only remedy which has in
any way proved successful is innoculation.-
The number that recover in that case is a.
bout sixteen out of twenty, # the animals
are young, healthy and of low flesh. Innoc.
ulation is certain death to fat cattle. In clo-
sing Mr.. Lindley said "If the disease comes
here it wW take the heart out of mann q
strong man they will wilt right down under
it."
In view of such facts as these, what is the
duty Of our State ? 1t seems plain to us
that if this malady can in any way be shut
out from US, it would be wisdom as
well as economy to expend $4,000, or even
more, to secure such an object.