The New York herald., 1879-02-27

thing must be done abate the fears Of the public
psops n to s nSy @ns ss
months their cows were fed on grain and
hay. while during the summer season grass
was their chief article OF diet. General Patrick. he
said. had informed them that they could not ex
change sell or buy any COW without first notifying
the Brooklyn Board of Health In case they failed to
do SO they would be liable to fine imprisonment
or both. The act. they thought. WAS very unjust
one and should be modified. Il was the desire OF
mittee appointed to wait upon the Governor for the
purpose of having the act modified If possible The
chairman then introduced Counsellor Frank c. Lang
who he stated would inform them how to act in the
matter Counsellor Lang said that tpleuro-pneumonia
was first brought to this country in ls4s, by
an importation OF Dutch cattle 1t had never died
out He suggested that permanent organization be
drafted and adopted for their government. COM
mttee of Ave then appointed to draw up set OF
resolutions. which were IN substance as follows;-
Whereas we have witnessed a gross seizure
Ind PROCESS and whereas
M %ss his Whole stock viii not be auaantned under the
peiext that the disease has taken hoid
Organize % mutual p,oes,ys society
ties Dairymen' Association. BE il further
up set of bylaws to govern this organization.
The resolutions were adopted. after which officers
elected and the necessary committees appointed
Sxty-seven milknen signed the roll and paid their
initiation fee
THE CATTLE PLAGUE IN NEW JERSEY.
among horned cattle known pleuro-pneumonia
and the closing OF British ports against suspected
animals giving great satisfaction to the farmers of
Union, Essex, Hudson and Bergen counties. N.
j. They have suffered from losses by the scourge
for four years. but until tho prohbitory action of
the British government and the agitation OF the
subject by the HERALD they have been unable
to secure the simplest preventive measures either
from State municipal authorities. The
farmers are usually large milk raisers keeping from
six to sixty cows, valued at from $40 to $50 each
They have class averaged loss of ten per cent
from pleuro-pneumonia for four years. and they
have felt until now that it was one of the dread
evils which was to be borne without protest.
because it was inevitable. Now they see light
breaking through understanding well that legislators
are apt to move when the press thunders at them.
reporter recently took drive through the lovely
country which lies back of the cities Of Jersey City
Newark and Elizabeth. The farmers in this region
exceptionally well to do. owning from twenty to
one hundred each. with comfortable dwell
inas and excellent outbuildings. They under
stand fully the value of their proximity
to the cities. and almost without exception
profit largely by it. Some of them rank high among
the capitalists of the counties they reside n and
from nearly all the dwellings the sound of the piano
may heard and the faces bear the impress of edu
cation, albeit Drowned by exposure to the elements
and roughened by contact with tho mother earth
from whence they wrest their well earned susie
nance They read the newspapers thoroughly and
have clear cut ideas current affairs especially
those which affect their interests.
FIRST APPEARANCE THE DISEASE.
The plcuro pneumonia first became familiar to
these farmers in 1875. The disease had
been known before, but the were
comparatively few 1t first entered the
State in 1843. coming from the region on
Long Island which is affected, and spreading
throughout the counties OF Essex and Union,
though not generally in fatal form. Every six or
eight years since it has been noticed but it not
until 1875 that the proportions of the plague began
to strike terror into the hearts Of cattle 1t
was not that the disease widespread as that
its mortality great. One COW in herd would
be attacked. and before the owner had made up his
mind that the animal was seriously i'll the con-
tagion would be communicated to the others. Cases
are quoted where sixteen out of eighteen animals
died in less than fortnight 1t took tho farmers
long time to understand the nature OF the plague.
and even now there are many who lose their cattle
rsef. i'''' 's''0' ' - '''' S'''''' '''' ''' -
The wintor and summer of last year wero measur-
ably free from the scourge but the surcease only
/ to result in doubly severe attack this winter.
While city people are bcmoaning their misfortune in
being obliged to drink milk from diseased animals,
farmers are counting their losses by thousands.
Neary every herd Of more than Ave animals has lost
from fifteen to sixty per cent OF its numbers. Some
have had all their stock swept off, others have been
fortunate and escaped with scarcely any fatal
feature of the plague ia that it leaves the animals
that in such enfecbled condition that the
slightest cold is apt to put an end to their existence
The milk producing qualities Of the animal
duced considerably aso and the prudent farmer gets
rid of the beast as soon Us possible.
THE swILL STABLES CAUSE THE OUTBREAK.
The origin OF the plague In New Jersey is believed
to be swii stables in Hoboken Jersey city and New
and brewery refuse until fattencd and then taken
into the country for sale. The milk meanwhile In
sold to the poorer classes in the cities round about
The filth of these stables is sufficient to condemn the
milk alone, but the pleuro-pneumonia inds easy
foothold and adds its deathdealing horrors to the
general nastincss. When the owners find the disease
among their cattle, the first thought IL to prevent
the loss falling upon themselves. They take the ami
mails that have not begun to show the effects of the
disease and start out upon the country roads. At
every farmers gate they attempt to trade and in
few hourse by cunning Inducements, they have dis
posed OF their bad stock and received reasonably
sound lot OF in their stead The diseased ami
mails taken into the farmers herds and thus the
scourge Is spread. Now, Jersey farmer does not
like be beaten by any man, yet he seldom cap
ture the wretch who cheats him, and there really
farmer takes refuge or revenge in following the
ample of the man who defrauded him and thus the
pague is spread still further.
Nor does the evil end here, since farmers
scrupulous enough to sell the diseased cattle TO low
butchers and the animals are killed and cut up
the spot The diseased parts. 30 far a. they show,
cut away and then the meat is sold. That tho
meat is filthy is unquestionable but it Is worsc-t is
poisonous. How far this practice prevails it is inn
possible to state, but close investigation by tho
HERALD reporter convinces him that has occurred
with great frequency The farmers of the region
erred to do not believe the milk from the diseased
cattle Is capable OF doing much harm. 1t is
sarily limited In quantity. the drying up Of tho COW
being of the earliest signs OF the disease Some
bad milk is sold undoubtedly. and In the OF in
fants very small portion might do great deal of
harm. The most serious danger TO people in tho
cities liz the butcherng Of diseased cattle and tho
sale OF the me6t for good beef
ACTION TAKEN By THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The New Jersey State Agricultural Society has had
its attention called to the matter and the meeting
OF its executive committee Saturday last,
mitec of three appointed to confer with the leg
islative committee the subject. They met the
committee at Trenton yesterday and had long
ference Their recommendations embrace the plan
OF Law for the eflectua stamping out OF .he plague
IL stated that law is in existence authoriz
ing township committees to order the slaughter Of any
animal suffering from contagious disease but that
II provided remuneration when healthy animals
were Killed thrnuxh Inietake and Xss cnnseuurntIy