The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-05-08
Cattle Disease Alarms.

pubic measures Tor the suppression OF
diseases of cattle that are or may be
contagious in their character has fully
come to the breeders of the Mississippi
Basin, and it seems strange that any
one having the industrial interests of
the country and the material prosperity
of the Nation at all at heart can oppose
the adoption of such measures. The
pleuro pneumonia of the East, the Tex
as fever In the South, the swine plague
and the CHAMBERS of the North, and
now the so-ca led foOt-and-mouth dis
ease Of the Mississippi Valley, call loud
" for such provisions as will prevent
the defamation of the great herds on
the plains, so seriously threatened, and
protect American industries from the
pre- judicial not on of foreign Govern
ments as regards the cattle export
trade.
These are facts which must be patent
to every one; and although no con-
taoious character can be ascribed to the
recent outbreaks of disease among the
cattle of Kansas, Missouri and Illinois,
there can be no possible reason for
abating the interest in the measures for
the general good in this particular that
those outbreaks have aroused. The
alarm is fortunately without sufficient
grounds vet 1t is not without its value.
Many interested in the commerce may
complain that such alarms are huriful
and un iustifiable, because they tend to
disturb the state of the trade, and con-
denim those journals that have given so
much space in their columns to the
publication of all statements that could
be gathered concerning the dreaded
scourge And while there may be
something of justice aud reason in the
complain, there can be no doubt that
the harm that may have been inflicted
in this way IS much more than counter
balanced by the in luence these facts.
even If not Immediately important of
themselves, have upon governmental
and State authorities in deliberations
upon the means 30 be adopted for pre-
vention or suppression on one hand,
and by the force with which they urge
upon farmers and cattle-growers the
desirability of better hygienic cOndi-
tons in the management of Their
stock. Poor food and neglect during
inciement weather Will no more pro-
duce good cattle and healthy stock than
viii a pOQrly-tilled, sterile soil bring
forth good crops of corn and wheat.
Those animals which during the sum-
mer months have reyeled in the enjoy
ment of the rich succulent heritage of
prairie farms are bat lily prepared to
| withstand the neglect they often have
to suffer at the hands Of thriftleSs and
imprOVident farmers with no barns for
shelter, with little or no hay, and only
poor, soft corn, and probably only a
small quantity of that to nourjsh them
is there any cause for wonder that
the animals become weakened and
brought to a condition TO succumb TO
any disease or affection that may at
| tack them?
The farmers of this age must come to
| the realization that 4 bOuntiful nature
viii not always respond generously to
| all claims made upon her without ade-
| quate outlay Of labor TO satisfy certain
/ fixed requirements. These requirements
are of The simplest character, and easy
! to understand. In manufacturing, ma
! chinerv is well cared for, all damages
! are repaired as soOr as they occur, the
| parts are we'll fabricated, and the strict
| est watch o. the most intelligent kind
| kept over every part. Success in thes
| industries can be obtained only by such
| care. 1t has frequently been declared
| that practical agriculture requires for
| its most success. I'll prosecution the high
| est degree of human intelligence; and
| while this is I'm ioubtedly true, there is
] .
| found among owners or managers Of
! fan ms. In this country farm products are
| largely left to produce themselves, and
! anything that involves either labor or
! expenditure of capital, even though
! both may promise profitable results, is
! too often looked on with disfavOr.
! Farmers west of the Alleghenies have
| vet to learn that the best results to be
| secured are only the sequence of earnest
! and intelligent labor. So such cattle
! plaques as have lately been discussed
might have been avoided by the appli-
! cation Of these principles III the man
! agement of the herds. Some OF the
! examiners who went over the ground
! have apparently been satisfied that the
! disease which affected the cattle of Kan
! sas. Missouri and Illinois is the result
! of exposure, poor and scanty food, and
want of care. That the disease was
! confined 80 certain sections Is by them
! explained by the statement that the
! careless practices favoring the appear
/ ance and extension of the disease have
become common in comparatively re-
stricted areas.
Whether this be true or not, the i'm
! pOrtance of greater attention to the
! com Ort Of cattle during the winter
months can not be too strongly urged
| upon those to whom animals are IN
trusted. They are often able to with
stand exposure and limited food sup
plies, but this consti utes no valid
reason for subiecting them to such con
| ditiOns Ia all eases it pays to keep
good cattle, and it pays to keep them
warmly housed and well fed during the
winter. These facts, with the growing
demand for more and better beef, must
soon be taken into account Therefore
it may be repeated with emphasis that,
even If the late widespread alarms con
! corning cattle diseases were TO some ex-
| tent unwarrantcd by the conditions
! prevailing, they have served a useful
! purpose Chicago Tribune.