The Grand Haven news., 1865-12-13
THE RINDERPEST, OR CATTLE
PLAGUE. s

1 ~~>'s~>>
the attention of American dairymen TO
the fact that this disease has shown itself
in Great Britain, and that an increased
demand for their butter and cheese would
follow. This result is already seen.
The disease is rapidly spreading in
Great Britain, and, by the latest accounts,
it is without remedy. Now it becomes
our duty TO speak Of IL more fully, for two
reasons: because the American farmer
should not be ignorant Of such disease
even IL it was certainly known that it
would never reach these shores, and be-
cause il may teach thsm, and, hence, en-
ergetic and efficient measures should be
adopted 20 prevent its introduction.
The word rinderpest" means cattle
plague. The disease thus named is one
Of the most infectious known, and is sp-
izooticol. This word signifies among
animals" as the word "epidemic" " means
"among people," 1t prevails normally
in the steppes Of Russia; that is, the
causes that generate the disease are thore
always existing. These steppes are high
prair;es, and like our own in the west,
which have within them the unknown
causes Of the trembles, or milk-sickness,
they contain the unknown causes that
create the disease now under considera-
ton. So we find the scourge OF the hu-
man family, now again approaching us,
the cholera, to have its normal existence
in a southern slope Of the Himalaya
mountains. There constant wet, acted
upon by as constant heat has produced a
vegetation that completely conceals the
ground from view, and in its decay there
is evolved the cause of cholera. Under
favorable conditions for its propagation,
il passes from the country Of its origin 70
desolate the earth by fulfilling its mis-,
sion of death. .
Ifany ol our readers will look at the
map Of Russia they will see that around
Moscow several rivers take their rise, flow
ing in all directions. Here is a vast plain,
and from its waters these rivers are form
ed. In many places they scarcely flow
at all, but s,agnale in rich level soil that
discolors the water with its own dark hues.
Swamps pervade the country; few farms
exist in comparison with the pasturage,
and agriculture is in low condition.
Here is abundant stock, with no winter
food provided for them, subject to calam-
tiles such as visited California, when un-
favorable seasons cut short the accustom-
ed pasture. Reduced to want during the
winter, the cattle and other stock, even
the human race itself are afflicted with
disease when the heat Of spring furnishes
fresh grass, so untitled to this starvation
Of winter. e
Among these diseases is the rindsrpest.
If il is at all infectious by the atmosphere,
it is but slightly SO secondarily. But by
contact IFS propagation is the most GER
tain Of all diseases. Hence its spread
can be guarded against by isolation. Up
on this fact the nations of Europe have
acted against it with efficiency.
To determine the best means Of protec-
ton against the disease, we must under
stand its character, for measures of pre-
vention or of cure must be 10 accordance
with the nature of the disease. We shall
then speak first of the character of the
disease, and second Of the means that
have been adopted TO eradicate il from
European nations, and from these deduce
what is demanded of us as a people or a
government to guard against its introduc-
lion into the United States.
We have before US a most excellent re-
port on this plague, from j. B. Simonds,
Professor Of Cattle Pathology, in the
Royal Veterinary College Of England,
written in 1857. In 1856 the dis
ease, through the expectation Of Russian
cattle into Austria, Prussia, and other
German nations, had been introduced into
countries contiguous to Russia, and the
nations Of Europe then investigated its
character. The Royal Agricultural So
cieties Of England, Scotland and Ireland,
acted together and sent Mr.. Simonds to
Europe to make himself acquainted with
the character Of the disease and the means
of its prevention and cure. Accompanied
BY German veterinary professor, he went
to SiIesin, 10 Austria, and examined ami
mails affected by il, and on bis return
made the report from which we purpose
making our extracts. Before doing so,
however, we pause TO mike a comment on
the fact that these eminent societies, 10
selecting this equally eminent professor
as their agent, pursued different course
from many here, who, when the pIeuro-
pneumonia had been introduced into this