Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-05-03
PLEuRO-PNEUMONIA.
A Noted Veterinary Surgeon on the Disease
o.. and Its Treatment.

and Its Treatment. n
Very little is known of the nature of
pleuro-pneumonia in neat cattle. The
causes of the disease, both immediate
and remote, are subjects full of inter-
est and paramount Importance. A COR
rect knowledge of them is not only the
trustworthy guide to prevention of
disease generally, but the only safe
rule to govern the practitioner in max
ing a diagnosis, and to form more
valid prognosis. and to point out the
best effective indicated remedies in the
course of treatment. 1t may be OBJ
served that the causes of pleuro-pneu-
monia have not as yet been satisfactO-
rily explained to the minds of agricult-
wrists. The nature and origin of the
disease are less understood and more
involved in doubt and obscurity ut this
day than they should be. Pleuro-
pneumonia is not a peculiar disease.
1t is one of the extensive class and
caused by the same agents in char
acter, bacteria or germs, from which
most, if not all. epidemic, endemic and
epizootic diseases originate. Among
the causes of pleuro-pneumonia may
be enumerated constitutional debility,
local weakness resulting from previous
pulmonary disease, irritants and slim
ulants too constantly applied to the
mucous membranes of the respiratory
or breathing organs, exposure to
cold. damp. fatigue, change of climate,
temperature, uncleanliness, breathing
a Initiated atmosphere in overcrowded
stables totally unventilated other than
by cold draughts of air. The air in
these compartments is contaminated
by the decomposition of animal, vege-
table and other decaying matters and
other impure substances. Briefly speak
ing, one and all things having the
tendency to impair vitality must lower
the health and vigor of the animal
economy, and consequently increase
the liability and susceptibility to dis
ease, either idiOpathic or local Please
note that fatigue, originating from
long driving. transportation in cars,
deficient ventilation, Overcrowding,
filth, insufficient. decayed, sour or bad
food, not much or perhaps no exercise
in the field or barnyard, and impure
water may indeed promote a predis-
position TO the disease, increase and
concentrate the animal effiuvia and
become the matrix and indus of tho
organic poison. Yet it may be claimed
that not one alone of these conditions
or circumstances. or all of them COM
bined, can posi- bly, produce the disease
in question. But one thing is
certain: there must be the SUBJ
tie poison to manipulate them
into operation, the specific 1nfiu-
ence to generate the disease. pleuro-
pneumonia, which is in no sense con-
tagio1s in cattle or in any other species .
of warm blooded animals, man in
cluded. The effective stamping out of
pleuro-pneumOnia can not possibly be
by indiscriminate slaugh-
ter of dairy cattle. but can be by Civ
ing proper care to their sanitary con.
dition, supplying sound, healthy food,
pure water, dry air, giving the ami,
mails the benefit of the sun during tho
warm hours of the day, and feeding
and watering at regular hours and in
regular quantity. This prescribed
treatment in the care and manage
ment of not only cattle, but all do
nestle animals, will in most Instances
prevent this disease in question. De-
stroy the causes and you will have no
effects TO contend with and a final stop
will be put to fragrant and wanton de-
struction of our Invaluable and indus
dairy cattle particularly, and
neat cattle generally. and the deple-
ton of the farmers purses will cease.
These views are based on many years
of study. practice. close observations
and diligent investigation of the vari-
Gus causes of the origin of the disease
of dumb animals.-EdsOdrd g Smith.
2. s.. ~ Brooklyn Eagle