Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-22
PLEURo.PNEUNoNIA.
The Result OF an Omclal Investlga.
oon-Report OF the Secretary OF the
Treasury.

| WARRINGTON, April O.
The Secretary of the Treasury has
transmitted to Congress the result of an
investigation made by skilled officers
into contagious diseases affecting ami
mails. In his communication the Secre-
tary says: 1850 t 'H''
"The Department of the Treasury has been
long embarrassed with several questions aris-
ing from the prevalence of the disease known
cattle. These questions relate: ID to the cx-
tinction and prevention of the disease In the
United States; % TO our commerce with Va
lions beyond the seas, especially with Great
Britain; 90 to our trade in cattle with the Do
minion Of Canada.
with view to such legislation as circum-
at this time to submit TO Congress some brief
remarks upon the nature of the disease In
Countries and the United States with a state state
ment of the provisions Of law now in force and
ment relating to 1t, and some suggestions as to
what measures may be properly enacted by
Congress for the suppression and prevention
A description and history of the disease IL
then given at great length, covering not only
its appearance in the United States, but in
other countries. The value of the cattle inter-
est, and the extent of stock-raising in this
country is described in detail, and an exhaust
been used from year to year in this and other
countries to suppress the plague IL given. The
letter then goes on to recommend measures to
prevent and suppress the disease.
Among the measures suggested to prevent
the spread of the pleuro-pneumonia- isolation
of injected cattle Is naturally suggested. This
method, however, has been, and no doubt will
be, found to be entirely impracticable. The
disease, as we have seen. Is readily transmits
sible, not only by contact with the diseased
animals, but by contact with buildings, hay,
bedding or excretions of any kind which have
been in contact with diseased animals. Neat
cattle are short lived, and when once infected
by the disease in question, even IL they re-
cover are of very small value either for breed
large percentage of the cattle diseased S may
apparently recover, yet upon dissection. the
lungs will be found to be seriously affected,
so that IL may be fairly said that the cattle
once infected with the disease are worthless
for any purpose. =
attended with great risk to the neighborhood,
and the infected herd must be always suspect
ed, and, therefore, unstable. In no view can
the isolation of the cattle be recommended
further than for the mere purpose OF asccr-
tanning definitely whether or not the disease
actually exists.
incubation is, as has been heretofore stated
another method practiced in some countries to
prevent the spread of the disease: but this has
where the disease had broken through ali re,
straint, and as last resort to preserve sound
cattle from the general infection which sur
rounds them. Besides the expense and incon-
venience of the practice, 1t Is often attended
with the mutilatfou of the cattle by the loss of
their tails or otherwise. and sometimes by the
loss of their lives. II Is not to be thought of
as remedy under any conditions such as OK
list at the present time in this country.
The only effectual method of eradicating the
disease is by prompt slaughter OF all infected
and exposed cattle: By this method, energct-
ougfly stamped out in several places in Massa-
chusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and other
States. To effect this, however, prompt and
energetic measures are requisite. Several
States have adopted such measures, and are
ready to prevent, to attack and exterminate
the disease wherever Il may appear I'm their
hpr MnctS naxra nd fx.xl
no such measures, and IL seems absolutely
necessary that some measures should be
adopted by the General Government TO pre-
vent the prevalence of disease, which, as we
have seen, would amount to national calam-
ity. 1t is for Congress, and not for this depart
ment, to devise the measures necessary for
this purpose. IL may not be improper how
ever, to make some general suggestions upon
the subject for the consideration of Congress.
The Legislature of Massachusetts has recent
ly sent TO Congress a memorial requesting
prompt action for the prevention and suppress
sion of this disease; and from all quarters n
cry is heard that the General Government
should intervene in the matter.
emergency is. perhaps. the appoiniment of n
Veterinary Sanitary Commission, whose duty
IT shall be to promptly INVESTIGATE all reported
country. to collect information with regard to
the disease from all parts OF the world, and to
report the result of their investigation 10 some
department of the Government for publica-
IL would be necessary that such commission
should be composed, principally at least, of
veterinary surgeons or experts in the diseases
of cattle. The commission might be small,
with authority to employ assistants or agents,
who should be responsible directly to the com
mission. From such commission, even with
no greater powers than have been above indi-
cat ed, much good might result.
Owners of suspected herds and their neigh
wss reaR or
If it were found to exist. State and municipal
authorities might be invoked for it's suppress
ufn md In nWt az eff.Va hat
fact would be of very great value, not only to
the suspected neighborhood, but to the coun-
Going a step further, Government might in
vest such commission with authority, on
proper occasions, to aid municipal and State
and, by means of appropriation for the pur.
pose, grant proper indemnity to the owners Of
cattle condemned to slaughter. Such proceed
ings would be In close analogy with the
methods adopted for the prevention and sup
preston of the yellow fever in the acts cstab-
fishing the Board of Health.
Under the provision found in the third sec
ton Of the act of June 2, 1873 entitled An act
TO prevent Introduction OF contagious ana In
"The National Board OF Health shall cooper
ate with, and, SO far II lawfully may, aid
State and Municipal Boards Of Health IN the
execution and enforcement OF the rules and
regulations Of such boards to prevent the In
PRODUCTION Of infectious or contagious diseases
into the United States from foreign countries,
and into one state from another"
III Is u00er8tOOu tuht tulb hct uO6S not Hpply
to diseases in animals.
Under this provision large amounts of the
appropriation contained in the act have been
expended I'm cooperation with the authorities
of several cfttos and States infected or threat
ened with 1nfecfion by yellow fever; and IL IL
not douttod tn, through similar agencies,
appropriations 6g Congress might be properly
and efectua11y used for the prevention and
suppression OF plcurc-pneumonia among
cattle.
AS suggested by the British Minister, the
most obvious method Of dealing with the dis
ease would be by the appointment OF q COM
mission of some kind, with fun power to pre-
vent and eradicate the disease. in any manner
they think proper, in any part OF the territory
Of the United States-fuch power as 10 exer-
cised by the Privy Council Of Great Brit ain.
under the power to regulate commerce.. CON-
gress has authority to send its agents into the
States and destroy, upon the Judgment OF q
commission. herds belonging to citizens, which
may be found to be dangerous TO Interstate
or National commerce, It is somewhat doubt
ful whether measures apparently 30 arbitrary
would meet with hearty cooperation from
State or municipal authorities.
The disease IL not in existence I'm any Of our
Western States or Territories. Indeed, II has
existed and Is known I'm only q few States Of
the Union; and the proprfety Of so energetic o
movement on the part Of the General Govern
ment might not be appreciated In those States
vwh ho haa m known