Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-02-21
prsEasrp mEAr SOLD.
A veterinary Surgeon and Three Drover
vesf,sl.


Veterinary Surgeon Francis Bridge, of
Philadelphia, and John Kester, Harrison
Nipple and w. a. Nipple, drovers, have been
arrested for selling cattle affected with con-
tagious pleuro-pnoumona, and In selling the
flesh Of the cattle after they had been slaugh-
tered. DIR. Bridge Is said to have negotiated
the purchase from Chester county parties,
and the exposure of 1t has created great in
dignation around Kennett Square and among
Philadelphia butchers and marketmen. The
animals are said TO have been in very bad
condition and nearly dead from the lung
trouble when slaughtered. Pleuro-pneu-
monia is disease of the lungs cell walls
and tissues break down, puss accumulates i'll
large quantities, assesses form and through
all of this corruption the blood, in order to
be prated has to 10 drawn. In the last
stages of the disease the blood becomes
watery, and large quantities of serum are
deposited in the cavity of the thoraN. The
flesh of an animal which has, or which dies
from this lingering disease, cannot he
wholesome food for human beings, The
following particulars are given by the Press
of the affair, the cattle having been slaugh-
tered on Monday and consigned to Wednes-
days Philadelphia market
John Kester has farm in Chester county,
three miles southeast of Kennel Square. lie
is milk dealer, aud had on his farm, which
is worked by his son, herd of twenty-onc
cattle About four weeks ago ono OF the cows
became very i'll and Dir. Bridge was sent for.
He pronounced the disease pleuro- pueumO-
mia and ordered the diseased animal to be
killed, and il was done \ few days later
three more of the herd woIe seized with the
same disease and they too were killed. On
Feb. ., Secretary Edge of the state board
1 4 -
of kennctt square, examined the herd, which
then numbered seventeen, and decided that
all of them, hut one, had the germs of the
disease in their lungs Secretary Edge said
the disease must he stamped OUT anG or
dCrcd the whole herd to be slain. The state
makes some slight provision for the REIN.
burscment of the owners of diseased cattle
which are slaughtered hv the order of the
officers Of the state board of agriculture.
Secretary Edge agreed to give Mr.. Keser
500, and asked the farmers in the neighbor-
hood 10 make up purse to cover the bal-
mIce OF the money value of the cattle
The cattle were condemn ed, and it was
supposed that they would ne killed at once
in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
On a farm AL Joining Mr.. Kester's was q herd
| of very valuable cattle, and the owner sub
scribed 500 toward paving Mr.. KesteT
for the loss of his herd. \ week
passed by ana still the diseased herd
was not killed. The people of Kennett
| came excited and indignant. Pleuro pneu
monia broke out in other places, and many
| of the cattle in KeSter's herd became very
badly diseased. Last Monday Kennel
| Square was shocked by the announcement
| that a Philadelphia dTover had purchased
| kester's condemned cattle and that he haC
| slaughtered them, and sold the dressed bee
| to butchers in Philadelphia. This tuIn
out To he true. DR.. Bridge negotia
| ted the sale and Nipple paid $40
| head To Kestcr for the stock. Til,
latter denies any knowledge that they wer,
! TO he sold for beef and gives the Press thi
information about the affair:
KNEW THAT THEY WERE DISEASED.
"Did you know that the cattle were diseas
| ed?'' was asked.
"Yes, 1 supposed that at least sixteen o
| them weTe.n
"Where did you get the cattle in which til
pleuro-pncumonia first appeared?'
''rhe first one that died bought four wear
ago from Isaac Cochran, of West Chester
One in the lot of three which were killed. Dl
| Bridge said, was the animal which spread tn
! germs of the disease That one was sold {
mo by Amos Edwards. The cattle were al
praised at $50 each by James Cloud, Mark Co
and Mr.. Darlington"
DR.. Bridge denied all connection with tn
sale of the cattle yesterday and stated tina
only one WAS badly diseased. He admitted
| however, that he had not seen the cattle no
examined their lungs after they were slaugl
tered.