The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-03-26
A PfcurO.PneumOnia Scare.

n
Hon. George II. Williams, of Baltimore
county, has prepared a bill, which has passed
the Senate, looking to the prevention and
spread of lung fever or plcuro-pncumonia
among the cattle in this State Mr.. Williams
in presenting the bill said that his bam-yard
in Hartford county had been Swept by the
disease Senator Stump, of Hartford county,
il was stated, had also lost three cattle from
the same cause.
The publication of these reports naturally
caused considerable anxiety among the far
mcrs of this county, the existence of plcuro-
pneumonia or any other infectious or conta-
gious disease here not being suspected The
subject was brought forward at II meeting of
the Deer Creek Farmers Club, held last
Saturday at the residence of Mr.. r. Harris
Archer. The members ofthis club are among
the most prominent farmers and graZicrs of
cattle in the county They own together at
least thousand head of cattle and being
scattered throughout the central portion of
the county, their opportunities for learning
of the existence of any disease among stock
are excellent. A thorough inquiry Mt the
meeting established the fact that not a single
case of pleuro-pneumonia or other dangerous
disease exists among the cattle owned by the
members of the club, and none Of the gentle
men present knew or had heard of any cases
of disease of any kind among stock in any
part of the county.
In view ofthe reports, however, the clubap
pointed a committee, consisting of Mcssrs. a.
Nj. Fulford, Thomas A. Hays Dir. James NJ.
Magraw, VIM. Munnkhuyscn, John Moores
and VIM. F. Hays, to investigate all the facts
upon which the reports were based. This
committee ascertained, III the first place, that
no cattle have died on Senator Stump's farm.
The committee state that all of Mr.. Stumps
cattle are healthy, showing no SIGNS of disease
of any kind.
The committee next visited Senator Will
liams' farm, Rangers Lodge" There they
found some cause for apprehension, but moth
ing upon which to base Il positive assertion
that pleuro-pneumonia existed among Mr.
Williams cattle The committee were in
formed that two years ago steer was brought
TO the farm from Baltimore city. This animal
did not thrive, as the other cattle, and died
last summer. During last winter two cows
also died; but the manager of the farm cX-
pressed decided belief that their death was
occasioncd by old age. In February of the
present year another COW was taken sick and
was killed. No post mortem examination
made nf tbn Ct M ~ rnyv aud ~, nm,
familiar with the symptoms of plcro-pncu.
monia saw them. On Monday of the present
week Il veterinary surgeon from Baltimore
city visited Mr.. Williams farm and upon cX
aiming the cattle selected one, II ycarlng
and pronounced it unsound He could not
positively pronounce it case of plcpro-pncu
mona without making post norton exam
nation, and the animal was accordingly
slaughtered. The lungs, which are the parts
Immediately affected, were taken bv tho
veterinary to the city to he subjected to mi
croscopic examination The remainder o.
Mr.. Williams cattle, twelve or fourteen in
number, are TO I'LL appearances healthy mC
in fine condition.
We have ourselves made the most diIigcnI
inquiry among farmers from all parts of Tho
county, and have been unable To discover the
existence of disease of any kind among tho
cattle anywhere in Hartford county Plcuro
pneumonia, if il exists here nj all, is confined
exclusively to til" farm OF Mr. Williams
Disease some cllaractcrh has no doubt caused
the death of three animals, but until the yctcr
mary surgeon positively declares the case hi
examined to have been one of plcuro-pncll.
monia, the matter is still left in doubt. Fiji
should prove 10 have been that dreaded dis.
ease very little apprehension need be felt that
il will spread. II these losses can be- attrib
utcd to pleuro-pnrumonia, happening us they
have during the space of two years, the dis
ease has evidently been confined to one farm
and in all that time hut three animals have
died whose loss could be- ascrihrd To il. II i,
therefore neither active nor malignant II
the microscopic examination of the lungs O
the slaughtered animal should establish Tho
fact that il presented an undoublcl case Of
plcnro-pnclmonia, it will he an easy mattcl
to stamp out the conagion and we venture
W. "S9oi' lii't '''iiat"i w IllalliS VIII 90 all NJ
his power to prevent the disease from spread
ing, even if it should he necessary 10 sacrifice
his entire herd
Mr.. Williams cattle have been confined
entirely 10 bis own farm, and have had No
access 10 other herds Therefore, ifany con
ta~ions disease has existed there, it is still
confined to the >a'nr farm and no other cat
liz in tn" county could have been affected by
il
The whole affair has been greatly cxagger
alrd, and is calculated 10 iniurc the sale o
Hartford county cattle