The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-28
DISEASES OF CATTLE.

General William G. LeDuc, Commissioner
of Agriculture in his late report brings into
deserved prominence the dangers that now
enrivon the cattle herds OF the United
States by sne spread of the fatal disease,
known as pieuro-pneumonis or lung
plague. The disease is purely contagious.
and can only be reproduced by infection or
iHoculstion. 1t did not originate in this
country. 1t is indigenous to Asia, and has
gradually spread over Europe until, at last,
il has obtained foothold in America. It.
system Of cow shipped from England and
landed in Brooklyn. In 1857 the disc lss
was introduced into Massachusetts, by four
Holland COWS, landed at Boston. From these
localities the disease has spread until il
now exists in seven States, viz: New York,
Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. These
States IN 1879 had 5,O69. 100 head of cattle,
and the great danger is that the disease will
spread West, until the great herds of the
country will become inoculated. To show
the danger which threatens the cattle inter-
ests of the country, it Is only necessary to
refer to the losses England has sustained
since 1910. when the ecourge first made its
appearance in that country. Mr.. Hayes of
Illinois, in a recent speech in Congress, urg-
ing the publication OF 100 900 copies of the
special report of the Commissioner of Agn-
culture, on diseases of swine and other do
nestle a-imals, says that the number of
deaths of cattle in England from 1910
to 1869, caused almost exclusively by
pluers pneumonia amounted to $40 80
head, valued at $500, 900, 900, and from 1869
to 1878 the deaths were as great in proper
ton as they were prior to 1869, and that
England's losses by this cattle plague al
ready foots up about $500. DOC, 900. Statistics
show that Great Britain has 6,002, 100 head
OF cattle, while the United States in 1879
had 80 234, 500 head. Already the disease in
this country has gone beyond individual or
State control, and unless the General Gov
eminent takes hold Of the subject it must
inevitably spread over the country. In the
seven States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa,
Missouri, Tennessee and Texas the number
of cattle in 1879 reached IA S44 200 head.
These States are as yet non-infected, and with
cattle moro than twice the number that
Great Britain has, il is easy enough to esti-
mate the losses that the farmers of those
States would sustain if the plague is permit
ted to spread. The reports of the Depart
ment of Agriculture upon the diseases of
swine are scarcely less important, FOR it Is
shown that in the year 1877 the loss TO farm
ers by swine disease reached fully $50 900,
and that the annual loss OF farm stock in the
United States by disease is not less than $780,
O00,O 900. Such facts demonstrate the great
value OF the Department of Agriculture,
and IL proper steps are taken, and
sufficient money appropriated, assur-
ances are given that the cattle
plague can be arrested and finally stamped
out, and that remedies can be found for the
diseases of swine. In such questions farm
ers are not alone interested, for If the supply
of cattle and hogs is reduced by disease an
advance in price is certain to follow-hence,
as q question of economy, the whole popu-
lation is deeply interested in the lsbors Of
the Agricultural Department in devising
means to arrest the scourges that are aDnu-
ally destroying millions of American live
stock,