St. Paul daily globe., 1888-02-09
Below zero.
PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

In response to 4 request of the senate
committee on agriculture and forestry,
Commissioner COLMAN. of the depart
ment of agriculture, has addressed a
letter to Senator PALMER in which the
commissioner submits his views in re-
gard to the legislation necessary for the
suppression Of pleuro-p pneumonia. He
thinks that the only method which can
be effective in eXtirpating the disease is
the method already adopted by the ag-
ricultural department, but which. for
lack of sufficient appropriations has not
been enforced as thoroughly and effect
lively as should be done. The
following may be briefly stated
as the departments method OF work:
Neutrality-suspicious. to determine the
existence of pleuro-pneumonia in any
suspected locality in the county. Sec
Ond-The Immediate quarantine and
Isolation of the herds in which the dis
ease is found. If any considerable
amount of disease is found ill any dis
trict or state, SO that there is danger of
the disease spreading, the district or
state is quarantined in the same manner
The movement of animals from one
herd to another is prohibited, as also
the movement of any cattle out of or
into the infected district, unless moved
upon written permit from the in
spector of the bureau of animal indus
try. Third-The condemnation and
slaughter of all animals found to be
diseased. or exposed to disease, within
said district, and the thorough disinfec-
ton of all premises where such animals
have been, or on which cOntagiOn is
suspected to exist.
Commissioner COLMAN insists that
the method here outlined is absolutely
essential to wipe out the disease and that
any law which may be passed which
falls short in any one particular, as de-
scribed above, will fail of its purpose,
and money expended under it will be
thrown away. The states of MARYLAND,
New Jersey and New York are the only
states cooperating with the bureau of
animal industry in its efforts to extir-
pate the disease. Commissioner Col
MAN thinks that the plan of state CO.
operation is preferable to the one which
relies solely upon national authority,
and suggests that in any proposed iegis-
latiOn Oh this subject congress will pro-
vide accordingly. If the attempt is
made to enforce a national law without
first inviting the cooperation of the
states, il will meet with resistance from
states jealous of their police power, and
from individuals who will take every
opportunity to deny the authority of
officers to quarantine their herds or kill
their animals, and thus the successful
execution of the law may be seriously
interfered with. -. ..--
The cattle industry is getting to be a
very considerable one in Minnesota,
and the opening of the stock yards in
this city will give fresh impetus to it.
In view of this fact, the proposed legis-
iatiOn respecting pleuro-pneumaria is a
matter of no little Importance to our in-
tereSts. We have no pleuro-pneumonia
in this region, but that does not signify
that we may not have it unless the
proper precautions are taken. 1t is to
our interest that the StricteSt methods be
enforced to prevent the spread of the
disease. Our congressman should take
AS active an interest in the matter as
the representatives from those states
where the disease is known to exist.
The cattle industry being the largest i'm
the country, there is no reason why con-
gresS should not give more attention to
the pleuro-pneumonia plague than it
has heretofore received.