The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-08-22
Farm ana BarOen.
The Cattle Disease.


From the Prairie FARMER.
Since our last issue the investigations regard.
ing this disease have been continuGd-principal-
ly in the neighborhood of Tolono an CHAMPAIGN.
The routes taken by the Texas cattle have been
followed up in various directions, North East.
and West from Tolono for distance of 20 to 10
miles, finding the course of the disease to follow
in these trails and nowhere else Continued
post-mortem examinations have been made in all
the localities visited, showing the same general
characteristics in all.
That the disease is communicated by the excre-
ment and urine OF these foreign cattle depos-
tied on the range where they feed the eyidence
seems more fully to establish Notwithstanding
there are yet many, and some so-caled medical
men whom we have met, that seem willing TO be-
lieve the disease Is communicated by ticks that
are found promiscuously on both native and Tex
as cattle Others still believe that the disease IL
communicated by virus brought in the feet OF
the Texans. Nothing we think can be more alb
surd than both OF these theories rs ne have seen
animals entirely free from ticks where the disease
was as fatal as anywhere and careful exanaina-
ton of the feet of the latest imported cattle pre-
sents no signs OF present or past disease.
Rumors were rife that horses were dying OF the
disease. We run down one such report whore
man was said to have lost five head. The owner
had lost the horses, but never thought Of attrbut-
i'ib ~ " N8Ic itASS ulstdst ne lt>L one E-el
from snake-blte, mare from oyer-work and
heating, and another from cause not known.
Regarding the question Of our native stock be-
ing able TO communicate it to Others there are
reports Of such cases but having carefully inves-
tigated them we have invariably found they had
been allowed 10 run on the same range Of the
Texas cattle-thus confirming the position 20 far
that there IS no danger of It's spreading By their
coming in contact with ether natives on ground
where the Texas c..tle have not becu The facts
60 to show that it wants only complete sepera-
ton, that the native cattle shall not feed from
the same ground, 70 prevent TIE disease; simple
board fence being uIlie.eut, as we have seen in
many instances We have known the fresh i'm
ported Texas cattle 20 be pat into dis.illery sheds
pr0inls uOs.y with native stock where both have
been I'D until turned OF for beef. without the
natives contracting any disease. These facts GER
family se1m conc.usiyc.y 20 establish the fact
that the disease Is 10; one Of the terrible conta-
gioga na.adies, like the Rinderpest Pleuro-Neu-
monia dc. We're it SO there would DO no hope
Tor tha Jalauc. OF tho cattle in the State.
From the nature Of the disease, when its time
Of incubation is fully established, the handling
OF IeGa, cattle can he -afcy prosecuted az that
CT any oher cattle. II simply requires that their
Introduction 10 confined 20 certain months Of the
year, or that thcy should BE- held on quarantine
ground somewhere midway between thei- native
range and our praises, FOR u certain time.
i case in p1int:-Las. fall a herd OF Cherokee
cattle sj head were brought in Champaign
County and placed on a farm with a herd Of ma
tive cattle - head. They wero fed together all
winter and through this season 20 far. This herd
was out Of the track OF the later Texas cattle but
on the 10Th OF JG!y they were brought up on TO
the prairie where such mad passed, and are still
kept. About the third OF August the natives be-
gan 70 die and when we were there, % were dead
and all the others were sick, while the Texas
cattle were all healthy and hearty, right among
them. showing plainly that cattle wintered over
do net communicate the disease or contract il
That our readers may understand the condi-
ton OF the animals that have been examined we
give the following description, embracing the
general features, although the different sorxsns
varied somewhs. in Appearance, probably owing
to the different length OF time the animal had
been affected; but the reader will recognize the
general appearance on examining deceased cat
tie.
We found the excitement undated At svery
point, and the feeling towards those who had en-
gagged in the Texas cattle trade very bitter, and
o disposition manifested among farmers, n drive
all that rcmained ont ci tho country. We can
only repeat the advise given last week. Let ths
Texas cattle remain where they are until fros.
comes. Nothing can DO gained by removing
them, while their removal may cause still great
or injury in other localities. We speak with re-
gard to the recent importatiens. Those that
have remained here over winter. without doubt,
are az safe 10 handle as any cattle in the stata
This excitement can hardly be wondered At
when it is estimated that 100000 will not pay
the losses in Champaign County alone.