, 1884-04-09

II 1hNlNAA
there exists more or less efficient sanitary
organizations which have for their sole or
partial object the prevention and suppress
sion OF epizoOtic and contagious diseases
among the domesticated animals. Judi
clousIy framed sanitary regulations, while
attordlng security, should embarrass COM
merce as little as possible.
The official reports of the immense
losses sustained through contagious dis
eases of cattle in the different countries of
Europe, induced them to enact laws
creating sanitary commissions with
authority to prescribe rules and regula-
tiQns governing the cattle traffic, and thus
prevent the importation and spread of the
various plaques.
GREAT CATTLE PLAQUES.
Rinderpest, epizootic aphtha or foot
and mouth disease and contagious pleuro-
pneumonia, are the three great cattle
plaques, and of their destructiveness we
have the most appalling records,
In the first half of the eighteenth
cattle persisted by contagious diseases in
Europe. From 1912 to 1872 England
lost $500, 000,0 900 I'M cattle through an
importation of contagious pleuro-pneu-
monia, and in 1868 $40, 1000, 900 from an
invasion of rinderpest.
1t has been demonstrated in Massa-
chusetts in 1868, and in 1879,
that contagious pleuro- pneumonia
can be stamped out of this country. l
Twas greatly surprised while in Chicago
and Washington by hearing individuals
/ express doubts asfto the existence of CON
tagious pleuuro-pneumonia in this coun-
try. Even a newspaper interested in the
cattle traffic, published in Chicago, ex-
pressed its disbelief.
IMPORTED DISEASE,
Contagious pleuro- pneumonia of cattle
was imported into New York from Eng
land in 1913, and n number of times
since. The disease has spread along the
Atlantic seabord and at present exists in.
tile states of New-York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and
the District of Columbia. In 1870, the
federal government employed Prof, John
Gamgee, of England, to investigate the
reports of disease among cattle in states
on the seaboard and his report, published
by the department of agriculture states
hat the disease Is. contagious pleuro-
pneumonia and locates it in the states
above named.
In 1859, Messrs, Chenery Bros, of
Boston, Mass, imported from Holland
four cows infected with pleuro-pneumo-
MA, and,the disease spreading from these
cows cost that state $3.50, 600 to stamp it
out. Maxi .ElLEr HfNI.
In December, 1878, England sent Prof
MeEachran, Of the Montreal Veterinary
college, to investigate the rumors of n
disease reported existing among cattle in
states o N our Atlantic seaboardy His re-
port ofthe existence of pleuro- pneumonia
among the cattle in the states already
mentioned was the basis for the almost
prohibitive restrictions placed upon our
export cattle trade by Great Britain.
The state of New York in 1880
spent S63, 900 in an effort to stamp out
pleuro-pneumOnia among cattle and dem
onstrated that states can clear themselves
of contagious diseases. The work had
been prosecuted vigorously and success
almost guaranteed, when unfortunately,
a change of politics placed a
new governor at the head of
the cattle industry and in his short
sightedness, removed the restrictions
placed ON the. cattle traffic and the state
to-day is little better off than if nothing
had been done. I
New jersey spent $40, 900 in 1879 in an
effort to control contagious pleuro pneu-
monia among cattle, and much good was
done, but the legislature at their session
of 1850, having no interest in the cattle
traffic, amended the law so as to make
1t imperative and not so expensive. y
Pennsylvania continues to quarantine
infected herds whenever found.
In 1879 the department of agriculture
employed Prof. G. p. Lyman, of Massa-
chusetts, to investigate into the reports of
contagious pleuro-pneumonia among cat
tie. His report was printed, together
with a map showing what part of each
state was infected. In 1881 the secretary
Of the treasury, Washington, ID. c., APP
pointed a commission, composed of Prof.
James Law, j. H. Sanders and f.. f.
Ihayer, to investigate as to the existence
Of pleurO-pneumonia among cattle in the
United States. Their labors extended all
over the country, and their report rem
dered in 1882 is a complete history of this
pestilence, defining the localities where it
exists, and pointing out the dread conse-
quences of allowing the disease to spread
through the country.
CONCLUSIONS REACHED.
Gentlemen, l have given you facts that
are on record, and while contagious pleuro-
pneumonia exists among cattle in any
part of this country, your business hangs
by a very slender thread.
This disease is spread through the ave
nues of commerce by healthy cattle com
ing in contact with infected railway cars,
stock yards, roads and stables. While |
was inspector of cattle in New York |
saw cattle suffering with pleuro-pneumonia
in the Union stock yard, and they ship
fat cattle ont of that yard to England,
and when the English inspector detects
animals suffering with this disease, our
people cry impossible, - those cattle
were from the west, where no contagion
exists.
INFECTION OF STOCK YARDS.
How do stock yards become infected
with contagious diseases? Numberless in
stances are on record where pleuro-pneu-
monia is known to have broken out in
herds, whose owners have at once taken
them to the stock yards and placed them
ON sale, rather than suffer the loss expert
cnce taught him was sure to follow.
DIR. Rose, a veterinarian in the employ
of the department of agriculture, reports
farmers unloading their cattle infected
with pleuro-pneumonia on the markets of
Baltimore, Md.
have seen this practiced by farmers
and dealers in New York yards, and |
assure you it is almost a miracle for
healthy cattle to pass through the infected
localities unscathcd. The long stage of
incubation of pleuro- pneumonia renders
it the most dangerous of all bovine
scourges, and necessitates a rigid quaran
tine OF one hundred days to determine
whether an animal is sale, after being ex-
posed to the ~contagion. During this
period of incubation the animal presents
no abnormal symptom, but will infect all
cattle with whom it comes in contact,
nu-urCp nrrp