The New York herald., 1879-02-04
THE CATTLE DISEASE.
THE BRITISH PRIvY COUNCIL INVESTIGATE THE
SUBJECT OF IMPORTING AMERICAN CATTLE
[BY CABLE TO TEE HERALD.


inquiries as to what extent pleuro pneumonia exists
among cattle there The replies say that mild type
the disease obtains in various parts of the United
States, but that it is not malignant nor infectious
The cattle received by the steamer State OF
Alabama. which reached Liverpool February
from Portland, Me-, bought in the same
market and at the same time as those
which arrived by the steamer Ontario. were sub
jected to very rigid examination, and found to be
healthy. They were shipped to London for sale at
to-days market. The agricultural interest here is
endeavorng to induce the Prvy Council to schedule
the United States infected country. The Hert-
fortshire Chamber of Agriculture forwarded reso-
luton to that effect to the Duke of Richmond ana Cor
DON Lord President of the Council. on saturday.
1t will be that the report contained in pur-
ported London despatch. printed in some New York
papers, that .'the British government has issued
order prohibiting for the present the importation
of cattle from America" is without foundation.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE STATE DEPART
MENT AND MINISTER wELsH-No DISEASE
AMONG AMERICAN CATTLE AND NO CAUSE OF
ALARM--EvIDENT MOVEMENT IN FAVOR OF
pROPRIEToRs OF LANDED ESTATES IN ENGLAND.
[FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON. Feb. B. 1879.
municaton with Minister Welsh since Friday last III
regard to report circulated in Great Britain Of the
prevalence of pleuro- -pneumonia among cattle in
the United States. 1t appears that the British
government has been apprehensive for some
time past of the introduction OF cattle disease into
England through imported cattle. Recently tee-
grams were sent by British Consuls in the United
States to their home government pretending that
pleuro-pneumonia prevalent here among cattle,
and upon the receipt of these kilograms the British
Minister. Sir Edward Thornton, advised to OBJ
tain the most reliable data upon the subject At the
same time Minister in London, Mr.. Welsh, was
informed Of the apprehension Of the British govern
ment and promptly informed Mr.. Evarts of the effort
being made to interdict the importation OF American
cattle.
RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION.
Upon the receipt Of this information the Secretary
Of State caused inquiry to be made to the actual con-
dition of things and he found no just ground for
pectng that cattle infected with contagious
disease and became satisfied that there nothing
whatever affecting our domestic or foreign trade in cat
te All that the Secretary of State could find that
and about Brooklyn cattle fed distillery slops
were subject to lung disease because the animals
deprived Of fresh air and at the same time were
fed on hot slops which made them weak. As these
cattle sold and do not come into contact
with the cattle exported it was not possible to at
tribute disease to this source.
On further inquiry the Secretary of State found
that it was reported that some cows in the neigh
alarmed the British Privy Council
DISEASE AMONG, CATTLE.
This is all the information the State Department
has been able to obtain upon the subject, and tho
British Minister has telegraphed his government that
there does not appear to De the slightest ground for
at this time. II the few cows which furnish milk
the seat Of government are afflicted they do not
in contact with exported cattle at any part of
the United States and the disease they have is not
known to be infectious there does not appear to be
any cause for ALARM
possIprIITy or INrERprcrISt; AMERICAN CATTLE
Nevertheless the Secretary Of State is not certain
that without just ground for suspicion the British
government may interdict trade in American cattle.
He understood the Canadian government had already
commenced such prohibition. All We could do
reports upon which such orders were based,
and If few American cattle were found
| OF two weeks IL would be more than had hap
pencd before since the cattle trade commenced. The
cause for alarm lies not in any apprehension Of the
introduction OF infectious disease among the cattle
Of England. but TO protect waning industry among
| the proprietors Of landed estates.
OFFICIAL DENIAL.
The Commissioner of Agriculture officially denies
the existence Of pcuro-pneumonia among cattle. cx
cept in few isolated places, as at Williamsburg and
lists in a mild form only and has been prevalent for
some months. 1t has engaged his attention as the
duties OF his Office require.
OF CANADIAN OFFICIAL.
Several weeks ago the veterinary surgeon of the
Agricultural Department OF the Canadian govern
ment visited the suspected localities and also
went into Virginia with the view Of
certaining if the disease infected the cattle
called upon the Commissioner OF Agriculture
and informed him that he believed that the disease
did prevail among cattle in the neighborhood OF
Lynchburg but that it did not appear to be extend
ing. The Commissioner adds that he has under
sidcration bill to be submitted to the
the determination of the complaint in
its present situations. But he has no
along any of the routes where cattle herded in
any places whence they exported. and he looks
upon the apprehension Of the British authorities at
DISEASE AMONG cows ONLY.
None of the cattle in the suspected localities
williamsburg brought INTO contact with cx-
norted cattle and the disease so far is fonnd
only among cows kept for domestic use and for sup
plying milk to the city markets: He does not think
it is likely to spread westward; but, out of abun-
dance of caution, Congress will be asked to make
such provision as will enable the Commissioner OF
Agriculture to stamp it out promptly wherever it
may be found.
CANADIANS FENCING OUT AMERICAN BEEvEs-
!. THEY CLAIM THERE Is NO DISEASE NORTH OF
THE LAKEs-CANADIAN BULLS AND HELPERS
TO STEER CLEAR OF THE PROHIBITION.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.1
MONTREAL, Feb. 3, 1870.
The cattle plague is the leading topic among busi-
ness men here and there has been growing trade
in that line with English ports much anxiety was
the result of the first kilograms announcing the pro-
hibition Of the shipment to the British Islands
of Canadian and American cattle The feel
ing amounted almost to panic on Fri
day AMI Saturday last; but a better feel
ing exists to-day. a number of private cable de-
spatches having been received by the leading firms
here announcing the passage Of Canadian cattle with
out much interference. Thus the prices. which fell
so low on Thursday last. have advanced to twenty
cents above those asked ten days ago. and two car
loads which sold to-day went at higher prices
than have been realized for two months.
CHARACTER AND ORIGIN OF THE DISEASE.
The disease has been but little noticed here. and
Dr. McEachran. of the Veterinary College, thinks
there can be no difficulty about the passage of Cana
dian CATTLE while those from'thc United States will be
excluded. He states the malady to be really plcuro-
pneumonia which has heretofore been well known