, 1886-10-26
The PIeuro Pneumonia In Chicago.

The Pleuro Pneumonia In Chicago.
WASHINGTON, Oct. rs DIR. Salmon,
chief OF the bureau Of animal industry, i'll
his official report upon the outbreak Of
pleuro pneumonia at Chicago. describes
the manner in which the plague was
traced to and discovered in the distillery
stables. and says it was Of itself a demon
stration OF its contagious character. The
report continues as follows
The milkmen at first stoutly denied the
existence of any disease among their cat
tie, but when the evidence became too
strong to be longer contested, it was ad-
United that they had discovered the APP
pearance Of lung disease in 1854. They
first attributed it TO chemicals used in the
mash by the distillers. a I'd also to feeding
slop when it was too hot, but finally they
concluded it was contagious pleuro pneu
meLla, and had been practicing incubation
to lessen the mortality.
1t was soon ascertained that cattle had
been removed from the Phoenix distillery
stables, driven over the streets of Chi ago
and allowed to pasture on the
The doctor then de-cribes the quaran-
tine measures which were taken and adds
1t may be safely said that no removals of
cattle from the distillery could be made
without the knowledge Of the members of
the state live stock commission. An
inspection Of the city and suburban herds
brought out the fact that the c~outagion
has been very widely spread; that dis
eased animals have been running upon
lots where many cattle grazed. aud that
practically We must consider that all of
the infected pastures and vacant lots on
the west and south sides Of Chicago as
infected, and all of the cattle running at
large as exposed. TIE most of the cases
of the disease which were found were
chronic.
Some Of the herds presented plain evil
dence OF having been inoculated. This
incubation, which has been extensively
resorted to in Chicago. while it has less
ened the losses. appears to be one of the
means by which the coutagion has been
SO widely scattered. The origin of the
c~ontagion in the dlstillery stables is still II
matter Of doubt. The milk men believe
that it was introduced with some COWS
which we're bought at the Union stock
yards in the fall of 1854 1t this version
liz correct it is obviously impossible to
learn at this late day whether the animals
were infected at some Of the centers Of
c%ontsgion which existed in Illinois that
year or whether this occurred by contact
with some Of the many eastern calves
which were then passing through the
yards.
The State Live Stock commission has
co-operated cordially In the effort to dis
cover and isolate the Affected and exposed
cattle. but neither the state law nor the
nnrnnrIuftnp mazda IN 20. . ha apf.r.a-
ment OF its provisions are adequate to the
tillery stables and every one which has
been upon the infected omnons of Chi
cago should be seized, condemned aud
slaughtered. The exp, rience of the
world with this plague teaches us that
there is no other course which can be re
lied upon to secure the determination OF
the contagion.
Unfortunately, it is only too plain that
such a measure cannot be carried out and
that it will not be attempted without ad-
ditional legislation.
During the time which must elapse
before decisive aud vigorous action can
be taken. public apathy will have largely
succeeded, the intense interest which has
been manifested in this outbreak Of the
disease and the doubt and the suspicion
which the cattle dealers have industriously
labored to create in regard to the nature
OF the disease will have grown to larger
proportions by Constant repetition. The
interests affected will have time to organ
lze their opposition, the %contagion will
have become more deeply rooted, and
the task, no doubt, will probably Laye
increased in magnitude.
These facts should be borne in mind
and should serve to maintain the interest
of every one concerned in the fate of the
twelve hundred millions of dollars worth
of cattle now owned in the United States.
of every one who values the beef supply
which comes from cattle uncontaminatec
with disease; of every II who realizes
the herdships and misery which would be
entailed by a diminished food supply such
as would follow the general dissemination
of this disease, and finally of every one
who sees the importance to the nation d
maintaining our export trade in live cat
tie, and in fresh. sailed and canned beef
With the contagious pleuro pneumoni'
prevalent in the vicinity VI Chicago, tn
great live stock center Of the country
from which cattle are constantly movin
in all directions. it may he truly said tina
the cattle industry Of this country ha
reached a crisis, but it may be still rescue
from this scourge if congress can be mad
to realize the necessities OF the case.