The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-02-17
The Cattle Lung Plague.
History OF TIE DISEASE, IFS CAUSE, AND
EXTENT.

AHST0EY OF TIE DISEASE, lis CAUSE, AND
EXTENT.
WA>HINGToN, ID. c., February 1j.-The
President to-day transmitted TO the Senate
The report OF a commission appointed by
the Secretary Of the Treasury 10 report on
The hing plague Of cattle, or plcuro-pneu-
mOnil. The commission, composed OF
Messrs. James Law, +. +. Thaycr, and j.
II. sander, have prepared yolumlnous
and exhaustive history of the disease, and
enter into an extended consideration OF
the causes which led 10 It's introduction
and spread in txs country. The commits
sion reviewed the history OF the disease
for which they have adopted the term
.lur. plague') both in Europe and
America. Illustrating its purely contagious
nature. H. insidious progress, it, destruc-
tive tendency, and the circumstances in
which il has been respectively possible and
impossible TO extirpate it from an infected
country.
The ultimate source OF lung plaques, the
commits. ion say. is not known. Up 10 the
present time this has successfully eluded
all Investigations. like smallpox, measles,
the plague, etc. Cattle lung plague is only
known a. il j. transmitted by its own con-
taeious products. All historic records OF
hmgpacue betray its continuous existence
IN different parts Of Europe, where IL has
prevailed from time immemorial; and
show further that the invasion OF a new
country by the pcstiencc has ever been
but he ,equel Of the transit of cattle from
M infected region, either in the commits
,arial park Of n beIligerent army on i'm the
channels Of an opening commerce. In
q IL 4. 90 iaf IL -
in thi, country. the report says that the
pe,iilence began in 1913, when an infected
English cow was landed in Brooklyn. and
has since extended some 800 miles south.
The commission, after reviewing the
history Of the plague, reach the conclusion
that the unyarying Essence OF lung plague
apart from c0ntagion is perfect guarantee
that II can be permanently ersdicated, and
maintain ihst In every instance where q
nation has stamped out the infection no
new ca-es have appeared until there has
been another importation OF infected stock.
Long delay in stamping out the disease in
the United States, the report says, mean.
the extension OF II to our open cattle
rahgc.. and the impossibility Of stamping
IL out. With the near prospect OF Il gene.
rai extension OF the plague. and the yearly
~it4itif 81 lfli- NIN NNpico vi lIllliOn> vi
dollar, 10 IL Unsuitable craving, to say no
thing II the continued incubus on oul
foreign market, to delay the work OF eX
tlnciion which is now i'm our power saver
OF eriminality.
The committee, in conclusion, recon
mend. among other measures, legislation &
abolish or regulate markets for store cattl
in injected districts; TO prohibit all move
ment OF cattle in infected districts eNcep
under special license; 10 inspect all cattl
in suspected districts; TO slaughter all in
gecled cattle, and in exceptional cases thos
that have been exposed 10 infection, I'll
owner. 10 De literally Unidentified; to pro
hibit the pasturage OF more than one herr
on one pasture, unless under special Il
cense: and legislation 10 institute and en-
force such minor rules as may be demand
ed bv the peculiar conditions OF particula
districts. IN order TO carry out the prov
sion. Of the legislation suggested, the con
mission also recommend liberal appropr
alton by Congress TO be disbursed by som
DESIGNATED Federal officer.