The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-04-08
NATIONAL STOCK INSPECTION,

pneumonia has forced itself finally in
to the congressional mind. 1t is recog-
nized that a great interest, like that
Of stock raising in general, should not
be run in a hap-hazard way, respecting
the prevalence of disease. That inter-
vest in 1870 was valued at nearly two
billions of dollars, Its Importance,
therefore, demands the best safeguards
which science affords; and yet there
has been no serious demand for scien-
tihc probation heretofore. Things
have been quietly permitted to take
their own course. This can be ex-
planned on no other hypothesis than
that 1--WE never take care Of our health,
until we begin to lose it."
All the civilized world now knows
that the pleuro-pneumonia was pretty
thickly scattered throughout the
United States, and is even yet to be
found in a sporadic form. That know
ledge is damaging to the exporting
trade, and hence injurious to the
breeders and raisers of cattle. So we
find that after the worst of the thing
Is over, "a movement is being under
taken to prevent, If possible, a recur-
renee of the epidemic. While these
steps should have been taken long
since, we a readily pardon the omis-
sion on the charitable plea of ''better
late than never" The future assumes
a hue Of better promise, and stock
raisers cannot but feel the easier for it.
There are two propositions which are
strongly urged. One is that Of Mon
sieur LeDuc, commissioner of agricul-
ture, to appropriate $3.50, 600. to defray
the expenses of a commission of ex-
perts in investigating the cause of
plenro-pneumonia in cattle. The other
is to turn over the eutire sub
ject Of investigating and preventing
diseases in cattle and all food animals,
to the national board of health. This
board to have full power in the prem
ises granted by congress, and that To
continue indefinitely.
As between these two propositions,
we chose the latter. without hesitation.
lie Dues plan is indefinite and uncer-
tain. Besides, the information which
he desires can be thoroughly obtained
for less than a tythe of the amount he
asks for; and Furthermore we are OPP
| posed to commissions of all kinds. OF
all the commissions of examination
which have been appointed within the
last four or more years, we cannot re-
call two which approached anywhere
near success. The fact is still fresh in
the minds of the people, that the yell
low fever commission was a most ghast-
ly failure. 1t added not an iota to
the stock of the peoples knowledge of
that disease. Yet it swelled with the
pomposity of exclusive professional
learning, and all the dignity hat could
be expected from a lot of men with bald
polls and bullying eyebrows. A large
sum of money was absorbed withal; but
it was to no purpose. The last congress
appointed a committee to attend to the
same investigation; but its report has
not been given to the public.
The proposition to lodge regulating
powers in the national board of health
has n solid ring to it. There is some
thing certain, definite and lasting in
the plan, and that is what cattle men
in all branches of the business want.
The surgeon-general of the army, a
gentleman Of some experience with live
stock, makes an official recommended
tion to the senate committee on agri-
culture, that this change be made. He
recommends further, that a stock in
spector be appointed by the general
government for each state and territory.
By this means the national board of
health would lee officially informed i'm
mediately on the appearance of an cpl
demic, and could at once take the nee
essary precaution to prevent further
contagion. Its power would extend
equally over all the states, and there
would be no time wasted, as there is
now, in securing the cooperation of
the authorities of the different states.
At ports Of embarkation especial vigil
lance would be exercised, and consum-
ers of beef in England, knowing this,
would buy more freely. Besides, the
national board of health, through prop
ef officers, could is5de certificates of
health, on every cargo of cattle shipped
to go abroad, and the rules of the privy
councilwould be complied with, thereby
permitting the free transportation of
the cattle through England, while at
present they are killed at the port of
entry.
Altogether then, the facts, present
and prospective, favor the plan of per-
manency, and we are pleased that such
good prospects exist for the lettering Of
the cattle business.
ANOTHER