Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-06
DISEASES AMONG CATTLE.
The Pleur0.PneumOniaB ill Before the
HOnse.-
FACTS CONCERNING THE Disc AsR AS OFFICIALLY r.
PORTED TO THE RoUsE-INFECTED HERDS IN MARY-
LAND AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Mr. h. Hatch, from the House committee on
agriculture, called up his pleuro- pneumonia bill
before committee OF the whole House last even
ing. Accompanying the bill 1s the report Of the
committee upon the subject The report gives an
analysis Of the bill, section by section, explaining
the scope OF each clause and the necessity for it.
Sections one and two provide for the creation Of q
bureau Of animal industry in the department Of
agriculture with authority to collect Information
and to prescribe rules and regulations for the sup
preston and extirpation OF pleuro- pneumonia
and to provide against the spread of other
contagious diseases Sections three and four give
the commissioner OF agriculture authority to make
rules for the suppression OF contagious diseases and
the existence OF diseases in the several states and
territories. and provide for quarantine, by order
OF the President for all places deemed to
the animal industry OF the country. Sections five
and six provide for the expectation OF live stock
from the United States upon such terms the Sec
r re OF tne b may the view
foreign countries. Section nine confers upon the
Commissioners OF the District OF Columbia the au-
thority to prevent the introduction of pleuro pneu
monia into the District, or If found here, to pro-
vide means for its speedy extirpatiOn. The other
sections provide for the enforcement Of the rules
1t Is made the duty OF the United states district at
torneys to bring prosecutions for all violations OF
the act, and an appropriation OF $3.50 900 Is provided
THE LOSS OF TRADE.
The report refers to the action OF France and
Germany in prohibiting or restricting the importa-
ton Of American pork and the probability Of other
countries following their example unless some
thing Is done to restrict the transportation OF dis
eased animals. The trade lost in France, it says,
amounted to s19,OOO.OOO per year. and was increas-
ing $500, 600 annually before the prohibition edct
and memorials from the several states Interested
In stock raising, asking Congress to take some
tlon 10 suppress pleuropneumona; and it concludes
with a statement prepared by Dr. d. C. salmon
veterinary surgeon OF the Department Of Agricul-
ture The DOCTOR in his statement. says that there
are comparatively few diseased animals in this
country. but that the danger or the disease becom
Ing Widespread was greater than their number
seemed to indicate.
MARYLAND AND THE DISTRICT.
SIN Maryland and the District of Columbia" he
says, "there are many infected herds In which a
comparatively large number Of animals annually
contract the disease. BY direction of the commits
siOner OF agriculture reliable inspector was sent
to Baltimore late in october to learn the condition
teen stables, containing 39S animals were exam
lined. In twelve OF these the infection was adj
mitted; one had lost more than zoo animals within
three years; Others had lost heavily for years;
twelve sick animals were found; eighteen recent
deaths were admitted and three Sick COWS had
just been sold OF exchanged. This number Of sta
bles comprises but small part OF those in the
vicinity OF Baltimore but 1t is believed that the
number Is sufficient to demonstrate the presence
and dangerous character OF the disease. We have
no information OF pleuro-pneumOnia in the country
districts OF Maryland at any great distance from
the clteS. one or more herds near the District OF
Columbia have recently lost number Of COWS, and
at latest accounts had some sick. Within the Dis
trct, without making any regular Inspection three
infected herds have been found where from three
to six animals admitted TO have been lost with
in the year"
In New York, he says, from the west end of Long
island to Staten island, and New York city, where
there are more than two hundred stables, some
talnng several hundred COWS, the Infection is ex-
tepSive, and that district Is
THE MOST DANGEROUS
in the country, from the fact that many thorough
bred cattle are raised there, to be shipped to all
parts OF the country.
Infection is found in Connecticut and even in
New Jersey. which was recently supposed to be
free from pleurO-pneumonia; and an outbreak of
the disease In pennsylvania is attributed to the in
lection OF load OF cows shipped from Baltimore
The actual number Of infected animals is said how
ever. to be very few, and the chief danger Is that
as the disease Is very contagious 1t will spread
very rapidly II not checked by some prompt meas
ure and the herds constantly watched, so as to de-
t'ct the slightest appearance Of the infection.
Facts and arguments are gwen TO show that the
disease never originates in this country, but is
brought over by animals shipped from abroad.
THE SUBJECT IN THE SENATE.
The Senate committee on agriculture this morn
Ing unanimously ordered favorable report on the
pleuro-pneumona bill introduced by Senator Mil
Ter, Of New York.