National Republican., 1886-12-28
PLEURo-PNEuMoN1A scouReE.
Commissioner Colman Urges Leglsla-
tIon TO subdue ne.

tion TO subdue It.
Chairman Hatch, OF the House commit.
tee on agriculture, has received from Com.
missioner Colman n reply 10 the resolution
offered few days ago by Representative
swinburne, Of New York, in which the
commissioner sets forth at length the diff
culties met In the attempt TO extirpate or
to control the pleuro. pneumonia scourge
In the present state OF the law and with the
machinery at his command, and re. e.enforces
his recommendations previously made Tor
more heroic methods with additional argu-
ments and statements of fact. The COM
missioner declares that some Of the state.
ments attributed to his report were not
contained in IL.
lie proceeds: "In reference 10 that part
OF the preamble which states that II has
been learned since the making Of the report
that the disease does not exist In localities
where IL was reported to exist, would re-
spectfully say that my information is not
in accord with this statement
Referring to what had been accomplished
at Chicago by cooperation between the
state live stock commissioner and the bu'
roau Of animal industry, the commissioner
says: ~ placed guard OF deputy sheriffs
at each stable and at the Harvey farm.
| Two were on duty at each place during the
men were employed to count the cattle
daily, in order that any decrease in number
would be at once discovered. Six veterinary
| inspectors were also ordered to Chicago to
| inspect the city and learn to what extent
! the contaglon had progressed outside OF the
| distillery stables. with this force have
co'operated as effectively as possible with
| the state authorities
| He then expresses the opinion "that It is
useless to attempt to eradicate pleuro
| pneumonia in states where incubation Is
| practiced aud where inoculated animals
| are afterward allowed to mingle with the
cattle OF other herds. The money ex'
| pended in purchasing diseased animals for
| slaughter under such conditions Is conse-
quently largely wasted, and for this reason
| have decided not TO expend any part Of
the appropriation for this purpose In states
where inCcculation Is practiced. have,
| however, assisted the state authorities OF
New Jersey, by employing one or more
veterinarians nearly the whole time, whose
duty II has been to investigate reported
outbreaks Of disease and give such aid as was
needed In inspection, and In enforcing the
state quarantine regulations
The commissioner then gives the states
that have refused or neglected to accept the
rules laid down for states infected with Il G
disease In closing he says: 81 desire to
urge upon the committee the necessity of
legislation granting to this department
power to carry out the measures required
for extifpating pleuropneumonia untram.
meled by state laws or state authorities, II
1t is expected to promptly suppress this
disease The task is difficult one at best
and fear that under any plan Of co.opera.
ton our history will be that Of England
where for years the failure of local author
ities to enforce the required regulations
has not only perpetuated the contagion
but allows such frequent and alarming ex'
tensions as have lately occurred"