Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-02-19
AGAINST PLEU.
KO.PNEUMONlA
ACTION OF THE BERKELEY
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL
ASSOCIATION.

jet of preventing the introduction OF
pleuro pneumonia among the cattle OF
West Virginia:
The Association having elected its
officers for the coming year and dispos-
ed of its ordinary business, Col. j. b.
A. Nadenbousch submitted TO the meet
ing the following resolution:
Rrsoired, That the thanks of this
Association are due, and they are here
by accorded to our State Senator, Z.
Boyd Faulkner, Esq, for calling the at
lention of the Legislature of this State
TO the expediency of adopting some
timely and efficient Legislation to pro-
tect the cattle interest from the ravages
of the disease called pleuro-pnenmonia,
and we beg leave to second the move
ment or our Senator by respectfully
urging this subject upon the prompt
attention Of the Legislature.
Col Nadenbousch was very compli-
mentary to our Senator, aud as a farm
er expressed his high qualification that
the interests of the grazing and farming
classes receive their proper attention at
Wheeling.
The chairman then called upon Hon.
Chas. j. Faulkner tor the expression OF
his views upon the subject then under
consideration.
Mr.. Faulkner remarked that he had
nothing to say upon the resolution OF
thanks. II the Senator from this dis
trict was the first to bring this subject
to the attention of the Legislature, It
was very natural movement coming
from a citizen of Berkeley county in
view ofour close proximity tothe coun-
ty of Washington, in Maryland. This
destructive disease, it is understood,
made its appearance for the first time
last fall in Washington county-a coun-
! ty only separated from this by the mar
row channel of the upper Potomac
aud il Is well known that there is much
commercial intercourse between the two
couuties. Berkeley is therefore more
exposed 10 the invasion of this disease
than any county in West Virginia, and
it might therefore be expected that the
first warning cry Of alarm should come
from this quarter.
Mr.. Faulkner said that he had, for
some years, had his attention drawn to
the losses caused by the disease called
pleuro-pneumonia among cattle, both in
Europe and in this country. The loss
es in Great Britain have amounted to
many million OF pounds. He had not
seen any statistics of any other country
in Europe, although it is known that
it prevails more or less in every portion
of it. The disease was introduced into
this country some twenty years ago oy
an importation of Holstein cattle into
Boston. 1t soon began to spread, and
the alram became So great that special
session of the Legislature of Massachn.
sets was called to stamp out the dis
ease by the most vigorous and decisive
measures, This they have TO great
extent accomplished, but at an expense
Of near 100000 from the State treasu-
nv, besides large local expenditures in
the townships. From Massachusetts it
has extended into New York, Pennsyl-
vanin, New Jersey, Delaware and Mary
land. He believed all those States had
adopted vigorous measures OF rcpres-
sion, but he did not know the details OF
their legislation, except so far as he had
observed through the papers, the
prompt slaughter, by order of the com,
mssioners, OF every animal effected
with the disease.
Congress was so impressed with the
magnitude of the evil, that some ten or
twenty years ago it passed a law pro-
hibi,ing the further importation Of for
eign. cattle into this country. He was
pleased to see that the subject was at
tracing the earnest attention OF the De-
partlnent of Agriculture, and that some
measures were under consideration by
Congress to arrest the evil Still he did
not see that any Legislation by Congress
which could only extend to foreign I'M
portation and to commercial intercourse
between the States, could give any pro-
lection to our people, if the disease
shall pass our limits, or that it can dis
pense with the expediency of our own
State legislation.
1t is a disease incurable by medical
treatment, and highly contagious, and
there is but one mode of arresting its
progress, and that is by the immediate
slaughter of every animal exhibiting
symptoms of the disease-a remedy
that can only be applied under the law
and by governmental authority.
So far, he believed, We had never had
case in West Virginia, and with the
lights which the calamities of others
have thrown around this subject, it
would be very easy, by proper proven
tative measures, TO guard our people
against its terrible ravagcs. 1t would
take many millions of dollars 10 remu-
nerate the farmers in the Northern At
lautic States for the losses they have
sustained by this cattle plague.
There was one admonition that he
would give the farmers of Berkeley.
jefferson aud Morgan, whether mem,
bers OF this association or not, and
which, if observed, might certainly
econ emize if it did not dispense with
any governmental remedy which the
State might think proper to adopt for
our protection, and that was to pur-
chase no cattle from any State, or Sec
ton of a State, in which this disease
has been known to exist. If we could
rely upon the observance of that advice,
the remedies provided by the State
might exist on the statute books, but
would not os required in practice.
The great object to be kept in view