The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-30
Diseased Cattle In Chicago.


Great excitement has been created by the
breaking out of pleuro-pneumonia among the
cattle in Chicago. The diseased animals are
chiefly among those fed at the distilleries. DIR.
Salmon, of the Bureau of Animal Industry,
was sent from Washington to Chicago by Con-
missioner Colman, of the Department of Agri-
culture, and reported that the cattle disease
there is pleuro- pneumonia. The State authori-
ties decided to kill the 5000 cattle under quar-
antine in and around Chicago to prevent the
spread Of pleuro-pneumonia, and were brought
face to face with the grave question of what
should be done with the careasses of the ami
mails. The decision was made at a meeting of
the Board of Live Stock Commissioners, Gov.
Oglesby, Attorney General Hunt, Dr. Salmon,
Chief OF the Government Bureau of Animal
Industry; DIR. Rauch, of the State Board of
Health, and State Veterinarian Casewell and
his assistants. There were also present DR..
Robertson, of the Iowa Board of Health, and
representatives of the Stock Yards. The gen.
tlemen named, except the Stock Yard men, had
been out at the Phoenix and Lynch and Shu-
feldt distilleries, and had seen two or three
cows killed and dissected. The experts had all
agreed that there was no doubt about the dis
ease being pleuro-pneumouia. and the only
question for the State officials to settle was how
to deal with the plague.
Gov. Oglesby said that in his opinion there
was but one thing to do, and that was to kill
every one of the quarantined animals at once.
There was no dissent from this view, and the
State officials promptly decided that the cattle
should be killed at once. Then the question
arose as to how the carcasses should be dis
posed of. 1t seems to be an open question as to
whether the flesh of cattle which has been
tainted with pleuro- pneumonia is or is not fit
for food. Nobody claims that the 1000 animals
under quarantine, or more than a small per-
centage of them, are suffering from pleuro-
pneumonia, even in the incipent stages of the
disesae. They have simply been exposed to the
plague. and are likely to contract, perpetuate
and extend it. The State officials, therefore,
think that the carcasses of most of the quaran-
tined cattle can safely be sent TO the meat mar
ket. and so expressed themselves.
Tothis plan the Stock Yard representatives at
once entered vigorous protest. They asserted
that if the flesh of the quarantined animals
was put upon the market the meat interests of
Chicago and of the United States would receive
blow from which it would not readily recover
The statement would be made that Chicago
was putting diseased meat on the market and
It's elect would be damaging in the extreme.
The State officials argued in reply that they
Will be compelled TO do something with the
carcasses of the slaughtered animals. The law
says that they shall be appraised at their value
IN the market for beef or dairy purposes and
the owners of the cattle not actually suffering
from the disease shall be recompensed on that
basis. To do this, even at a moderate appraise-
ment, will cost the State fully 100000. The
Live Stock Commissioners are hampered in
their action by the lack of funds and the obvi-
Gus fact that the law providing for the exter-
mination OF pleur0- pneumonia and kindred dis
eases was not drawn in contemplation Of any
such emergency as the present one. They think
that if the carcasscs of the animals killed be
sold for beef, part Of the great expense to which
the State must be put will be betrayed, while
II, on the other hand, the earcasses are sent to
the rendering watts tho return will be so slight
as to be hardly worthy of consideration. Thus
the matter stood when the meeting adjourned,
no decision as to the disposition of the animals
to be killed having been made.