Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-09-13

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listened to him The lecture is one q
great interest to the psOple-the farmers
especislly-aBd the REGISTER takes
pleasure in presenting a synopsis TO its
readers Toe Doctor vas presented By
President Hobbs.
THE LECTURE.
The disease of animals is a question
which 81 Ould interest all classes OF eur
population. The consumer Of meats and
dairy products feels their effscts in the quail
ity ard price of the food which he buys
the producer feels their influence even
more keenly in the diminished returns
which he receives for his labOrs. With all,
it isa question, not Of mooey alone bal OF
human health and life as well.
Aa people, we have not yet learned to
fully appreciate the importance OF this
subject. Fortunately we have been spared
from that most virulent Cf cattle
diseases, the Iinderpesi, which
has so often swept over the
countries OF Europe, destroying from 40 to
go per cent. of the cattle within a few days
after it has made its appearance among
them. But If we have escaped so far with
not entirely beyond the danger Of them.
About 1843 the contagious pleuro pne1-
mOnia Of cattle ya5 introduced into this
country from Europe. 1t was allowed to
establish itself in the diaries Of Brooklyn
and New York City and 10 gradually
spread until it oyerran large parts Of New
jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The
direct losses from this disease, although
not great, were far from insignificant. As
the disease ragged almost without control
fer about twenty years, l am inclined to
estimate the aggregate less at $4,000 600.
With the development of the eXpor;
trade in live cattle We began to send
affected animals to Eogland. The result
of this was that in 1879 the Government
of Great Britain prohibited the intrcduc.
ton of ell live cattle from the Uuitad
States. This restriction lessened the value
of cur exported cattle at least $40 per
head.
Just how much these British restrictions
have cost the American cattle growers 1t Is
impossible 10 accurately determine.
should consider $3.50. 600 coo for the ten
wears a low estimate Of the actual depres'
sion in values.
The influence Of this disease was, how
ever. even more far reaching than these
figures Indicate. In 1884, the cOntagion
was carried 20 the great cattle States Of the
Mississippi Valley. In the short space OF
two wears, the losses were estimated at
from IA 10 is million of dollars.
The prevention and eradication OF such
/ a disease was so complicated ana trouble.
. some that in 1884, the Bureau OF Animal
Industry Of the Department Of Agriculture
vss established to make investigation as tc
the existence OF the contagious diseases OF
animals. TO enforce measures for their pre-
ve1tiou and extirpation, and 70 collect and
publsh information of value to stock
o. owners Notwithstanding numerous OBJ
s,scles with which we have had to con-
tend, the work Of eradicatlng pleuro'
pneumonia has been reasonably success
ful. Daring the last two years the plague
has hcen entirely stamped ou', with tn'
r exception of isolated cases IN Jersey City
= have wished % illustrate by this disease
= fret. the disastrous effects OF the conta
x gious diseases OF animals upon the stock
- growing industry; secondly, the pOssibil
ity Of controlling such plaques; and third
lv. the work of the Department of Agrlcul
e ,ure in the interests of tbs farmers.
Is Another disease OF cattle which affect
D our exp0rt trade is Texas or spleneti'
q fever Here We have plague indlgenou
y TO our own country, very ditisTeo
u ia it's character fc0m pleurO-pneumonia
l. suresd in an entirely different msn1er
;. snd recurring a different kind Oi regula
e ton for it's control The cattle wb'cl
communicate the disease DO not themselve
p become sick, and The sick animals do no
N spread the disease. The cOntsgion is no
, carried in the air, bat is always obtained
y from infected pastures. pens or cara u
7 which the susceptible cattle have beer
T. placed.
.e il is be aim Of the Department to dc
,- stroy he last germ of plcufO-pueumonia Il
Il The United States, ana 10 go regulate III
shipment of cattle that the danger fron
If Texas fever will disappear. When this !
~ accomplished there viii no longer be pre-
tense for foreign restrictions on our hv
=. cattle trade.
,e Weare lust now ia q position where In
foreign trade ia Of immense value to us
r Cattle production since 1870 has increase
u much fsster than ou7 population aud tn
Al surplus on our marke has caused price
.e 20 decline. The e1sc. o. the export trad
a is 10 reduce this surplus and strenglhe
lie prices.
3 Another way in which the price Of cat
tie can be increased 10 to encourage the *
% p0rtation Of pork; for q study OF statistic
2 will show that q surplus of pork will dc
[, crease the demand for beef aud greatly IN
/, huence prices. And here again We ey
= confronted by the question Of animal dis
2 eases. Oar pork has been shut out IRON
% Germany and France for the alleged Ieas
p on that they were infected with trlchlr 90
n In Germany a system OF animal inspection
is carried on aud il is impossible that IN
% law FOR the prohibit n Of pork from ths
a country can be repealed until our govern
q ment forms a similar means Of inspection
B., There are other diseases of equal o
n grea er importance than those already
mentioned. on account of the propert.
which they destroy and their infuenc
upon the public health. Tuberculosis IS
germ disease which exists in all parts o
the country, causing enormous losses o
. cattle aud 10 is the most destructive OF 81
, Diseases TO human life. Then there Is hog
9 cholera and CHAMBERS OF horees, which lat
e. ter is sometimes communicated with feta
! results to people; and there is the veneria
9 disease Of horses, recently introduced frou
France. Is it not for the best interests o
our stock-raisers that a National EeTv:ca b
established for the coltrol of these dc
8 stiuctive, communicable diseases2
e There are, ofc0urse, many other disease
affecting live stock which ere worthy o
r consideration Animals like men, are
r subject to feveTs, inhammatiOns and parasi
tic maladies which affect all organs Of thei
3 bodies How can the Department 0
Agriculture assist the farmers in treating
inch diseases? The Bureau of Animal In
dustry now has in preparation SOM
volumes which are designed TO give all tn
& information row available, and these vii
bs distributed Gs widely as the liber2ll!y
of Congress will allow
The work Of the Bureau Of Animal In
s dustry. as far as it relates to animal DIS
7 eases. / have tried to outline II IS briefly
this. To control and eradicate those dis
eases which interfere with our foreign an'
|. domestic trade; to stop the heavy losse
which p7eveniable diseases cause IN on
. herds aud locks; to investigate obscure
diseases and to furnish information as 4
he care snd treatment Of animals Il
bsslth and disease. In addition to this
it will probably soon he necessary 10 IN
spact animals a. the time OF slaughter, 81
that neither our own people nor cur Gus
p tousere in foreign lands will have reason
To Question the quality OF heaithtuiness O