The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-30

[From the Galveston Bulletin, ,6thI
We had call yesterday afternoon from Prof.
Gsmgee. who spent an hour eDlghteuing us ON
the mysteries of the Texas cattle disease. He re-
counts bis connection with 1t in this fashion: Be-
ing in the country at its outbreak. aud having been
employed by the British government In the inves-
tigation of cattle plsgues, General Cspron, CON-
missioner of agriculture, employed him In the in
vestigstion of the TexaS cattle fever. He devo-
ted himself for months to the investigation. He
pleads mot guilty' to the "oreyptogamis theory"
and dissvows the fungi. He says thatit Is fact
that when Texas cattle were in the North they did
communicate disease, and that he ascertained
the following facts:
L. That eli Texas cattle have larger spleens than
Northern cattle. and in all diseased cattle the
spleen is greatly enlarged.
2. That some Texas cattle have died Of the dis
ease. tsl.4aa go.
g. That the meat from these diseased cattle is
not urwholesome. however unpleasant the idea of
dining upon IL may be.
4. That one diseased steer or COW will not i'm
part the infection TO another. Calves sucking dis
easeo cows have escaped.
5. There is no known instance in which cattle
passing on cars have communicated the disease to
the cattle Of the country.
6. Cattle separated by single fence from Texas
cattle are not affected.
Z. After period OF ten weeks or three months
In the North Texas cattle lose the power OF infect
ing others.
6. Corn.fed cattle are harmless.
From these he adduccs a theory that there Is
some quality in Texas grass which imparts to the
ercretid the power of eDgendering disease, as Is
the case in that human ailment the cholera.
Upon the representation of Prof. Gsmgee the
Cticseo srke Tor Texas cattle was kept open
the whole summer, only such cattle as were found
to have enlarged spieens being rejected. He
claims that there is no necessity for disseminating
the trade, which may be safely carried on during
the whole year, save in the heat of summer, and
even then If the cattle are kept separate from
others, and Northern cattle kept from their pas
lures.
He is not sure but that the systems of the cat
tie might be purged of this offensive matter In q
much shorter time than ten weeks. But Professor
Gameee is of opinion that the remedy for the
whole trouble will be found In practice of feed
ing corn TO the cattle for q period Of cay four
months before sending them North. He says that
the profit on a corn-fed steer is more than double
that one sent direct from grass, and that 1t will
be found both safe and profitable. With view
to establish the absolute safety of cornfed Texas
beeves, he proposes that the agricultural depart.
ment shall procure q drove Of beeves. and, hav-
ing taken them North, mix them IN the same pas
ture with Northern cattle; be is willing to stake
his reputation "a a man of science that there will
result no development Of the disease. He was
not present at the Springfield convention, and
does not agree with its conclusions.
Prof. Gsmgee is here for the purpose Of prac-
tcally testing bis plan for preserving fresh meats
He visits Houston, where he will slaughter some
forty or fifty animals, sending some to New York,
others to Washington, and others to England.
His system preserves the beef in quarter sections
of its original color and appearance. Should he
succeed, he will open q mine OF wealth to his
State. and especially to the grazing interests
thereof.