The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-12-24
CONGRESS AND THE CATTLE PLAGUE.

The subject of treating diseases OF cattle Is
yearly growing in importance, and an effort
will be made to have Congress take the mat
ter in hand. In recent address,
Professor James Low, OF Cornell Sniver-
sity, remarked that 1.-THE power OF enforcing
our live stock sanitary laws should be exer-
cised absolutely and instantly, when neces-
sary, and guided by some one thoroughly
versed in the diseases of animals. We have
in this country live stock worth nearly
s., 600, 000, zoe. The possibilities of loss by
the importation or spread of an animal
plague are perfectly appalling. With 40
600, 600 head of live stock, England has lost
in the last 30 years live stock valued at
$500, 00e 00o; what might not our experience
be if We were to allow a general diffusion of
the same diseases among our 9o,000,0 900 head
of live stock? There is no need to
60 to England for a terrible exam
pie of animal scourgs. 1t is esti-
mated that last year we lost not less than
SCI, 900, 600, from one of our native animal
plaques, the hog cholera. There is better
prospect now that Congress will give some
consideration to the question of how to deal
with animal epidemics. There are eight
specific disease polsons that are communI-
cable from animals TO men, and no less than
81 parasites any one OF which may rise TO
the importance of an epizootic. There are
no less than II contagious and "a parasites of
farm animals that are not communicable to
man. These last may be classified as exotic
and indigenous. Malaoies that are imported
and maintain their existence by q continu
Gus reproduction of seeds or germs, and that
are the true plaques, never rise sDontane-
ously on our SOIL and may be eradicated as
surely as a noxious weed. But malsdies
that deyelop spontaneously on American
soil can never be permanently rooted out
until we can ascertain every un-hygienic
condition in the climate, locality and man
agemept and obviate the conditions on
which the generation of such maladies
depends. There is one exotic cat
tie plague now prevalent which
demands more urgent means for its extirpa-
ton than all the others put together. 1t is
the bovine lung plague contagious pleuro-
pneumonia), which was imported into Brook
Ign in 1S43. The plague is gradually extend
ing to the West and South. If it reached the
unfenced cattle ranges OF the West and South
it would be impossible to eradicate it
as herd mingllng with herd would spread
the infection on every side. Whenever this
disease has been introduced into common
pastures it has maintained a permanent resi-
dence. Since cattle are shipped from Texas
and the plains to all parts OF the Union, no
State will BIS safe if the Infection once reaches
them. As the seeds OF this disease remain
latent in the system for from 10 days to
three and one-half months, and only become
manifest by their effects at the end of this
time, infected cattle may be carried from
ocean to ocean or from the lakes to the gulf,
in apparent health, and yet spread pesti-
lence. Unless the United States Govern
ment steps in to control the meansof eztir-
pating this disease and of protecting against
new importations, our herds will never be
freed of it,
The subject, it will be readily seen, is one
of vast importance and national IN Its char
acter, and can not be too soon subjected to
| the sevsrest sanitary restraints the invee-
tigation should be committed to men in all
regards qualified to master it, and the RENE
| dies when found should be applied with
| such yigor as - arrest the spread of the
disease The danger, has been too long neg
lected, andsthe demand now is for vigorous
| work.