The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-14
CHAMBERS IN CALIFORNIA.

From time TO time vague reports have
reached the public of isolated cases of
CHAMBERS in different parts Of the State.
They have not been so numerous as to
excite comment among general readers, but
they have been coming in with such perSis-
tent regularity that THE CALL, few days
since, Instituted an inquiry among various
well-infUrmed veterinarians and horsemen,
which resulted in positive information that
this State has something to fear from the
spread of the disease.
An expert veterinarian, who has visited
several counties in the State at the request
Of the county Supervisors, reports the dis
ease to be existing among the horses of
those sections to far greater extent than
even he had imagined. He condemned
number of animals, most of which were
killed, according TO his instructions. Local
vet erinarians in different sections have pun
sued the same course. but unfortunately
the reception their efforts has met with
among farmers and stock-raisers has not
been such as to encourage them to persist
in exposing the disease.
1t is natural enough that man should de-
sire to save his property whenever that is
possible, but il is difficult 10 understand the
shortSighted recklessness that prompts men
to put their own property and that Of others
IN jeopardy when some immediate sacrifice
is involved. The principal difficulty en-
countered by the Horticultural Commits
siUners in this State is the opposition met
with from orchardists and fruit-growers
whose interests, alone, the Office exists TO
serve. Similar to this is the experience of
| those veterinarians whose experience
prompts them TO advise vigorous measures
for graduating the CHAMBERS wherever the
| disease is recognized. From nearly every
| quarter where it has been reported come
! the most emphatic protests and denials.
! Veterinarians are denounced as reckless and
| ignorant and condemned, bitterly. for rec
| ommending diseased stock to be killed.
| Owners declare the disease not to be CLAN
| ders and insist upon their right to doctor
/ and attempt TO cure, rather than to destroy
the animals As there is no State veterin-
! airy vested With authority TO see that his
| orders are carried out, the question of de-
! stTOying the disease rests almost wholly
| with the owners.
Too much stress cannot be laid upon the
| fact that no more dangerous disease than
| CHAMBERS is known to the medical frater-
lily. 1t is communicable from the lower
animals to human beings. and when it at
tacks the latter its inevitable result is death.
as no remedy is known for il. In the case
| Of horses or cattle veterinarians tell US the
only remedy is bullet The disease has
never yet been prevalent in California, but
| in countries where it mas gained a f0Uth0ld
| its ravages among man and beasts have been
! horrible. y % greater misfortune could be-
| fail this State from mercantile standpoint
| than to have the disease gain footing here.
! The mere fact that il is known TO exist in
| any section is sufficient TO cause all stock
from that section TO be regarded with sus-
picion, and the reports from different quar-
tiers indicate gradual spreading of the
disease in the State.
Ills by no means generally distributed as
| yet, but already several deaths Of human
| beings from the disease are authoritatively
| reported, and II is incumbent upon every
farmer and breeder in the State to exercise
The utmost vigilance in watching for Symp-
| toms and 10 use the most vigorous measures
! for the eradication Of the malady when it
| appears. 1t is not enough TO await the con-
| domination OF local veterinarians whose au-
thority in the premises is wholly made
quate. but there should be a thorough
| investigation at once OF every section by
| competent veterinarians appointed by the
State and invested with the necessary au-
thority to see their directions carried out.
Were only the stock interests of Califor-
MIA involved in the matter 1t would be poor
policy to shun investigation and the con-
| demuation of all diseased animals, but when
human health and safety are In Jeopardy
such course is not to be thought of.
The country press should be urgent upon
this subject, keeping before its readers the
need of unceasing vigilance in watching for
and attacking the disease