National Republican., 1883-06-05
PLEURoP-NEUMoNIA.
Another Case OF the Contagious Disease
what the Post Mortom Disciosed-An
Interesting Talk with Health Oficer

Another Case OF the Contagious Disease
What the Post Mortem Disclosed-An
Interesting Talk with Health Onfcer
Townshend.
Several days since THE REPUBLICAN gave
to its readers news article relating to q sup
posed outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia in its
contagious form among cattle in this district.
This article was the first intimation that our
people had of tho existence of such q disease
in this vicinity. The matter gained some
prominence in the press following the an
nouncement Of THE REPUBLICAN, and the
investigations resulting seemed to prove
that the alarm was unnecessary The
force employed under DIR. Townshend
made examination of some hundreds of cows
and stables, and every animal showing any
suspicious symptoms was subjected to critical
manipulation by the experts. The animals
giving evidence of disease were few and far
between; among the number was one COW
out on the Glenwood road, the history OF
whose symptoms led the health officer TO re-.
quest an examination by the veterinary 3x-
ports at the agricultural department. This
examination resulted in her being taken
in charge and housed nc the expert
mental station, where she died night before
last Learning that post mortem oxamin-
alton had been held on this animal yesterday
morning, at which commissioner Loring and
Dr. Salmon, and Ross. Of the agricultural
department, and DIR. Townshend and Mr..
McGinn, of our health department, were
present, representative Of the REPUBLICAN,
called on DIR. Townshend last evening TO
ascertain the facts in tho case.
"Yes." said DIR. Townshend "Dr. Salmon
called ut my office early this morning aud
informed me that the animal was dead, and
that the post m0rtem promised to reveal
something interesting. | accordingly went
out, in company with Mr.. McGinn, of my
Office, and there met DIR. Loring and DR.
Rose"
"And this disease was pleuro-pneumonis,
you think, in the contagious FORM p
"Well, the pathological anatomy showed IL
to be pleuro-pneumonia without doubt, and
if what our authorities on the subject say is
true then it certainly points strongly toward
being Of u contagious nature.
"There was quite an extensive flow Of
serum upon introduction of the knife into
the cavity of the chest and large flakes of
coagulable lymph were found floating therein
The plastive lymph on the surface of the
lungs had caused them to adhere firmly to
| the inner sides of the ribs, and what are
known us false" or artificial membranes
had formed.
"These are given as the pathological symp-
| toms in contagious pleuro-pneumonia, and
all were very marked in this case. Samples
of tho lung tissue and the coaguated serum
were taken for microscopical and analytical
| examination, so as to positively establish tn
nature of the disease These examinations
will probably be concluded by day after to-
morrow"
well, doctor, will measures be taken to
| prevent the spread Of the disease If its con-
tagious character be fully established2"
"0h, yes. We will certainly do all that
our limited means can allow. But, by the
| by, there is one point upon which the people
should be assured While none of us like
| tho idaa ofa "A m of a ed N
Or drinking the milk from such, yet there is
no evidence to the effect that either the flesh
or milk of cattle suffering from this lung
| plague when taken into the stomach has
caused trouble. On the contrary, 1t is asserted
that the infection does not extend over the
system from tho lungs, and thousands upon
thousands of cattle known to be thus dis
eased have been eaten and tho milk drank by
tho inhabitants of towns in the older coun-
tries without the least injury to health re-
sulting."
What, in your opinion, would be the best
means Of protection against the inroads oil
the disease, doctorW
well, there are others more competent
than l to answer that question. In some
sections, very stringent measures, such as
the killing of all injected animals and the
burning of infected stables, have been re-
sorted to. Mr.. Commissioner Loring can
probably give You some interesting inlorma-
tion in that line"
"What should be done here2"
"Well, l. think, to prevent tho sale of dis
eased meat, we ought to have live stock
veterinarian, aud then we ought by all means
to have an abattoir. l have suggested the
adoption of these measures repeatedly, and
this outbreak, il such 1t prove to be, will only
give further evidence OF the necessity there
for"