Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-12-13
TEXAS-FEVER IN VIRGINIA.
Southern PlSnter.)

In a recent issue we pointed OUT
the necessity for stringent legisla-
ton to enable this pest Of onr herds
to be stamped out Of the state. At
the last meeting f the State Board
Of Agriculture The subject came up
for discussion, ana i'll this issue will
be found the report Of lie commit
tee which dealt with this question
and the action Of the board there
on. We felt strongly that the ro-
posed remedy was inadequate to
meet the needs Of the case, and that
in the interest Of the catrle-owners
md the State something much
more likely to be effectual should
he attempted. and. therefore. wrote
Dr.. d. Z. Salmon, Chief Of the Blu
rpau Of Animal Industry. for his
views. sending hin at the same
time copy Of the report Of the
committee of the State Board. DR..
salmon is the greatest authority IN
he country upon the question al q
lis position as chief Of The Animal
Industry Bureau. which is charged
with the duty Of protecting our
herds and focks and keeping the
country free from those plaques.
which prevent the free marketing
of our live stock. makes what he
NAV say on the snbject Of great
weight. In reply to cur inquiry
he has addressed the following let
ter to us, and we recommend it to
the serious attention Of our legisla
tors and the farmers Of the State:
United States Department of Agri-
culture Bureau Animal Industry,
Washington, Nov IS, 1895.
Editor Southern Planter:
Dear Sir, l have deferred an
ywering your letter Of the 9th inst
until this time. as | had some hest
! fancy about giving my views for
publication on Il question which
nay be regarded by the people OF
your State us one Of domestic inter
est only. As, however, the exist
ence Of Texas-feyer in Virginia,
and its liability. Jnder existing cir
cumStances. to lie carried into the
channels of interstate and foreign
commerce. makes it a matter of na-
honal concern, | have decided to
comply with your request.
Whether the code Of Virginia is
sufficient to prevent the dissenina-
ton of this disease is question
difficult to decide, because so far as
| know, there has never been = sys-
fematic attempt to enforce its pro-
visions aud to protect the snScepti-
Die cattle Of the State and Of other
States from the infected cattle.
Ever, year since I have given at
tention to the subject there has been
more or less Texas fever in Virgin
| ia, due to the moving Of cattle from
| the infected district INTO the nor
infected district at a period Of the
wear when the disease is liable to
to spread. This fact confirms Pn
opinion VIII ch have always held
that the measures provided by the
lCode Of Virginia are not practical
and that there has been no uniform
action in the various parts of the
State under The law, and probably
will not be.
The employment of yeierinari-
M by the Commissioner of Agrl
culture, as proposed by the Com
mittee on Live Stock in Virginia
in the report which you sent foI
nv consideration. would not be
sufficient, because when the disease
appears the affection has generally
been disseminated as widely as il
will be for the year. and there is nc
way of eradicatiMe it by sanitary
regulations.
Of course, if the people ia the in
fectel district would keep their cat
tie within that district and market
them there, there would be no dam
age to the cattle of other parts OF
the State; but. unfortunately, the
people of that district have never
agreed to keep their cattle at home
they have not the markets within
their own section where they can
dispose Of their surplus, and 50 lon2
as they can ship their stock out al
profit, they will doubles contin-
ne to do so, unless prevented by
clearly defined provisions Of the
law, the violation of which will bt
be certain to bring a penalty.
The law Of Virginia, in my opin-
ion, should authorize some respon-
sible officer or commission of the
State to make regulations defining
the infected district. and prohibit
ing the movement of cattle from
that district, except by rail for i'm
mediate slaughter, during the peri
cd of the year included between
February 1st and Nov. LIST. II
should be the duty Of tie ofiiciaI
making these regulations to see
that tbav .ra enforced and that vi.