The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-06-05
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1850

IDENTICAL disease by which million OF cattle are |
reported to die annually in Europe. In the fat
pastures of Holland and the lush-green meadows
of England and Ireland, Pleuro-pneumoaia or
''he lung epidemic as it is there commonly
called-has of late years prevailed to fearful ex
tent, and has almost invariably proved fatal
This terrible disease was first brought into public
notice in England little more than a century ago.
and so rapid was its progress that in two counties
alone, over seventy thousand head of cattle died
within the course of six months. The prompt
measures which were taken by the Government to
prevent the spread of the disease, by ordering the
immediate slaughter of all the cattle that were
supposed 10 be infected or compromised duell
ed it for season, but did not entirely
eradicate it. From that period until the
present it has made its appearance at inter
walls of a few years; sometimes in mild, but
more frequently in its most malignant FORM
Formerly, experienced veterinary surgeons doubt
ed whether it was contagious. This doubt has
long since been dispelled and it is now conceded
not only that it is contagious, but that no re-
medal agent has been discovered which is of any
service whatever in the case. in Holland this
terrible distemper has for many years been more
frequent than in England. The cattle epidemic
which, in lS47, swept off ninety-fve out of every
hundred head of stock which were pastured in
the valley of the Thames, and thirty-fve per
cent Of the herds in the counties 10 which its
ravages were restricted, traced to importa-
tons from Holland. 1t broke ont with such
viruence in the latter country in 1857,
that in forty-three villages alone the num-
quence, amounted to fourteen thousand. In this
country the disease for whose suppression legsla-
tive action is invoked in the Eastern States, was
totally unknown, except by name, until the month
of May 1859, when Mr.. CHENERY, of Belmont,
North Brookfeld, Massachusetts, imported four
cows from Holland of breed that had become cee-
brated for its milking qualities On the voyage out
these cows fell sick, and two of them on their ar
rival at Boston were so feeble as to oblige the
owner to procure conveyance for the purpose OF
taking them from the wharf to Belmont.
Before The close of the month one of the
cows died. Three days afterwards Sc
cond one died. Four weeks later a third died,
leaving but remaining, which is still alive.
In the meantime, however other cattle,
belonging to the fine herd owned by Mr.. CHENERY
had taken the disease. 1t was not at first sup
posed to be contagious, and therefore the farmers
and dairymen of the vicinity experienced very
serious uneasness until the distemper began
to extend beyond the limits of the Belmont
estate, and to affect large numbers of cattle
in North Brookfed Then it was that the
nature of the disease became more clearly APP
parent, and every means which could be de-
yised 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 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 dol
lars more were added by private subscription.
Commissioners were appointed, who were charged
with the duty of investigating the nature OF the
disease, and who were clothed, at the same time,
with full power to take whatever steps might
seem necessary for the purpose of putting an
effectua check upon its ravagcs. Under their
directions eight hundred and forty-two cattle
have been killed, and the amount already ex-
pended TO remunerate the owners for the loss they
have sustained, exceeds twenty thousand dollars.
1t is believed that, in Massachusetts alone at least
one thousand additional head of cattle will have
to be sacrificed in similar manner, and that it
will require an appropriation of at least one hun
dred thousand dollars to meet the charges of the
Commission. In view of the urgency Of the
matter, an extra session of the Massachusetts
Legislature has been called by Governor BANKs
which has under consideration the best
method of eXterminating the disease. On tho
western line from Brookfeld to Ware the energetic
measures adopted by the Commissioners have
proven very successful but in other directions the
disease is steadily extending itself OF the
sixty cattle owned by Mr.. CHENERY, thirty had
died or had been summarily slaughtered, and il
was thought advisable that the remaining thirty
should be killed. To kill alb the cattle within
certain limits, or TO isolate them entirely from
contact with all others, appear to be the only
available remedies proposed. Under more
favorable conditions DR.. LoRING, one of the Com
missioners, was convinced that twenty per cent
of all the cases would prove fatal and that under
existing conditions, not more than ten cattle il
every hundred head could be saved. Unfortu
nately, the disease is no longer confined to Massa
chusetts. In New Hampshire five catt
have already died of it, and as hun
dreds of Others have been exposed to thu
contagion, the excitement among the farm
ers of that region is very great. II
New Jersey also it has broken out, on a farm
near Newark, and on another near Chatham
eight miles from Morrisown. But in both of tn
latter instances although some twenty or twenty
five head Of cattle have died, the symptoms, a
described, are rather such as are common t.
cases of acute pneumonia, and, therefore, d
fer very materially from that typhoid form
the disease which has proven so fatal in Massa
chusetts. For the information of those who fee
an interest in subject which is engrossing niue
attention at the Eastward, it may be proper t
stale what pleuro-pneumonia really is. Diveste
of all technical phraseology, it may be describe
as an inflammation of the membrane which en-
velopes the lungs and lines the cavity of the chest
On the walls Of each cavity of the chest, tn
pleura-costais-as it is there called-is formed b,
sheet of fine and elastic cellular tissue loosel,
attached to the ribs, the iutercostal muscle ant
to other suhjacent parts. On the exterior of tn
lung the pleuro-pulmonaris is composed of THU
superficial layer of fine cellular tissue and ;
being very elastic, affords important assistanc
in the act of expiration. Between the two surfa
ces of tie pleura-whch are continuous with eac
other-is a space that is called the sac of til
pleura, into which small quantity of Serious fui
is constantly secreted, that moistens the opposit
surfaces of the lung and the wall of the chest ant
permits their free motion upon each other. TIL
difficulty of detecting pleuro-pneumonia in it
earlier stages is one Of the reasons why remedie
which might prove servceable have not been o
any avail. A first the animal droops little ant
is feverish, hut it frequently regains temporari
iy its hveiness and its appetite, and shows out
wardly all those signs which farmers are accus
toned to regard as indicating recovery suspicion
as to the true nature of the disease is in many in
stances completely lulled. After the lapse how
ever, of a short period, cough sets in; the appe
tte fails; the breathing becomes painfully op
pressed; the eyes grow bright and watery; tn
mouth dry, and the breath hot and fetd. G
course, the disease in this form is inevi
tally fatal. A post morton examination
of cattle thus affected, discloses tn
fact that the lungs have becom
zone mass of frothy, cheesy corruption" 1t
this, the worst and most dangerous type of tn
disease, that now enlists the attention of til