Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-05-08
CONTAGIOUS PLEURo-PNEU-
MONA

The following letter from Il. ID.
Hunter, president of the National Cat
tie and Horse Growers association,
on the subject of pleuro-pneumonia,
appeared in the Globe-Democrat on
Tuesday. and contains good sugges-
tons:
The existence of contagious pleuro-
pneumonia in Missouri; the absence of
proper stock laws, sanitary boards
and state veterinarians; the refusal OF
the governor TO call special session
of the legislature; the failure TO raise
by private subscription sufficient
sanitary fund; the consequent enact
ment of sanitary measures by adjacent
states, and the untold losses as Il nat
ural result, all point to the inadequacy
of our national laws governing dis
eases among live stock.
The establishment OF the United
States bureau of animal industry in
1888, and an appropriation by con-
gress for it, maintenance, was COM
mendable move, and under its united
restrictions the bureau has accom-
plished some good results to the gen
eral live stock interests OF The country
But the requirements of the country
since then have become so pronounced
a. a national interest as TO preclude
the possibility of meeting its demands
with the restricted powers OF the bu-
reau. Anc though the national gov
ernment cannot be expected 10 assume
all the responsibilities of n state
such a calamity. the powers and an
thoritv of the bureau OF ANNA INDUS
try should be 50 extended as 10 enable
its agents TO cope with any emergency
which might arise from the absence of
proper local or state regula tions.
II has been demonstrated beyond
any question that thus far the disease
in Missouri is confined 10 one county,
vet for the reasons that there are no
state provisions for lis cXtirpation,
nor national reflulation7 by which II
can he controlled, the department of
agriculture Is compelled 10 contine liz
efforts simply TO quarantine the state
of Missouri. a. a whole, is made 10
suffer almost untold losses by the un-
Savory reputation attached 10 IT. cat
tie. and adjacent states arc forced to
adop; sweeping quarantine measures,
retarding shipments of beef. jenpar-
dizing and compromising one OF III
grandest industries of the United
States. affecting not oIly the cattle
grower and eventually the entire bus
mess interests OF the country. This
condition OF things is depiorable WHOM
we reflect that lin the case Of MiSSpu-
Ri our state legislators, while in Sos
sion last winter, attached 80 little i'm
portancc 10 the adoption of proper
stock laws ss to ignore the subject al
most absolutely; and Is witness 10 The
result of This serious neglect.
This fact, coupled with The failure
20 convince the governor that special
scs sion Of the legislature is advisable
and necessary, prompts the belief that
even il the disease can be allaycd un-
I'll the legislature couvcu.S in regular
session. the proceedings of last year
will be repeated. and Missouri will be
no better oil than now-hence the
strong desire for national emergency
law. Everything that eau be done
has been accomplished in correcting
tn Inconvenience and danger that
might arts from the prevalence Of
pleuro-pncum0nia in Missouri, AMI
the ligiit is now confined to the limits
of the county where it originated,
though outside prejudice is just as act
i've as if every animal in the state was
in the last stages of the plague.
What the cattle growing interest of
ibis country now require i a national
law - framed a. to grant full power
TO a state cattle commission or state
sanitary board to isolate and destroy
diseased ana exposed cattle, ami -
Cthcrwi sc surround the subject of CO
ta@iou with safeguards, that ILL
advised and iudiscrlminatc quaran Inc
measures may be avoided: sensational
and unreliable reports prey cnied, and
disease qaieSly and thoroughly cradi-
Gated. Such law, in the IA nds of
state boards. composed of men select
ed for their knowledge, experience
and unqucstiona5lc fitness, would re-
suit in untold good 10 the live stock
interests of this country: ana a. this
subject Is one of national Importance,
il dcvolvcs upon the national govern
ment TO protect and foster an indus
try in which lis people are vitality in
tercSted, and upon which its COM
mercc and position among the nations
are dcpcndent