The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-03-13
THE NER oArrLE DLsEAsE.


While the foot sud mouth dlssass
which has made its appearance among
the cattle in certain sections of Coffey
and Woodson counties is doubtless
very serious matter, and demands prompt
and decided action, 1t has not, as yet,
assumed proportions which render lis
suppression a work which cannot be
accomplished by we'll directed and
timely effort. The action taken by the
citizens Of EmporIa last evening in this
behalf gives encouraging evidence that
the people are fully awake to a sense of
their danger, and this is a warrant that
no measures will be left unemployed for
the protection Of the stock interests of
the state.
It is understood, of course, that Vhen
these are menaced the very life of trade
and the basis Of commercial prosperity
in many sections OF Kansas must suffer
disaster, and the injury which would in
ure to the commonwealth by a diffusion
of the contagion would be simply meal
culable. The necessity of dealing with
the trouble while the cattle affected are
still in the corrals and before they are
turned out on the range will suggest IT
self to every one who knows anything
about the Infectious character of the die
ease and the facility with which 1t is
communicated to all classes of stock. II
has been wisely suggested that
the animals suffering from the
malady be promptly killed and buried
and that strict quarantine be placed
upon the infected districts.
1t was also suggested at the meeting
last evening, that If no provision existed
on our statute books for the attainment
OF such an end, that the governor be pc
titioned to Immediately call an extra
session of the legislature to meet the
exigencies Of the case.
His excelency, we are gratitied to learn
is heartily Unlisted in this matter, anC
we feel assured Will employ every means
in his power to avert the dIrefu
consequences of q spread OF the disease
1t is safe TO assume tina
other towns IN this section OF
the state will follow the example set BY
EmpOria in this matter, and that effect
i've and concentrated action will be takeI
all along the line with speedy and salts
factory results.
The disease, so far as we have beer
able to learn, seems TO be OF spontaneou.
origin, and in the cases of the herds Wis
tied by the Emporia committee yester
day, there is ample evidence in supper
OF this theory, as the cattle
afflicted have not been exposed
in any way to contagion from
outside sources. Some authorities clain
that the disease originates in all casei
Independently of contagion, and that i
is due TO climatic or atmospheric causes
exposure and the facilitating effects o
long journeys by land or sea. 1t is verI
true that increased susceptibility to tn
disease is induced by a debihtatinj
cause, but neither age, condition, man
agement, climate, temperature nor an,
common cause of disease seems to exer
any modifying influence.
The symptoms, says standard yeteI
mary work, are due to the presence O
morbid poison IN the animal economy
and native cattle are more susceptible t
the disease than imported stock.
With the spirit which has been mani
tested by the cattle men and the repre-
sentatiVes of all classes of business, an
the cooperation promised by Governo
Click, it is hoped that the disaster whic
menaces Kansas in the shape OF cattl
epidemic may be averted, and we hav
reason to hope that the prosperity of III
state will not suffer materially from TIL
threatened danger