Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-08-04
The Cattle Disease.

The appearance OF mallguant anu latai us
case among cattle in Fauquier county and IN
and around Lynchburg is attracting consldera-
ble attention The Lynchburg News contains
long article on the SUBJECT from which VIC take
the following -
1.-THE disease is sometimes called the Span
ish Fever sometimes tho "Spenlc Fever,
but is generally known as tho Texas Cattle
Diseas,." On tho breaking out of the disease
at tho different hating places OF Texan cattle
duiug the summer of 1866, the United States
Government appointed commission to in
investigate its nature and cause. This inVesti-
CATION was entered upon, and extended through
several of the Western States and Territories.
Post mortcm examinations, not only OF dlseas
cd native stock but OF Texan cattle, were care
fully made, and an elaborate report prepared
for Submission to Congress. This re port dis
tinctly states "that all the investigations tend
to connect the migrating herds OF the Gull
coast Enthusiastically with the existence and
spread OF the disease.
''Tbis disease was formerly confined to the
frontiers and it is only recently, when the I'M,
porters of these cattle availcd themselves OF
the steam transportation eastward from the
frontier railway stations, and from different
points on the Mississippi river, that the conta'
zion has been brought into the heart OF the
country, aud scattered from the Mississippi to
| the Atlantic.
1T is a most remarkable fact, that hundreds
Of these cattle may be herded for weeks or
| months at any point south of Arkansas with
| out tho development Of any such disease, ana
| vet the very same cattle will disseminate 1t 10
| the most fatal form at any point north OF the
| latitude OF middle Tennessee or Arkansas.
1.-The following conclusions have been reach
cd ny the inve stigations of the matter -
lst That, though Texan cattle may have
been imported for two or three months, and
no disease been communicated by them, as
soon as very hot weather sets in the disease Is
liable to be developed among the native cattle,
| even although Texan cattle remain lreo from
| disease and may. in TACT, be rapidly improving
| in condition.
"2l. That, though themselves healthy, they
| lett disease behind them and all native cattle
| feeding upon the same pastures or drInking al
| the same fountains were IN danger 81 con
| taglon.
sd. That removal to new pastures and clean
water would stay the progress or the disease
among those not affected by it.
'4lh That native cattle will not take the dis
ease from running on new pastures with other
native cattle, although the latter may Be sui
iellng irCm the disease.
18th. That the disease, lts mode OF actl"l
and communication, aud the remedies are mya
tcIlnuS
"At Bristol last year, nearly all the mich
cows died from grazing upon The common on
which herd of Texan altlc had been turned
out for few hours Tor rest and water, whilst
| travelling eastward. At the Salt work., The
| same summer, a number of fine COWS were los
from the same cause. In Russell and Ta"awel
counties, the disease was developed from ON
tagion (ropagatcd by a lot OF these cattle, IN
lrouuced Tor the purpose OF iatteDng. AM
now, the predictions of those who have obserre'
hr progress Of the disease have been realized
rs tiscy looked forward with confidence 10 tn
arpcarlncc Of the distcmper in lauquler r0nn
| Is .rd elsewhere, wherever Texan cattle tav
! lately been introduced.
! Writing upon the same subject, the Rrrnb
lean o the same city says:
The disease seems TO consist OF i kind Q
vcrluin about the size OF cuckle-barr, will
dark heads and white buesh bodies, aud thou
| sands are soon produced on the animal, OF tn
SIC OF c.Iigns or tlaXsced, that eat through th'
kin nui soon produce DEATH The Texas cat
rir have thick, tough skins, and they do no
penetrate to their fash as they do with ours 81
tia: Texas cattle will be perfectly healthy witt
; tn. rrrInin upon them, whlic ours VIII S0ot
die We have seen only une remedy yet Used
hat seemed to < i've any relief, and that wa:
washing The animal over with carhollc soap
We 90 not know that 1t is u cure. 1t IL PRE-
vcntivc rather than cure.