Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-03

she country was threatened with epidemic,
led Commissioner Loring to give his person
al corporation with the Chief OF the
Bureau, Prof. Salmon, TO the work OF
preventing the spread, If not the appearance.
of disease among cattle. That work has
been very effective. Cattle dealers we're
early induced to join in it; 60 that before the
summer was over, while the accredited
agents were few. an unpaid force Of thousands
Of men was aiding the bureau with informa-
ton which must be of great value TO the
industry and which the commissioner thinks
will lead to such permanent improvement IN
the condition Of cattle as will insure stability
TO the export trade. Investigation into the
disease known as Tevas fever determined
that it, boundary extends from the sesb ard
in Virginia, across that State, North
Carolina. South Carolina. Georgia, and
Tennessee to the Mississippi River There
il also reason to believe that the disease
sprung from Arkansas and the Indian
Territory. The bureau will issue maps
show ing TIL. infected region. accompanied BY
instruction. which will not only enable
dealers 20 know what cattle are dangerous to
Northern stock. and thus establish aquaran-
tine line. but will also save from unjust
treatment Southern dealers whose stock
NAV be perfectly safe. The bureau
will probably, in connection with this,
recommend the establishment of national
cattle trail, over which cattle from infected
districts must reach market.
At Washingtoa in the summer, experiments
were made TO test the contagiousness Of
pIeuro-pneumonia. Fifteen animals at
different times we're brought in contact with
lung diseased cattle. none of them being
attacked The animals exposed were in good
condition. Afterward, four animals in poor
condition were similarly exposed. and were
all attacked, one OF them fatally. Similar
experiments have boen made on Barren
Island, near New York. Three or four
diseased cows were sent there. Eighteen
cows from Canada, where the disease does
not exist, were then put into the same stable
After a month, three Of the Canada cattle had
the disease Since then all have taken it.
These experiments were made in September
and October. Meanwhile, and later, a
committee of veterinary surgeons, acting by
direction of the bureau, inspected the
various stables, stock yards, and slaughter
houses in the vicinity of the city Out of
3.3l8 cattle in 1855 stables in the city 26 were
affected with pleuro-pneumonia. On Long
island 1855 diseased cattle were found out of
l0,072 in Alb stables. On Staten Island
were found II out of 1857 in 555 stables.
Eight diseased cattle were found out of $50
in Is stables in Jersey CITY. while 80 visits
to the Jersey City abattoir discovered IL
cases The New York offsl dock developed
20 cases out Of 63 inspected; the slaughter
houses IA cases out Of 76 inspected, and 60
stables in Brooklyn, which were twice
Inspected brought to light 100 cases in S68
cattle
The Inspectors caused the prompt isolation
~ al dispasad animals and were careful a
make frequent inspection of the stables in
which disease had been found, with the view
of immediate isolation on its appearance in
fresh cafes In this work the stockmen and
stable keepers lent willing aid. few new
cases thus came to ligh, after the first tour of
inspection. As consequence there are now no
cases of the disease in New York, Brooklyn,
or jersey City. or on Long Island. The In
apectOrs are still on the lookout, but for two
or three weeks have met with no cases. Com
missioner Loring regards this as splendid
test of the efficacy of isolation As a means of
extirpating the disease. The report to
Congress will recommend this means of
driving off the disease. Indeed, it is not q
novel means. having repeatedly succeeded in
Holland. in England, in Australia, and even
in New Engaud,25 years ago. 1t is practiced
now, to some extent. in the West, where
herds of infected cattle are slowly dying by
themselves. But the practice is not general
or widely known even among breeders. The
forthcoming report will be of special value in
this respect, emanating from the first
bureau directly concerned with the sanitary
Improvement of the cattle industry and, in
view of the need of such \ bureau and its
utility, as already demonstrated Commits
sioner Loring anticipates that the cattle
industry will hereafter lack nothing that
Government aid can supply. On this tounda
ton he expects the cattle men so to extend
their present organization as to include the
free diffusion of knowledge on subjects with
in their province, without aid from the Gov
eminent or any other agency, and for the
good of the trade and of public health.