The semi-weekly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1879-1882, 1881-08-11
THE SOUTH RIVER DISEASED CATTLE.


Our Darlington correspondent furnishes
the following facls, respecting the dis
seased cattle in "Middlesex county,
gained from DIR. franklin Gauntt of Bur-
lington, who is member of the State
Board Of Health, and one of the faculty
acting in the premises.
much has been printed" said the Doc
tor, "about the State Board of Health of
New Jersey and their management OF a
herd of cattle afflicted with pleuro pneu-
monia in the county of Middlesex, and
how they we're disposed Of This State
is exposed on all sides to sections Of coun-
try where this disease prevails, to drov-
ers, dealers and spectators in bovine
stock. We have been for many years
suffering from the introduction and spread
of this dangerous contagion. The State
has enacted laws to prevent the introduce
ton and spread of the disease, and their
execution TO certain extent has been
placed under the direction of the State
Board of Health. The members of
this Board are not spectators, salaried
officers, nor politicians, but are associates
of the Board of Agriculture and other
Commissioners of the State, who have
only the best wishes ofthe Commonwealth
at heart. The herd Of cattle in question,
was found roaming over boundless ex-
panse Of marsh land on South River about
s miles east of New Brunswick, with full
access to all the public roads and cattle
by the wayside in that section of the
county. The disease was introduced by
a COW from neighboring State some six
months ago. Since that time several
have died Of it, while many more have
been slaughtered by direction of the State
Board of Health, and paid for according
to law. The attention of the Board being
again called to that locality by letters,
stating that the disease was prevailing, a
representative of the Board visited South
River, and saw number of diseased cat
tie running at large in the public roads,
and others mingling promiscuously with
all the cattle that were grazing on the
bottom lands Of the river that could be
crossed and recrossed at every tide, thus
endangering the cattle on both sides for
miles. More than twenty of those feed
ing upon the marshes were driven into
temporary Enclosure. They were mostly
young, aged from six months to three
years, two or three may have been older.
They were owned by eight or more differ
ent persons, who had them turned upon
this common pasture to run at large dur
ing the season. But one Of this number
could show he bad any place to insure
the isolation of his animals, nor was any
other owner disposed 10 assume any re-
sponsibility. Every animal was carefully
examined, most ofthem were pronounced
diseased, the others were condemned as
dangerous to run at large, because the
disease would surely develop in major
ity Of them in less than two weeks, and
thereby spread the disease still farther.
The law requires the Strengthening of the
diseased, and that they shall be buried
four feet under the ground (this is TO pre-.
vent any other animal from infection)
and that all others exposed shall be iso-
lated, SO that no other animal shall be
exposed to contagion, that they shall not
be bought or sold, nor driven, nor trans
ported through the State, thus arresting
drovers and dealers in the sale of diseased
animals, and endangering stock of farmers
living on the line of the public roads.
This law applies nicely TO the herd of
farmer surrounded by buildings and fen
ced Enclosures, and TO dealers in stock,
but here was a promiscuous lot of rowing
pestilence to be dealt with at once. The
nearest we'll organized slaughter house
was at Camden few hours distant, partly
BY two and a half miles of a public road,
where these same animals had been rum
ming at large, and by rail in special car
through section ofthe State, and at
speed that insured safety to stock, the car |
being thoroughly disinfected before it was
lgain put upon the road. Hero they were
Immediately slaughtered under the SUPER
Vision of DR.. Miller, veterinary surgeon |
If ability and experience sent there by |
he State Board of Health for that pur-
pose. Some of the animals were perfectly |
healthy and fit for food and were sold to |
he butcher, the others were utterly de-
troyed. The owners of the cattle were |
'aid for them by an appraisement made |
" three freeholders of their own selec-
ion, having been duly sworn to allow
me half Of their value, SO considered, |
previous TO infection or exposure to it. |
Every owner expressed himself entirely |
atisfed with the award and their remov-
i.
The rights of the people Of Middlesex
we're not invaded. The citizens of the
'tate were not endangered by the trans
'ortation Of the cattle across the State.
No diseased animal has been bought or
old by stock dealers or spectators, nor
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