Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-12
A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE IN CATTLE


A contagious disease known in England
as the "Lung Plague" or pleuro-pneu-
m 1nia, has destroyed in the United King
dom cattle to the amount Of two million
pounds sterling in The last thirty years, ac-
cording to tie estimate of high English
authority. Prof Gamgee, of Cornell Uni
versity, who has studied this malady very
thoroughly in England, Scotland, Canada
and the United States in an elaborate re-
port, sums up the principal facts in these
words:
II. That the lung plague in cattle exists
on Long Island, where it has prevailed for
many years; that it is not uncommon in
New Jersey; has at various times appeared
in New York State; continues TO be very
prevalent in several counties of Pennsyl.
vania, especially in Delaware and Bucks;
has injured the frmers of Maryland, the
dairymen around Washington, D. c., and
has penetrated Virginia,
90. That the disease travels wherever
sick cattle are introduced, and the great
cattle rearing States of the West, which
may not at present be entirely freefrom the
disease, have been protected by the fact
that they sell rather than buy and import
horned stock.
''3. There are no proper restrictions on
the sale of imported stock, ard in another
year or two, unless some definite and i'm
mediate action should be taken, the disease
is likely to find its way into so many parts
Of the country that its eradication will be
almost impossible.
"Of all the cattle diseases, pleuro-pneu
monia is in the long run the most destruc.
tive, because the most insidious and the
least likely to rouse 3 people to united act
ton for its efectual suppression. 70 ig-
more its presence is, however, to insure
that the cattle mortality Of America, like
that Of ENGLAND, vii be at least doubled
within few years. Rational means, ener-
getic action, and earnest cooperation be-
tween the different States aud the central
government may, with moderate expendi-
ture now, save millions annually in the not
distant future"
Perhaps some persons may think the
Professor unduly excited in respect to this
cattle disease. BE says, page IL:
81 prepared a table of losses in IS diaries
in the city Of Edinburgh, from the LIST of
July, 1861, to tie first Of July, 1862. The
net annual loss by diseased cows in Edin-
burgh alone amounted to over ffty-two
thousand dollars. Similar losses have oc-
CURED in all the other large cities, such as
Dublin, London, Liverpool, Newcastle,
etc"
Up to this time, the scourge above refer
red to has been less severe in this country
than il Great Britain and in central Eu-
rope. The humid atmosphere Of the Brit
ish islands, where this cryptegamic lung af-
lection most abOunds, probably greatly ia
vors its diffusion and alarming destructive
ness. 8 damp atmosphere that promotes
the spread Of mildew on grapes, and rust on
wheat, will aid in disseminating this couta-
gion, as well as thar which prevails among
Texas cattle, and less to their injury than
70 Northern stock when exposed to peculiar
vegetable germs. Large hanging moss in q
cypress swamp is not more cellular plant
than mold in stala bread, and cheese, dry
rot in wood, and The black fstid dust in q
head of smut wheat. The vinegar plant
yeast plant, and many less known, that
grow in man and his domestic animals
present an interesting. field OF. vegetation
for scientific research.
Among the daiTymen near Washington
City whose cows have had the disease, Mr.
Golden, perhaps, had the greatest success
in giving diluted carOolic .acid. He lost Z
number before he learnt how to apply this
powerful remedial agent. He used about
100 parts Of water to one Of aeid. The
disease first appeared in the District Of
COLUMBIA three years ago. Many cows
have died. en- hear no cases at pres.
e 1T.