The Evening critic., 1884-03-27
pLEuRo-pNEuMoNIA AND CATTLE.
The Kansas Cattle Plague an Empty
Scare.


The cattle interest in this country
amounts, in hard money, to $1,500,000,0O0.
An interest Of this magnitude is worth a
little practical looking after. The sensi-
tiveness of this kind of property, exposed
to tho chills and fevers of climatic in1u-
ences, is fifty illustrated in the extent of
the recent scare in Kansas because few
cattle caught cold and became sick, which
was sufficient to cause heavy draft on tho
tclegraphic capacity of the country in
order to inform Senators and Members
who, it is said, own cattle-of the peril i'm
pending over the herds of the great West
True, the malady was only local and con-
fined to few herds, but IL was like Mer-
cutios wound, it was Sufficient" and one
branch Of n paternal Congress gave $4,000
toward restoring normal conditions in
Kansas.
This so-called foot and mouth disease in
Kansas is what was formerly known as
sore foot or scratches, and is well-known to
be superinduced by the character of food
fed to animals and augmented by severe
weather, just such as has prevailed In the
West during the past winter. Since this
disease first made its appearance in the
great West, sundry panicky sensations have
broken out in various sections Of that coun-
try. Now what is wanted is some kind Of
soothing syrup which will allay tho scare,
after which simple precautions will be suf-
flcient to eradicate the disease.
The Hatch Pledro-Pnoumonia or Animal
Industry bill offers the best practical way
TO deal with the matter. Under its plain
provisions contagious diseases among cattle
will be made the subject of systematic in
vestigation and intelligent treatment,
and should the bill become a law aud its
provisions get into practical operation, the
first intimation of an outbreak of any dis
case among the cattle herds would be the
signal for immediate investigation aud the
application of effective remedial agencies.
Surprising bureau of animal industry
TO have existed at the time of the recent
scare in the West. The Commissioner of
Agriculture would at its advent been ready
to grapple with it, and the throb of fearful
apprehension which pulsated through tho
heart of the cattle interest of the country
would have been saved. Efficient veteri-
nary agents sent to the scene ut once would
have communicated the exact condition OF
affairs as they existed and saved the feel
ings of at least q large number of appre-
hensive disinterested Senators and Mem
hers
AS to the constitutional point that Gov
eminent aid in such q case would be an
interference with local function, it
should be stated that on the occasion of the
recent furry in Kansas, the United States
veterinary surgeon, who was sent to
Kansas by the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture, was received with open arms, and so
he would have been if he had taken with
him the $4,000 meant to have been pro-
vided by onehalf of Congress.
But aside from all other considerations, a
well-ordered bureau of animal industry
properly administered, such as is outlined
in the Hatch bill and in charge of practical
men, with such veterinarians as Professors
Lyman and Law to deal with the symptoms
| of cattle disease would save millions of the
wealth Of the country annually, and some
such measure ought to be adopted ut an
early day by the National Congress. With
| safeguards thrown around tho bill the C)m-
missioner of Agriculture would be free to
| act in AL such cases.