The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-11
THE CATTLE DISEASE.

'AAS PsioecS vi tic CaOh VOL
cass Will be consigned to the rendering tubs.
IL is true indeed, that unprncipled butcher had
the hardihood to offer at the abattor seventy dollars
for side of beef which, If it had been sound would
have brought one hundred, but his overture met
with proper rejection. The diseased cattle at
Communipaw are now quarantined several yards
away from the healthy droves, and are taken out,
slaughtered and rendered up fast as possible.
they comprise l4l head and were consigned to the
agent, Mr.. Fitch from the farm of Mr.. j. T. Alexan-
der, Kentucky. Mr.. Fitch on discovering that
number had died on the journey and that the symp-
toms OF those living were Of an Enthusiastically
Spanish fever character promptly surrendered the
entire drove to be slaughtered for the Oil vats
Yesterday four inspectors from the Metropolitan
Board of Health Of this city visited the different yards
near the city, and five surgeons, Drs Busted, Liam
tard, Percy, Wesse and Stein, from the Veterinary
College, went in a body to Communipaw to observe
the symptoms among the cattle. The accOmmOda-
tons were not so complete as that they could make
20 pat soday us Is Inc OF nd
perform thorough anatomical analysis They dis
covered however, that the kidney Of one that had
Just been killed was enlarged and In high state OF
congestion; the bladder filed with red blood, the
spine was filled up with thick blood much darker
sion Of the fourth stomach and the fat part of
the meat wore dull, yellow complexion. The ex-
animation was by no means as satisfactory as the
plated has been made it Is impossible to determine
the exact nature of the complaint. The meat looked
healthy, but the cellular tissues may be engOrged
with poisonous fluids as to be exceedingly danger
GUS TO those who partake OF 1t. President Lincoln
and DR.. Harris OF the Board Of Health, arrived on
the ground about four o'clock and shortly alter
wards Governor Ward, according to promise, made
his appearance. The whole party made tour of in
spectiOn around the stock yards and found all the
cattle in satisfactory condition, except the drove
already mentioned. They afterwards repaired to the
hotel to compare notes. President Lincoln, of the
Hao1t nQrd hopa1 tha Gnv ynuld Ianh o ia
aid in preventing the deportation OF infected cattle
across the river. The New York Board OF Health
but interlOper In the State Of Jersey, but he had
confidence enough in its Governor to believe the in
terests of humanity found warm supporter in him.
The Governor replied he should do all in his power
with reference to the matter, and in the morning
would at once set about the work without fail. He
believed the laws of the State gave him ample au-
DIR. Wallis one of the inspectors, said he had gone
over the cattle yards at Bergen yesterday morning
and found all the cattle without exception In healthy
condition. The average arrival was $500 week,
but last week 100 had been received Yesterday
there 1000 in the yard from Central and North
ern Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and New York. The alb
sence OF any disease he accounted for on the state
ment OF gentleman in charge OF the yards, who in
formed him that the drovers at Bergen go TO Buffalo
and there select their cattle.
Mr.. Fitch said he found all the cattle at Communi
paw well except his own which, as has been already
stated, are in process OF being slaughtered.
DR.. Harris said that as far could be learned the
fever was OF very malignant type and the time was
so brief between the outbreak and the discovery that
1t was difficult vet to decdelupon its character.
German gentleman remarked that he believed
the disease originated in some OF the Texan pasture
lands where the cattle had been grazing.
DIR. Busted thought that only by quarantine and
restriction OF travel could the disease be properly
threw out the suggestion, believing the cattle were
diseased before being shipped that all the yards at
which they stopped twenty -four hours on the Journey
from the West.
Mr.. Mcpherson stated he had just learned that a
drove OF diseased CATTLE eighty or ninety in number
from Buffalo was on Its way to New YORK and would
arrive this morning. Several had died on the jour-
ney the President of the Board sgniied his nten.
ton OF attending TO the matter.
Mr.. Freeze stated that the carboc acid and quick
lime for disinfecting the grounds at Communipaw
would arrive to-day and be at once laid down.
