The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-09-03

unopposed; his attack would be resisted
at the threshold rather than at the hearth
stone. Every consideration of prudence
and safety points to the summary eradi-
cation Of the disease while it exists only
in a few localities fit does not exist at
the west, le5 every precaution be adopted
to prevent It's introduction.
The opinion that the cases which have
occurred at the east are sporadic and due
TO causes that exist everywhere, and hence
not contagious, is not borne out by facts.
The post nl0rten1 examinations of con-
demned animals have been made by emf
nent veterinarians openly, so that whoever
desired to do so could attend them. Cat
tie have been condemned which the own
ers declared they believed sound and
healthy-cattle that were fat and giving
milk-and, to the casual observer without
apparent indications of disease, but when
slaughtered, a whole lung in some of them
was found sohdifed adhering to the ribs,
and beginning to break down in pus.
Sporadic inAammations of the respiratory
organs of this character rarely occur.
The evidence of the contagious character
Of this disease on Long Island and in Con-
necticut is conclusive. The. cases are too
numerous and well-authenticated to per-
NIT of question From the testimony of
Professors Law and Liantard, and of pro-
lessor Gamgee several years ago, as well
as from other competent authorities from
Europe, it is no longer to be doubted that
this disease is identical with the lung
plague in cattle which has long prevailed
in Europe, and that it is highly conta-
gious. According to prominent yeteri-
nary surgeons, there is no other disease
that can be confounded with it, and the
fact that it is present in this country
should be recognized by every one who
has the interests Of cattle-breeding at
heart. AS we have said in substance,
hitherto, gigantic calamity confronts us,
fraught with disaster compared with
which the grasshopper plague and all
others from which the farming interests
of the country have suffered would be-
come insignificant.
INCUBATION FOR PLEURo- PNEUMONIA.
Considerable difference of opinion exists
among English veterinary surgeons as to
the value of incubation as a preventive
of contagious pleuro-pneumonia. In some
Continental countries, and also in Aus
traia, there is a profound belief in its
efficacy. From an editorial note in the
current number of the Veterinary J0ae1-
nal, it appears that Heterogeneous has
considerably diminished in extent in
South Holland during the course of 1878.
No cases had occurred in the Rhenish
portion of that province during the last
months of the year, though previously it
was most infected 1t was therefore con-
sidered that the scourge had been totally
The application of the law
of August 6th, 1878, had been productive
of the best results, and the favorable ef
teetS Of lnoculation employed as a preuela-
the measure had been eueryChere most
marked. After the incubation of thirty
five thousand head of cattle within the
four months, and throughout the extent
of an isolated infected circle, the disease
list fell so rapidly that hopes were enter
tanned that the malady would soon be
quite extinguished. At Schiedam,-on
Of the most contaminated communes,
where the authorities were previously
to slaughter about a score of
diseased cattle every week,-towards the
end of the year there had only been one
or two cases, and during the last week in
the year none had been reported,-a cir
cumstance which had not been noted for
forty years. This result is attributed to
preservative incubation and slaughter of
the diseased.-THe Farmer.
The incubation is performed by dip
ping thread with needle attached in the
matter of the diseased lung, and passing
this through the tail or ear of the healthy
animal-or it might be done with lancet
Gas in the human) on any part of the ami
NAL t