The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-10-29
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.

DIR. Salmon's Report on the Disease at
Chicago-He Considers the Cattle Indus
try in Great Danger, and Makes Some
Valuable Suggestions-The Need of Leg
isIation.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-Dr. Salmon. Chief
of the Bureau of Animal Industry, in his
official report upon the outbreak of pleuro-
pneumonia at Chicago, says: ''On Septem-
Der q visited the Phoenix and Shufeldt.
distillery stables in company with the State
Livestock Commissioners and the State
Veterinarian. Post-mortem examinations
were made ON the earcasses of four
animals, and in every case LESSONS were re-
yealed, which are considered by the vet
Urinary profession the world over to be the
characteristic of pleuro-pneumonia On
several subsequent occasions visited these
stables and witnessed the examination OF
other carcasses which presented equally
plain evidence of the same disease The
doctor describes the manner in which the
plague was traced to and discovered il
these distillery stables and says that it was
of itself a demonstration of its contagious
character. The report continues:
1.-THE milkmen at first stoutly denied the ex-
istence of any disease among their cattle, but
when the evidence became too strong to be
longer contested it was admitted that they
had recognized the appearance of o lung
disease in 1884, They at first attributed it to
chemicals used in the mash by the distillers,
also to feeding the slop too hot, but
had finally concluded it was contagious pleuro-
pneumonia, and had been practicing inocula-
ton to lessen the mortality. This incubation,
which has been extensively resorted to in Chi
cago, while it had lessened the losses, appears
to be one of the means by which the contagiOn
has been so widely scattered.
1.-THE origin of the contagion in the distillery-
stables is still matter Of doubt. The milk
men believe it was introduced with some COWS
bought at the Union Stock Yards in the fall of
1884 by Mrs. Mary Kelly. If this version is cor
rect it is obviously impossible to learn at this
late day whether the animals were infected at
some of the centerS of contagion which existed
in Illinois in that year, or whether this occurred
by contact with some of the many Eastern
calves which were then passing through the
yards.
''The State Livestock Commission has CO.
operated cordially in the efforts to discover and
isolate affected and exposed cattle, but
neither the State law nor the appropriations
made to secure the enforcement of its pro-
visions are adequate to the emergency.
Every animal in the distillery stables and
every one which has been upon the infected
commons of Chicago should be, summarily
seized, condemned and slaughtered. The
experience of the world with this plague teaches
us that there is no other course which can be
relied upon to secure the determination of the
contagion. Unfortunately it is too plain that
such measure can not be carried out and that
it will not be attempted without additional leg
islation. During the time which must elapse
before decisive and vigorous action can be
taken public apathy will have largely
succeeded the intense interest which has
been manifested in this outbreak of dis
ease; the doubt and suspicion which the cattle
dealers have industrously labored to create in
regard to the nature of the disease will have
grown to larger proportions by constant repeti-
ton; the interests affected will have time to
organize their opposition; the contagion will
have become more deeply rooted the task of
eradication will probably have increased in
magnitude.
These facts should be borne in mind, and
should serve to maintain the interest of all con-
cerned in the fate of the 81 ,200,000000 worth of
cattle now owned in the United States; of
every one who values beef supply which
comes from cattle uncontaminated with dis
ease of every one who realizes the hardships
and misery which would be entailed by di-
minished food supply such as would follow q
general dissemination of this disease; and
finally of every one who sees the
Importance to US, as Nation, of maintaining our
export trade in live cattle and in fresh, sailed
and canned beef. With contagious pleuro-
pneumonia prevalent in the vicinity of Chicago
the great livestock center of the country,
from which cattle are constantly moving in all
directions-it may be truly said that the cattle
industry of this country has coached a crisis. 1t
may be still rescued from this scourge if Con-
gress at the coming session can be made to real
lZo the necessity of the Situation. y