New-York tribune., 1868-12-23
THE lung DISTEMPER IN Cattle

THE lung DLSTElfPER IN CATTLE
II is not generally known that the contagious
pleuro pneumonia Of cattle is daily acquiring
firner hold on our country than is pleasant or
at all safe. The disease was first imported from
England, and public spirited importer III New
jersey at once sacrificed the whole OF his stock
to prevent the spread of the disease 1t then
appeared about three years Later Oh Long
Island, and has without intermssion sapped the
resources Of the dairymen. Dutch cattle carried
the disease. the third time, into Massachusetts,,
and the people of that State labored earnestly.
and ultimately with triumphant success, for it's
extinction. Massachusetts is to this day free,
but the germs of the disease in Long Island
have silently, insidiOuSly, and with unerring
certainty diffused themselves so as to penetrate
some of the rich dairy districts in New-York
State, and thence through New-Jersey to Penn
sylvania Baltimore, Washington, and Virginia.
Where the matter will end we know not but
| it is certain that unless Congress and State
| Legislatures inform themselves Of tho extent
of the ravages by this disease and
adopt rational rcpressiye measures, the
malady will soon reach every part OF
this broad continent. In this case, ignorance
| il not bliss; it is an unmitigated folly; and we
must earnestly press the matter before the at"
| tenton Of the whole country. We do not
want panic. Panic is the result of negll-
eence. want Of knowledge, and excited pas
sons. The time has come for the scientific
investigation of the Ills that flesh is heir to,
and science tells us how to meet cattle
plague calmly, nationally, and with the utmost
certainty of controlling its dissemination. An
ominous looking circular has been issued by an
influential body of gentlemen from Westches-
ter Pa, They say that the great increase
| in the disease known as pleuro-pneumonla
among cattle within few years past calls Tor
| immediate and earnest attention from the COM
munity. at is we'll known fact" they con-
Time. "tlat the cupidty Of many induces them,
Z" as soon as the disease develops itself on their
"premises. to hurry off their stock diseased
" os well as not diseased) to the nearest drove
ward. to be thero sold for whatever they
will bring, to be either sold as food OF driven
off to new sections, and there to infect and
"poison ,other animals with which they may
come in contact
What do Congress and our state Legisla-
tures intend doing under the circumstances
Can tho Agricultural Department neglect a
matter which concerns the whole cattleprO-
ducing regions of America There are no funds
appropriated for such contingency; but
surely, when the vast interests at stake are
considered, it is prudent to be wise and gen
erous in time, and avoid the great calamities
which have oveItaken England and other En-
ropean countries. If we have imported dis
ease, let us by all means and at the earliest
possible moment follow the example of Massa-
chusetts and exterminate the contagious germs
which are inhicting so much injury. We are
told and We have seen that the extermmatlon
of this malady is by no means matter OF
great difficulty. though calling for energetic
action for a time. Better this than the DIS
asters which neglect is sure to entail on us.