Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-08-11
The Threatened Ca,,,e playue

The New York Commercial of last evening
says; Ihe de"patchcs from the West and
southwest nave for some time boon laden with
portentious sayings r--poct'ng diseased cattle
brought by droyers from IT, plains of Texas
Tbe rumors swept IN wide circles at first; but
while they involved only the Western cities;
our autnoriti"s exhibited no signs Of uneasiness
But by degrees the circles con verged and drew
toward the grounds upon which our butchers
forase Tor the immediate supplies of this vora-
cious CITY, and the Buffalo and other cattle.
yards were spoken of as showing signs of the
prefer ce OF diseased cattle. Our Board of
Health, which. by the way, it might not be iu-
approriate to designate the trils Of the city,
NJ once took precautionary measures to dis.
peTse the infectcd herds before they came under
the undiscriminatIng knives Of our enter
prising butchers.
The investigations made under the direction
OF the Bo?rd OF Health proved that the e meas
nrfs We're tasen not moment too soon, for
Dr. HrIris, ON proceeding to Communipaw
discovered about $50 of the drove OF GO ship
ped by j. 7. Alexander to his agent, William
Fitch, out OF which abont fif v died on the way
Dr. Harris discovered several OF these animals
actually suffering from the disease, the symp.
toms OF which Were quite marked. The own
eTs OF this yard requested DR.. Harris to give
them the necessary instructions for disinfect.
ing the pens and other places where the cattle
had been. which were Immediately given, and
two CASKS OF carbollc ccid were sent for that
being the disinfectant usod i'm England with
the most signal succe IS while that country was
visited with this dreadful scourge
On tne return OF DIR. Harris to New York in
structions were given to our Meat Inspectors
through the proper officers additional Inspec
tors were appointed, and teleerams were sent
TO Governor Fenton and TO the Governors of
New Jersey and Pennsylvania. and those Off
GERS promptly signified their Willingness to act
IN concert with our officers Guards are 10 be
stationed at all the railroad lines 10 prevent
the shipment OF diseased cattle to this market,
and every cattle train is TO be accompanied by
competent medical officer, so that IN clse the
malady develops itself on a train, IL NAV be
immediately stopped, the cattle penned, and if
necessary, shot, TO prevent the spread of the
dlsea"e. In iact, every necessary step appears
~ nave ceen taken by our authorities, aud it is
TO be hoped that the plague will be stamped
OUT in this neighborhood.
On Sunday the President OF the Board of
Health, Mr.. Lincoln, received a spatch from
Mr.. Payson, President of the Abattoir Com
pany, stating that Mr.. Fitch had resolved to
slaughter the cattle that had been exposed to
the disea sc, and throw their carcasses into the
rendering kettles, aud il it was desired to make
any post nOrtcni examinations that an opportu.
nifty would be afforded. Mr.. Lincoln, DR. Har.
ris and his aides, Drs. Stiles, Howard, and
Morris. proceeded to the Abattoir, yesterday
afternoon, and a steer, so badly diseased that
he could rot stand. was killed and subjected
to ss minute an investigation as the crcum-
stances would admit of. The lungs were
healthy, the liver twice the usual size, weigh.
ing q lbs, with hRmaturea and bloody trcal
discharges.