The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-07
THE CATTLE DISEASE.
omriai Report or tho Cattle Disease by the
Commission Sf the state 10 Inquire Isto LIS
Origin and Character.

O"ciai Report Of tho Cattle Disease by tho
Commission Of the state 10 Inquire Isto It's
Origin and Character.
The undersigned Commissioners appointed upaa,
the act OF the Legislature of the State OF New York
passed April 20, 1865, for the prevention Of the
spread OF nnderpest and other infectious diseases
having since the publication Of their regulations ON
the 18th August, had IN opportunity of seeing
many cattle sick OF the Texas cattle plague and of
learning much respecting its history and the cir
cumstances attending its manifestations. and know
ing the Anxiety Of farmers various parts or the
State TO obtain Information respecting It, have
deemed IL proper communicate tine following facts
for the Information OF such as Interested In cat
tie and beef
not heard Of single case OF the disease having been
taken Dy any animal that has not been in contact
had authentic evidence that Texas cattle that have
passed road dropping their eXcrement
thereon, have communicated the disease to native
cattle that passed over the same road fortyeight
hours aterward. We have no evidence whatever
that native cattle AFFLICTED with the disease have in
any case communicated it to other native cattle; at
the same time we have felt liberty to act upon
the negative testimony but in our quarantine regu-
lations have acted as if the disease could be thus
communicated. Sick and healthy animals have
been mingled together ut several OF OlH quarantine
yards, and In no case have the healthy animals yet
2. The disease is aggravated by motion and ameli.
GRATED by fresh air and repose. We have abundant
tory to US. Wherever cattle have exhibited the
lest symptoms OF the disease and have been taken
from the cars and allowed suitable food and drink
with rest and fresh air, they have invariably
covered speedily, while those which have exhibited
the same symptoms and have gone forward in the
cars from sixty TO one hundred miles further have
rapidly developed the disease in its most malignant
FORM and 1t has been necessary to send them to the
bone boiling establishments 1t is therefore decidedly
for the interest OF the drOyer to withdraw the cattle
from the at the appearance of the earliest symp-
toms and subject them to the hygienic measures
above spoken OF.
8. me Earliest symptoms OF the Dfsease.-The
first symptom of the disease in all the cases observed
by us and by our assistant commissioners Is ap-
pearance OF languOr and weariness which is unmis-
taxable; the head droops the ears hang down. the
eyes are staring. This sometimes occurs when
cattle terrified, but the stupid stare of the cattle
affected by the disease is very different from the
strong efforts are made to dung, which are often
ineeena the droppings being usually dry, scanty
variable. The urine is generally dark brown in
color, and commonly called "black water" This
Is net always in the
rough the hairs standing almost erect. The horns
are hot, the nose dry, frothy drool from the
and the animal rarely makes an Effort TITO to
brush them of. These latter symptoms are
not invarable especially the roughness Of the coat
In cases OF doubt the most reliable distinguishing
mark is undoubtedly afforded by the Thermometer.
IT. in connection with the before named symptoms
the thermometer, introduced into the rectum for
two to three minutes, shows temperature much
higher than one hundred degrees Fahrenheit the
under the disease In some cases 1t has gone up 70
100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Observation-Disclosures fat has deep or high col0rcd
greenish yellow appearance, and has not the firm
sh mahorany coior and on being cut into has p
culiar sickening OdOr. Sometimes the superficial
muscles have the natural pink red TINT but the deep
seated muscles, and especially the intercostal
cles chose between the ribs) have the dark brown
color and nauseOus smell.
s. Dtsi'.tectiOn ana Dasintect0nts. acid
is an absolute and perfect disnfectant 1t not only
destroys the Odor but kills the virus OF the disease
We advise all farmers and drovers who have reason
to suspect that their cattle have been exposed
infection 10 sprinkle the substance known as "heavy
oil, which contains about ten per cent OF carb0ic
acid abundantly about the yards where they
confined and to put some carboc acid into the
water they drink in the proportion of one part Of
the pure acid with thrice Its own weight of sal soda,
to one thousand parts Of water.
9. The Disease Is Not Necessarily Fdtai.-Severai
cases have recovered under our immediate Observa-
that have exhibited unequvocal indications OF
severe disease, at Providence, Communipaw and the
National Drove Yards. In some instances the diseased
cattle have been pastured where they have had
access to salt marsh grass for which they have
exhibited decided fondness abandoning the upland
pastures and combining themselves to the salt Marshes
aud 1t appeared TO accelerate their recovery. In
other instances where such facilities could not con-
veniently be had, salt was literally supplied and Q
recovery manifest. Diluted carbolic acid used az
drink has appeared to act benehcially; but we do
not wish to speak positively with respect to these
apparent remedies. One of the cattle which had
been very seriously diseased. but cOnvaescent.
was slaughtered in our presence. The fat had nearly
retained much OF the characteristic brown color Of
the disease. The viscera showed unmstakable
marks of recent disease, but rapidly healing.
We barely aude to this most interesting disease ia
this place leaving full details for description by our
scientific associates.
7. We have reason to believe that our Assistant
Commissioners have been very faithful in executing
instructions We hear from every point that the
movement and marketing of infected cattle Is
effectually stopped. Our Assistant Commissioner
DR.. NJ. Norris acting in conjunction with the Board
Of Health for the Metropolitan district has been in
deiatigable In devisng and executing a series OF
measures which, II is believed, viii efrectually pro-
eci the citizens OF the Metropolitan district from
the dangers OF diseased meat. In fact, we have
DOUBT that the meat sold In the markets OF that
district Is far more sound and healthy than it was
even before the outbreak Of this disease.
s. The committee for scientific investigation under
the Metropolitan Board Of Health have caused an
extensive series Of researches. under supervision
of Dr. r. Harris OF that Board in regard to the
chemical. microscopic and chief pathological char
acterstics OF this disease, and also caused most
accurate drawings to I've sketched TO illustrate the
pathological changes in the several organs ani
tissues that are chiefly affected These when pub
lished will present exhaustive exposition OF all
phases OF the disease and give peculiar satisfaction
To the public generally well as to scientific men,
NJ X. PATRICK,
J. STANTON GOULD,
NEW YORK. sept. 6, 1898. State Commissioners.