Omaha daily bee., 1886-11-18

ton. He said broader legislation for
dealing with this disease was called for
from congress, and showed that France
and Germany have much better laws
concerning contagious cattle diseases
than the United States. The French law
makes it incumbent on every owner or
party having charge of any animal
affected or suspected of beng affected
with any contagious disease to make inn
mediate declaration to the proper
authority. Veterinarians are required to
make immediate declaration when called
upon to visit such animals. An animal
affected with any disease must be kept
isolated. Several minor requirements OF
the law were given, authorizing the
slaughter by the official veterinarian,
within two days, of the ANIMALS, and the
quarantining of ANIMALS exposed to the
plague. The sale of animals affected is
interdicted. Indemnity to owners is pro.
vided for half the value of the animal be.
fore the disease, If affected, and three.
quarters of the value If the animal had
only been exposed; the whole
value to be paid if the animal
died from inoculation. A limit to the
sum to be paid is fixed. No com
pensation is allowed to owners of animals
imported from foreign countries killed
within three months after their importa-
ton The German law provides vigorous
measures to be adopted at the first APP
pearance of the plague. Surrounding
stables are to be thoroughly examined,
the animal first affected to be killed, an
examination made, and the intro luction
of new cattle into the stable prohibited.
Dr. Gadsden, of Philadelphia, said that
pleuro pneumonia is purely contagious
disease, which never originated in this
country, and which cannot be communi-
Gated except by contact with diseased
ANIMALS; second, that it is incurable;
third. that the disease can be communi-
Gated from animals that have apparently
recovered, and these are the most danger
Gus, as to the unprofessional eye they
may show no symptoms of disease and
yet be centers of contagion that spread
the disease to all animals they come in
contact with. Admitting these premises
the question is Row to eXterminate the
disease with economy, thoroughness
and dispatch. DIR. Gadsden pointed
out wherein the system of quarantine had
proved worthless, and said that as
matter of economy he believed the
slaughter of every animal exposed to
contagion, rs well rs those actually af-
fected, would involve less expense than
placing herds in quarantine, as well as
being tar safer. First, the disease being
incurable, animals affected with it be-
| came valueless to- their owner for pur
poses of traffic, and their speedy destruc
ton removed danger that mcnaced all
| other animals in the vicinity. A large
| proportion of the animals exposed would
| ultimately become affected, and if killed
before they became actually diseased
their flesh could be sent to market and
large share of the loss avertcd. BY keep
ing them IN quarantine more would con-
tract the disease, become valueless for
food, propagate the disease,
and, the owner being prevented
from Introducing new cattle into the
herd, his business would be paralyzed.
There was some uncertainty rs to the time
required to develop pleuro pneumonia
| after contact. Cases had occurred, it was
| claimed, in which six months had
| elapsed between the contact and the ap-
| pearance of the disease. If this was
| true three months quarantine, such as
was customary, was useless. Expert
ments could no longer be tolerated; the
danger was too imminent, the pre-
valence of the disease too great to admit
of halfway measures. Quarantine, in
| cases OF isolated herds, if maintained
| long enough, might answer the purpose,
but under present circumstances it was
almost impossible. Prompt slaughter, 1T
was known, would eradicate the
disease.
| DR.. Faville, state veterinarian of Colo
rado, read paper in the course of which
he said that state quarantines were ut
best questionable means of doing good
1t is impossible to secure safety by state
laws. Government control is necessary
and the corporation of government,
state and local authorities is needed to
insure the safety of the live stock inter-
est. He regarded the presence of numer-
Gus contagious diseases IN this country as
alarming.