Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-03-27


live stock against contagious diseases.
warning them of their approach and d.
recting what remedies to use, and the
proper sanitary methods to adopt as
means of warding of and protecting the
| live stock of the State against the intro
duction and spreading of dangerous dis
eaSes-a precautiOn rendered more i'm
portant on account of the law allowing
cattle to roam unrestrained in the State,
and thus more rapidly and effectually
{ spreading destructive diseases among
/ them"
/ On the 10th of March DR.. Holcombe
made report to me Of the nature and
character of the disease, and of its disas-
trous effects in case 1t should obtain a
foothold IN this State. The concluding
portion Of his report is as follows:
1.-The infected district has been sur
rounded with quarantine notices, but to
all intents and purposes they are in
operative.
"That the disease will appear in other
herds unless efficient measures Of eradi-
cation are adopted, is patent to all who
are acquainted with the past history of
foot and-mouth disease.
"In my opinion the infected herds
should all be destroyed, and the infected
premises quarantined against all cattle,
sheep and dogs for period of one year.
The bedding, manure, hay, fodder, fences,
ETC., should be destroyed with the cattle,
and the stables thoroughly cleaned and
disinfected. The disease is now so near
to the great cattle ranges Of the west, to
which it may readily be carried, and
where its disastrous effects would be in
calculable, and Its eradication impossible,
that any delay of action Is most danger
Gus to the great interests at stake"
This dangerous condition of affairs is
alarming, and is rapidly depreciating the
value Of our cattle, and requires vigorous,
decisive and determined action to stamp
out the disease. If such action IS had by
the Legislature as the gravity of the sit
uation requires, the work of eradication
may be speedily accomplished and made
effective, and security for the future Sc
cured.
The measures to be adopted and the
means to be employed are matters en-
tirely for your judgement to dictate, but
I hope may not be regarded as pre-
sumptiOus if offer some suggestions as
| to the necessary methods to pursue.
It is important that the State should at
all times have in it's employ an educated,
competent and faithful veterinary sur
geon, whose duties should be fully and
clearly defined by law. The tenure of of
! fee should be three or four years. and
the salary should be ample enough to Sc
cure first-class man. With short ten
ure and small salary, neither object can
be secured. Ample provision should be
provided for quarantining stock brought
to this State from other States or COun-
tries where infectious or contagious dis
eases exist, so as to secure the utmost
! immunity against the introduction Of
such plaques in the future. The NOV
ing about the country, selling or
turning on the highways or commons,
animals afflicted with contagious or in
fictitious diseases, should be made crimi-
nal Offenses; also, civil remedies prOvi-
ded.
The law should provide for the de
struCtiOn of diseased animals when it be-
comes necessary to prevent the spread of
contagious or infectious diseases, and
compensation should be provided for in
such cases, under proper regulations and
| limitations so as to prevent fraud on the
State, and slimiting compensation for dis
eased animals to tWo-thirds or three
quarters of their value, and providing no
compensation should be allowed those
who knowingly aided or contributed to
the spread of the disease, or neglected or
refused to assist and aid in enforcing such
quarantine or sanitary regulations as it
might be necessary to adopt and ESTE y
lish. AS there are many dangerous dis
eases that may be imported into the
State, the whole ground should be COW
cred so that in any emergency in the fu-
ture there may be no doubt as to the
character of the malady, and no delay in
securing the speedy eradication Of the
diseases.
An appropriation will be necessary to
carry out such a system as the emergency
now upon the State requires. l learn
! from the State Treasurer that but a small
amount of money is on hand available
for such purposes. In that case it might
be advisable to provide for issuing bonds
Of the State of the necessary amount, at
a rate not exceeding five per cent, and
limiting the actual issue to the amount
that might be required from time to time
to meet necessary expenditures.
If decisive and heroic action is taken
at once, before stock are turned on pas
lures, the disease may be eradicated if
not, the consequences may be disastrous
in the extreme. But feel confident
you will be equal to the emergency.
Knowing that you would be called
ere at an inconvenient time of the year,
and that you would be DESTROYS of end
ing your labors in the shortest possible
time, have asked Mai. Sims, Secretary
of the State Board of Agriculture, Hon.
S. 0. Thacher, Hon. James D. Snoddy,
and Veterinary Surgeon A. A. Holcombe,
to prepare bills covering matters which
YOU were convened to consider. They
cheerfully complied with my request,
and the result of their labOrs will be
unlimited to you for your consideration.
6. w. Click.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Topeka, March IS, 1884.
A CHECKERED LIFE.