The company next repaired to the supper room
and made brief repast. Yesterday morning Cap
tain Lord, Of the sanitary squad employed his force
among the yards the island looking after Infected
cattle. superintendent Kennedy detailed twelve
for special duty in the same line, and will con-
tnue to do within the district long there Is
apprehended danger. The markets are also EN-.
braced IN this supervision. Captain Lord reported
at that. having found several cattle in the yard
at 10ith street with similar symptoms TO those
detained across the river he had them promptly
seized. The following statement from one of the
medical officers OF the Board OF Health Is careful
resume of all that Is known so lar about the socalled
cattle plague. This officer as soon as IL was rum0red
that sick cattle had arrived, proceeded to Commune
paw for the purpose OF making private inspection.
AS the Board had no authority the shores Of New
Jersey It was entirely due to the courtesy OF Mr..
Payson president OF the Abattoir Company, and
Mr.. Pesse, the superintendent, that he was enabled
to give these facts TO the public. Mr. Payson said
that about ten days ago, In one OF the patches OF
cattle which arrived he discovered two rather sickly
looking cattle, which the agent of the stock cheer
fully consented to throw into the rendering vats but
there no suspicion that they were cases OF
cattle plague a. nothing had been received TO indi-
cate that diseased cattle had been on their way TO
New York. On Thursday large number OF cattle
arrived which took the usual course Of sale and II IA
believed that some OF them were falling sick with dis
ease The officers OF the abbatoir were ON the alert
to discover what might appear on the next train ana
they were painfully surprised at what they saw on
Friday morning The trains came from TolOna and
Farina IN Champaign county, Illinois, where upward
OF 90 OF the Texan herds have been pastured and
n large proportion OF the arrivals on Friday morning
were from that stock. The balance was made I'D OF
Illinois and Missouri stock, all OF which were pas
tured IN Champaign county but only small nerd
had been exposed to the Texas cattle This herd
started on this train go strong. They were from the
great prairie farm Of J. T. Alexander, who owns
a. 900 acres Of farm under culture Nearly eighty OF
tine cattle died sacrificed before the train left
the station Pitteburg, Pa. and the ia tina. were
sent forward were believed to be in sound health by
the men with the train. a few were sick when the
train arrived and some got sick afterwards. A Ger
man butcher, from Williamsburg, purchased them,
and managed TO take them across the Weehawken or
oboken Jerry Certain IL IL that died before the
three got acr IS the river. Six were sold but
had not been removed beyond the limits OF Bergen
al the time when Or. Harris reached Communipaw
on saturday afternoon. Mr.. Payson had prudently
placed the whole of the sicky and suspected stock
IN quarantine before night on Friday. ON Friday
afternoon the rumors OF sicky stock had taken such
shane TO cause the medical Officers of the Board
OF Health 10 reel anxiety with regard 10 the stock
that was reported 20 be coming eastward, but they
not aware till saturday morning of any having
arrived.
DR.. II. Immediately went to Communipaw ana
sought an Interview with Mr.. Payson, the president
at Communpaw, and Mr. Pesse the superintend-
ent. It was asceriained That Mr. Fitch, agent Of the
sick stock was found there, and whatever sanitary
measures needed would be likely carried out.
Every facility given to the medical officer In the
examination Of the entire herd, and every informa-
tlon was cordially aud promptly given Mr. Payson
earnestly advised the agent OF the stock TO sacrifice
the whole TO rendering watts. but the small butchers
were clamoring on every hand with money ready to
pay down at s5j a head, sick and well and
swore they would get II into New York in
spite Of the Board OF Health or anybody else Dur
ing the evening Mr.. william r. Fitch agent OF
Mr. Alexander. decided TO make the sacrifice and
not creature was spared. More than that he re.
purchased those sold In Bergen at full price ana re-
warded the butcher for his trouble They were also
sent to the rendering watts. Thus 1851 cattle were
sacrificed, and with them $1,000 The President of
the company and the agent OF the stock. Messrs.
Payson and Fitch. sent Immediately for the medical
officers OF the Board OF Health to inspect the carcases
and give any advice they wished, saving they would
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