The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-08-29

rlCulture was COrrect-nRmelY, that
the disease was due to a protoz ban
parasite and was transmitted, not from
slaughtered beef, but from animal to
animal by means of cattle ticks-there
could be no danger Of the introduction
Of this disease into any foreign coun-
try through the medium of fresh beef.
Furthermore, if the views of the De-
partment Of Agriculture are correct,
there is no danger of its Introduction
even from imported live cattle, since,
as a matter of fs c5, the cattle exported
TO Europe are not taken from the Texas
fever district in the United States.
After a careful scientific study of the
subject, the government experts de-
cided that Texas fever was not bac-
terial disease, and therefore not sus
ceptible of transmission by means of
slaughtered meat. The Judgment of
the Agricultural Department. concern
ing the nature of Texas fever ia now
generally accepted by scientific men
and has been confirmed by the invea-
LEGATIONS Of a government commission
ia Australia, and later by the studies
of Prof. Koch, the eminent German
bacterioIogist, which have been made
in Africa
But in 1894, the German Govern
ment assuming the disease to be of a
bacterial nature and therefore trans-
missible by the meat of diseased cattle,
issued, on November 10th, OF that year,
a decree forbidding the Importation
into Germany OF live cattle or fresh
beef of American origin, and this pro
hibition has since been rigidly main :
tained.
Belgium, Denmark, and other neigh
boring countries followed the lead of
Germany in this policy and American
cattle and their flesh in fresh uncured
state were practically excluded from
continental Europe. G G,eat Britain,
however, took measures to escer tain
that there was no real danger from
Texas fever and continued to permit
the importation Of American cattle
and cold storage beef, with the result
that the British public has enjoyed for
years past a constant supply Of excel
lent beef at prices which have been q
boon and blessing to the people and
which would have been impossible mad
the American supply been excluded.
Belgium has a dense population Of
workingpeople;h ;her food import is neces-
sarily large and constant. The Belgian
Government has seen how safely and
econ nomically the people of Great Brit
ain have erjoyed American beef, and
after soma hesitation and discussion
has annulled it's restrictions against
the import of American cattle, with
the result that Germany, fearing that
such meats may now enter G Gsrmany
by way of the Belgian frontier, inter.
posposes the present decree shutting
off all imports OF fresh beef from that
country. The new restriction will
therefore make no change in the
amount Of cattle and e4h beef ex
ported to Europe from the United
States. IG ia aimed at a traffic which
does not exist, since there has been
hitherto practically no export Of fresh
beef from Belgium to Germany.
But where the recent decree will do
American interests most injury is in
Deumark, which country is ready to
follow Belgiums lead in admitting
American cattle, but hesitates to do so
for fear Germany will, in such event,
prom mptly shut out fresh meat imports
from Denmark. The German decree
has therefore the direct effect of ex-
cludiDg American cattle from Den
mark, which country, there is good
reason to believe, would otherwise ad-
NIT them as readily as England has
done for years and Belgium has now
consented to do.
Meats OF all kinds are costly in Ger.
many because the home supply is
wholly inads 1ate to meet the demand;
and notwithstanding all the existing
and the efforts of the agra
rian press and butchers associations
to resist imports of meat aud lard,
especially those of American origin,
the trade continues to be enormous
and is steadily increasing. I5 is noted
that the customs duties from this
source during the past six months
showed an increase Of 1892 415. which
represents an augmentation Of about
81 O12 700 pounds in the amount I'M
ported. This increase includes mainly
canned meats and sausages. which
leads the Deutsche Wacht, at Dresden,
to arxiously remark that such an IN
restricted influx OF prepared meats