Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08
Important Achievement by Bureau
Of Animal Industry.
PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE
Steps Taken to Prevent the Spread
of Texas Fever.
LOSSES CAUSED BY PLAGUE


ever been achieved by the United States
Department of Agriculture. as stated In Its
year book, was the eradication from this
country of pleuro-pneumonia-a triumph, 1t
is agreed which will never be forgotten by
the cattle owners of the United States. This
disease had become established in several
states east of the Allegheny mountains
and later broke out in Ohio, Illinois and
Kentucky, all great cattle-growtng states
Of the Mississippi valley. From these states
it threatened to spread over the great graz
ing grounds of the west and completely rum
the cattle trade. The country was thor
oughly alarmed and Congress was pre-
vailed upon to enlarge the powers OF the
bureau of animal industry to enable IT TO
deal with contagious diseases or domestic
animals, Heterogeneous being especially
mentioned.
The direct losses to the cattle industry OF
the country from Texas fever at the time
when the bureau of animal industry was
organized, were heavier than the losses
from pleuro-pnehmonia. Texas fever had
been known under different names for many
years and had become thoroughly dissent
mated and established throughout the south
ern portion of the United States. Although
the true nature of the disease was not
known, investigation had developed sew
eral important facts, among others That
southern cattle. when taken to the north,
though In the best of health, would carry
with them the contagion; that the northern
cattle when taken to the south, would con-
tract the disease; that there was therefore,
an infected area and non-infected area.
between which it was necessary to draw
definite line. and that even a renee was
sufficient to arrest the disease.
If the cattle rasers Of the non-fnfected
region were to be protected from Texas
fever and keep their stock out OF IT II was
necessary that measures should be nrst
adopted to control the transportation. Sucn
i1y. IN
where animals were imported from the
north for the purpose Of grading up the
herds, and in the north, where southern
cattle were to find feed for fattening and
market. The non-infected area Of the
country was rapidly increasing Its produc-
ton of corn and needed the feeders from
the infected area to consume It.
One of the Bureaus Duties.
The bureau Of animal industry was estab-
lished and one of its most important duties
was to accurately outline the Texas fever
district 1t was also recognized that there
must be laws absolutely preventing the
driving Of cattle from the infected to the
non-infected sections, excepting during GER
tain winter months. Pre-, 'ous to this, In
1888, the chief Of the bureau and his as
sistants had established the northern line OF
this district through Virginia. In 1884 the
bureau extended the line westward to the
Mississippi river. and In the following year
it became necessary to include part Of
California.
In the matter of hog cholera and swine
plague the administration work of the
bureau is under the same law as that for
sheep scab. In addition to the methods of
quarantine and disinfection, however, hogs
are being given the serum treatment for
these diseases. The serum for this work Is
prepared by the bureau, and at present Is
administered for experimental purposes by
the bureau officials During the last two
years the work has been undertaken on a
large scale in Page county, Iowa. by the
legislative consent of the state, and the
results have been very satisfactory. 1t Is
estimated that the saving in the treated
herds has been from Is to so per cent.
In 1898 the total number of reports from
the states and territories where the disease
was most prevalent-in Texas, Nebraska,
Kansas. Colorado. Oklahoma. Indian terri
tory, North Dakota and South Dakota-was
3D. covering 121 800 head Of cattle. Pre-
vious to 1898 the average annual loss in
the same sections was about IA per cent.
During the same season the loss, previous
to vaccination, was 1853 per cent, and af
ter vaccination 0.54 per cent. There were
700 deaths after vaccination, many Of
which, as stated by cattlemen themselves,
would not have occurred II the vaccine had
been injected properly. These results were
so satisfactory that vaccine has been sent
to all applicants since.
Thus, in this brief time, the bureau Of ami
NAL industry has made 1t possible to re-
duce the losses of cattle from blackleg to
a minimum. and Ii Ia proposed to continue
the manufacture and distribution of the
vaccine until its efficiency is well known to
the cattle owners Of the country, when
blackleg, 1t is believed. will cease to be
classed among the more-destructive cattle
diseases.
Quarantine stations.
One Of the first steps taken for the con-
troll Of contagious diseases among animals
was the establishment Of quarantine sta
tons at the principal Atlantic ports, where
imported animals might be detained until
there was no longer any danger of the de-
velopment of disease from exposure TO con-
tagion in other countries. This system has
been extended so as to include the from
tiers bordering upon both Canada and Mex
leo. The stations were at first under the
Treasury Department, but soon after the
organization Of the bureau Of animal in
dustry they were transferred to it's con-
troll The wisdom of maintaining these has
been attested very often. When pleuro-
pneumonia was eradicated it was not per-
mtted to enter again from Europe, where
1t was prevalent, and rinderpest, which al
most annihilated the herds of South Africa,
was not allowed to gain foothold here.
Foot and mouth disease has appeared sew
eTal times. but was turned back through
the vigilance Of the bureau inspectors The
records kept at the quarantine stations
give the date of arrival OF animals, port of
shipment. name Of breed. number received
and name and address of importer.
In reference to the general inspection Of
animals and their products, 1t Is stated that
animals are condemned when found, upon
ante-mortem or post-mortem examination,
to be affected as follows: Hoy cholera,
swine plague. Charlton or anthrax, rabies,
malignant epizootic catarrh, pyaemia and
septicaemia. mango or scab in advanced
stage and advanced stages of lumpy jaw,
Inflammation of the lungs, the intestInes or
the peritoneum, Texas fever extensive or
generalized tuberculosis, advanced state of
pregnancy or recent parturition, any dis
ease or injury causing elevation of tenn
perature or affecting the system to such a
degree as would make the flesh unfit for
human food; immaturity, or too young to
produce wholesome meat, emaciation and
anaemia sufficient to render meat unwhole-
some, distemper. CHAMBERS and farcy and