White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-07-26
The Cattle Distemper.

The introduction into Massachusetts Of
the cattle disease. known as pleuro pneu.
nonia, its rapid spread .throughopt the
eastern section of the State, tue contagi-
GUS character usually attributed to it, and
the absence Of any known remedy or pre-
vention short Of the sacrifice of every ami
NAL exposed, all combine to excite among
the farmers and people generally through
ont the State, the worst apprehensions,
and to create serious alarm.
The Massachusetts Legislature, at its
annual session, in order to guard against
what then appeared q possible contin-
gency, passed an act providing for Che
appointment Of board Of commission
ers, three in number, with absolute pow
ers over every herd Of cattle where the
disease had made its appearance, or where
they believed animals had been exposed.
and made an appropriation of twenty
thousand dollars to pay for such animals
as might be killed by their order Gov.
Banks appointed an intelligent commits
sion. under whose direction, as the
disease has rapidly developed itself in
town after town and county after county,
great numbers of animals have been
slaughtered and yet, after the expendi-
ture Of the SUN appropriated, the evil is
scarcely checked, and threatens to extend,
not over Massachusetts, but throughout
the country. In fact it has. if the &C.
counts are correct. already made its ap-
pearance in several places in Connect
cut, where the alarm is becoming gsner-
al, and legislative action is loudly de-
manded. Under this state Of facts, the
Governor Of Massachusetts. acting upen
the demand of the Commissioners. aad
under the advice Of the Executive Chun-
Gil, convened an extra session of the Leg.
islature on Wednesday last. for The pur.
pose of considering the subject AMI Of
directing what further steps shall be ia
ken to arrest the alarming evil.
The only plan thus far agreed upon by
the Commissioners and others who nave
investigated this subject is to XIII all in.
fected or exposed animals; but, at the
rate the disease is spreading, such q
course will be not only enormously ex-
pensive to the State, but by no means
sure of effecting the purpose sought
Complete isolation Of the animals on the
farms TO which they belong. and prohibit
ton, under severe penalties. from remov-
ing them without leave from the proper
authorities, il one Of the means sugges-
ted, while others propose to establish q
line, the Connecticut river. beyond which.
westwarily, no animal shall be allowed
to pass. To this it is replied that the
disease has probably been already COM
and that therefore this plan fails.
The subject is one of vast importance.
not only to New England, but to the
whole country. a similar distemper pre-
vailed among the cattle in England from
1744 to 1855. In Nottinghamshire 49,
900 head Of cattle died in six months;
in Cheshire 10000 During the third
year of the disease f135,000 were paid
out of the public treasury as a recon-
pense for slaughtered cattle In 1857.
in forty three villages in Holland, $4,000
head Of cattle died OF were killed.
Governor Banks on the assembling Of
the Legislature, delivered carefully pre-
pdTeu huuIeASb VI
the disease in the State and offering sug-
gestions concerning the steps which tho
Legislature might take. He thinks THAI
in the first place courtesy requires them
to regulate or prohibit, so far as can be
wisely and properly done, the expectation
of cattle in which the seeds of disease
may possibly exist to the neighborins
States. Power should be given the COM
missioners to secure the isolation Of sus-
pected or diseased herds. Towns should
receive ampler powers to guard them
selves against invasion by infected cattle.
Measures should be taken to secure .
thorough case, to ascertain whether il is
contagious or epidemic. Moro care may
be necessary in regulating the transit OF
cattle through the several towns. Tho
number Of neat cattle in the country is
estimated at % 900 90, valued at $780,
10000 The message was referred to .
Joint committee Of the two Houses.