The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-02
CATTLE PLAGUE,
Experience In IS5O-HOw In
incubation IL Performed, and Its
FHlcieuev
New York Times.1

New York Times.1
Although the contagious pleuro-pnuemo-
MIA fright has subsidized since the publica-
ton Of exact reports on the subject from the
supposed centres OF the disease, it may still
be worth while, as matter OF curious infor-
luation, to note the various methods of stamp
ing out the plague. Distinction, the de-
struction and immediate burial of infected
animals, and rigid quarantine are the prin-
cipal agencies that have been relied upon in
this country since 1869, when the plague was
prevalent in New England. But there Is still
another method, which was found more eff
icacious than either among the vast herds
OF Australia during that memorable year,
when tho long murrain slew cattle by the
thousand. Prof. J. b. Coleman, of the New
York College OF Veterinary Surgeons, who
was cattle inspector In the colony at that
date. said recently that he had often seer
large streams completely blocked with the
fostering bodies of dead animals, and their
shores covered with fiotsam of carrion
Herds numbering thousands were swept
away in week. No quarantine was pos.
sible where disease seemed to break out il
all points at once. Almost az last resort
In the blank despair OF the colony, innocula.
tiUn was attempted. THE mode Of procuring
the pneumonia vaccine was first to innocu,
late an animal with the fribrinous exudatior
of q diseased lung; then second animal
with vaccine obtained from the local suppu-
ration of the first iDoccuated one; finally 9
third. The vaccine generated the third in0c-
culation was found safest and best for the
purpose. The method of operating was very
simple. Little pellets Of clean wool We're firsi
saturated with the vaccine. A thrilling anc
very shallow incisiOn was then made IN The
skin at the end Of the tail, and the pele
caught between the lips Of the wound. Wher
| the vaccine had been completely absorbed
process which occupied usually but few min
,ltes-the pellet fell out, and no irritating mat
ter remained, saving such pneumonia matter
as had been absorbed. Subsequent experience
| showed that this process not only save'
| the animals from attack in the same name
| as vaccination saves from smallpox, bnt tina
1t was the most effective quarantine tina
could be presented Herds, consisting II
some instances OF $500 head, were inoccuiatet
en- masse, with the result OF preventing al
outbreak entirely where it had not occurred
and OF limiting it to the animals actually at
tackled at the date OF the operation where /
had already commenced It's ravageS. PRO-
Coleman said yesterday afternoon that b
and his staff OF assistants iDOculated owe
100, 600 animals while the plague was raging
Or this large number the loss by death wa
not greater than from vaccination for smal
pox. Some, but not all. that had the diseas
In its primary stages when operated upOT
died Of pneumonia; but out OF the whole 100
900 the loss was less than 3per cent. 1t woul
not be possible, said Prof. Coleman, to lnOcct
late successfully in such crowded and filth
stables as those now under inspection on Lon
Island; but he has no doubt that, should II
disease become epizootic here, innoculatit
would be found the best preventive measul
that could be adopted.