Arizona weekly citizen., 1886-12-18
HE ravases of pleurO.pneumOnis

HE ravages of pleuro-pneumonia among the cattle in the infected districts show some very alarming characteris- isiics, and tnere cTe good reasons exist ing for the apprehensIcn felt by the cat tie men n ths westtor he Safety of their herds. The steps now beng taken by the stockmen of this county are not on- ly timely but they are imperative if the great impending danger that menaces their interests IS to be successfully wsried of. Indeed, in face of the pe- culiar and slow development of the dis. ease no complete measure of safety can be secured unless an absolute prohlbl- tion of the importation of cattle from infected states IS enforced. The emer- genoy demands herois measures, and it Is not now question involving a nlce distinction of interstate commercial re- !a,l1ns, but # IS one Of life or death to one of the leading industries of the great west. When a raging fire threat ems the complete destruction of city the law recognizes the right and propri,- " of raz'ng intervening buildings by eI- plOsIves to check its mad course, and valuable property Is sagrihced to save other property from destruction. The principle applies equally forcible to the ravages of pleuro-pne1monia among cattle. Itsweeps with equal fury and unerring certainty across the broad country, blishting every animal in its path and reaching out III every direction. To protect those not yet infected, but yet threatened with destruction, de- mands such extraordinary measures as the exigencies warrant. which are, con- plete isolation. Our quarantine agR'nst those states infected with the disease must be absolute and effective unul all danger IS passed. The disease Is steslthy and Tn idious n its development, but it ss certain as death itself. One animal infected will pOllute 8 thousand herds if gwen the op- poItunity. Wherever Il drinks or grazes or mingles with others of is kind II leaves the fatal infection, and these germs develop and multiply in the pre- viously healthy animal for three months before the full effect Of the disease Is shown. In the meantime. the animal Is regarded as free from taint aud Is per mitted to mingle with others, where Il perpetuates the disease like the little lesyen that lesveneth the whole loaf. Its worst feature IS its hidden and IusldI- ous development that denes detection un- | ll the dreadful climax Is reached. \ man may import an apparently heslthy Bni- | nal to bis herd that hts been exposed to the disease, and for three long months iJ will indus rio usly spread the cOnta- zion, until 1t suddenly dies ID 8 myste- rious manner possibly unnoticed. ln due ! time one after another the snimsls will drop of until the whols herd, becoms s victims to the imported poison, and | the very stmC sphere Is rank with It' germs and redolent with the efiuvia oi decay. These peculiar ties make the contagion very difficult Q combat and | nothing but untirIng viz dance and the | most rigid enforcement of strict guar | antipe laws will successfully cope wItE | the terrible malRdy. We hope our cat | tie men will succeed Tn securing suct l protection as the case de nan1s, and that
 they will prevent the introduction oi the dreadful epidemic among the vast ! herds of Arizona.