Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-12-11
CATTLE.
Results ofths Cattle Convention.

ReEUAtS o. the GaTIA convention
From the Chicsgo Republican,
The character of the Convention o!
Cattle Commissioners, recently held al
Springfield, differed materially frOm that
of other conventions, from the fact that
the gentlemen who composed it were
about equally divided in classes known
rs scientific and practical. The questions
discussed were expected TO be Of s prscti-
cal character, but It was coon evident
thst 80 little was known relative 10 the
real nature OF the cattle disease and its
causes, that large proportion Of the
time wss occupied dieCussing this point.
Nearly all present hsG some information
TO contribute, while as many theories
were ventilated as there were speakers.
Previous Investigations had been Of q
crude nature; aud inssm uch ss the de-
alterations OF this body VIII add an i'm
pstu5 to the researches ef all classes who
are interested in the prevention Of the
rgFegS5 Of this destroyer, It's effects can
not but be good.
That there is cause for the disease
cannot be doubted, of course; but where
that cause originates, is a matter 10 be
decided Only Ia the future. We think il
was pretty effsctuslly substaa;isted that
the disease is communicated 70 native
cattle by coming i1 contact with Texan
cattle; yet the nGuer0us theories rsla.
tive to the transmission CT the diseSse
viii hardly admit OF decision as to hour
it is communicated. It was with great
diEi9Uity that any actual facts could be
obtained IN the convention, as to the
health OF Texan cattle 81 bOma. This
was owing, perhaps, to the fact OF the
acknow wledged existence, in that body,
Of COL fiic ing interests. II can easily be
seen that the drovars in TexsG, the gra-
Zjers, Ia other states, Eh0 pasture these
Texas cattle while en- route, the railroad
ard steamboat men, and the stock yard
iOtsr, would aatu rally be opposed to q
restriction OF the trade in these animals.
Mr.. &UDOy, az extensive Texan dealer,
was SUSTAINED by several GtEegs, in his
assertion that Texas cattle never are
effected with the disease, while others
insisted that they were frequently SO az
fected.
There sre certain statements, argued
at length, which We may deem ss still
in doubt, amOUg which We mention the
sp1re " cFyptogsmic plant theory. The
questions which are absolutely unde oided
s. whether the spores cause the disease
or the disease causes the spores, which
are found in the blood and internal or
EGus of diseased animals. Dr.. Snow, z
very able gentleman from Providence,
Il. l., assures as tbnt 10 ls IS ready TO
believe the lsttef statement as the for
mer. Certainly only patient and ooD-
tinued study can prove anything upon
this question. And one Of The most lm-
p0Ttaur objects of scientific research Oh
this subj c. is 10 ascertain whether this
plant or fungus is 10 be found on vegets-
bic Eros 10 iD the Southwest, and
Wbether or not the Cattle there are af
fected By them.
Another question to be decided In the
future IL, whether or net cattle which
are capable of communicating the dis
ease when first brought to q Northern
5 .Ate, are still capable OF communicating
Il after having been wintered here. Con-
diat;az.- agiGSnSs- las been bought q
bear 0PGD this question: eHq, E.tscfsgn
the msj9rity Of the CGmmissi ioneTs who
were piesent agreed that they SeTs thus
freed from IA disease It may be con-
sidegsd az open question.
At the coGapqeucemeDt Of the oOnyen-
ton 1t was very generally believed thst
healthy Texan auimsls would impart
the disease; but DIR. Rauch, of this city,
said he had examined over 5000 spleens
Of Texan cattle, and they were all en-
laTged. He insists that no healthy cat
lie can communicate the fever. One
gentleman states th2t the milk OF dis
eassd COW killed CATS other gentlemen,
and among them MT. Eaton, Superin-
tendent Of Mr.. AleXandeE's BrOAdland
farm, states that he had drank Il with no
a -
the disease. These questions may prop
eTly bs declared unds cided.
There are still other questions upon
which no definite conclusions could be
formed, as those who read tho reports Of
the convention will remember. And yet
much good will result from the deiibera-
tiops OF the convention. Fsets- have been
cOllated and statements made which will
lead TO further investigation. Recon-
been made which can
scarcely result otherwise than IN greater
care in the transportation OF cattle. The
symptons of the disease have been fully
explained, and will become thoroughly
familiar 10 the farmers and others inter-
ested, through the published proceedings.
A committee has been appointed to me-
moTislizs Congress to MAKE an sppropri-
alton sufficiently large to allow the War
10 seEd TO the fields of Texas
medical men capable Of securing that
spec fic information which was the great
want OF this convention. II this appro-
priati0n be made, the Commission should
examine the grasses and plants OF Texas,
and ascertain If thsse spores exist upon
them. Tde cattle OF that State should also
be examined, and their condition expisin-
ed, then the subject Of the enactment
Of legislative restrictions can be entered
into with some definite idea OF what is
best to be djas. Besides, il these cattle
are found to be In healthy condition
there, bgt II proves that they become
diseased after arriving in Illinois, for In
stance, so e Plan should be adopted by
which they Wsy be slaughtered there,
and their meat shipped to the East In
cars, or somethiog Of the
kind.
Taking into consideration the fsei that
there is 10 this subject such broad hela
for scientific investigation; and that not
ODly the Interests Of the spectators are
ia this, but of every man who
OWNS q COW, aud that every person who
consumes beef is personally interested in
the speedy solution OF the causes OF the
disease, ana the means for its prevention,
we suggest that after further information
has been acquired by the gentlemen who
were present at Springfield, q Conven-
ton of professional and scientific men
tie called 10 compare notes, and discuss
additional facts obtained,