The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-12
Cattle-Tha Disease-Railroads.

The great cities which receive their sup
plies Of cattle from the West are much con-
cerned about the cattle disease which has
developed itself in the northwestern States.
The post morton examinations made of
animals dying of the disease in Chicago in
dictate that it is not murrain nor rinderpest.
Tho lungs sound, the liver fs grcutly
enlarged, and the intestines and evacua-
tons show dysenteric symptoms.
As the disease adheres mainly to the
railway lines, and as Texas cattle have
been transported along those lines, it is
assumed that these cattle have brought the
disease with them from Tetas. Now, we
suspect that there is great mistake in this
presumption, and that the whole cause is
the mode of transportation in railroads for
such long distances. No man who has seen
cattle transported in the closely packed
cars can have failed to observe their dis
tressed condition in hot weather. If we
remember that these cattle are transported
hundreds Of miles without food, and especi-
ally without water, we may imagine not
only what sufferings they endure but what
injury they sustain in their physical con-
dition. Their internal economy must be
subjected to violent action-the inhaling of
the poisoned atmosphere Of their narrow
enclosure must be most hurtful to their
health. The wonder should be that cpl
denies do not oftener appear amongst them,
and we suspect that the manifestations OF
the dreadful effects of this sort Of transpor-
tation are often anticipated by the butchers
knife.
If, Furthermore, we remember that the
life of the OK, until he is ready for market,
is passed in salubrious, healthy regions,
amidst green fields supplied with pure
streams, in which, at will, he quenches his
thirst, we can appreciate the violence of
the transition from such scenes and de-
lights to the packed railroad cattle car, full
of offence, where he suffers fortunes indie
scribable. The OK, too, it must be remem-
bered, is fastidious and clearly, and is very
susceptible to deleterious influences of bad
atmosphere, water, and food. The fine milk
COWS of the mountains cannot live here be-
cause deprivedo of the food, the atmosphere,
and the water to which they have been &C
customed, and which effect that superb
development which all SO much admire in
the mountain cow.
We are informed by the accounts Of this
western disease that it developes itself in
droves that, after long railroad trans
portation, have been taken from the cars
and placed in the fields to rest. Exactly.
And this brings up the inquiry whether the
aforesaid butchers knife does not very often
prevent similar developments in cattle
which have travelled by rail to the large
cities to be slaughtered!
We are impressed with the idea that
this so-called ne,o disease comes from rail-
road transportation, and may be well styled
"the railroad cattle plague" The late hot
weather has been most favorable to its de-
Vel0pment.
Whether it be or not, we have long been
of the opinion that the mode of transporta-
ton Of cattle in railroad cars for many
hundreds of miles demanded reform. All
the parties interested should demand this
reform-the grazier, the butcher, and espe-'
ciallyt. consumer, should demand it. Even
the railroad companies ought to deem it
their interest to consult that of the other
parties. The present inhuman and inju-
rious custom must, in its effects, in the
end recoil upon the railroads. The matter
should become the subject Of legislation.
Water and food should be given to cattle.
They should not be deprived of water at
most over certain period of time. Who
las not seen the famished auimals licking