Middletown transcript., 1901-07-27

| IlCultuTal experiment Statlon, Newark,
Del.
Fifth,-Of approximately 1900 COWS
which have been vaccinnated by this
Stations officials, three only have during
the ensning year become victims of An
thrax. Hence timely vaccination is a
most reliable safeguard.
THE TRANSPORTATION OF CATTLE
The problem of the proper transporta-
ton OF cattle is, like many other ques-
tions connected with the treatment of
dumb animals, essentially a modern
question. In times when each country
must feed its own, and the only way of
getting cattle or sheep or horses from one
place to another was to drive them in
herds, under the care of drover, the
problem was in one way simple. The
animals could not travel more than GER
tain distance each day without definite
injury, which would probably be visible
to the prospective purchaser when they
arrived at their destination. Is was to
the interests of the drover, therefore to
be very careful.
With the advent of cattle-trains, how
ever, it became possible to transport all
sorts of live stock round the world, if
necessary, in less time than it used to
take to cross state. The railway takes
the Texas steer and lands him in Chicago
in space of time which must seem to
his bewildered brain an eternity, but is
really but few days. His treatment en-
route cannot well be so cruel as to depre-
ciate his ultimate value in any way
which the purchaser can see; moreover,
IN such cases the purchaser often buys on
faith, and pays without seeing So long
as most Of the cattle get through all
right, if few die of neglect, or lack of
water, or some other cause, the sellers
reputation is good. The property inter-
est cannot be relied upon in this matter
OF proper treatment of dependents. 1t
was estimated in the old days of slave
trading that if half the cargo got through |
the dreaded Middle Passage alive there
was profit. The property interest was
no safeguard there. 1t never protected
any creature which could be ill-treated |
by thoughtless or cruel person with no
punishment. 1t is one of the
of the callous and cruel
man, as rule, to be short sighted. He
seldom sees that in the long run, humane
treatment is profitable.
In this case the trader and the railway
man do not suffer much even when their
treatment of cattle is absolutely cruel.
1t is the public which suffers. land it is
The public which will therefore have to
AXE the matter in hand. There is a
great difference in the systems of various
'ailroads and dealers in their treatment
If cattle and sheep, and some are much
more humane than others. But it is not
70 very long since sheep were packed
ike sardines in close Gals, without a
lrop of water during long journeys, in
hottest of weather; and cattle were sub
ected to the same treatment.
Such conditions breed filth and disease:
nd diseased meat is not safe for ANYBODY
o eat. 1t will probably never be possible
o ascertain the number of deaths which
ave resulted from the eating of impure
r diseased meat, and for every death
rom this cause there are many victims
disease. Sometimes the. ailment is
bscure and insiduous, but it is neyertbe-
'ss there. Sometime ago there was
;are about trichinae which resulted in
lany people becoming Jews or Moham-
ledans where pork was concerned. but
luch of the beef which comes from cat
e-trains where the animals are packed
'gether i'll filth, discomfort and thirst is
Of bit more fit for human CONSUMPTION g
ian measly pork. In these days no
an can tell where his butcher gets the :
eat which is confdingly bought and
ten by his customers. 1t may be good. 81
it may not. 1t is time that the treat
ent OF cattle, on trains of transportation :
I'd in sheds, during the time before thev n
e killed, should be regulated by law. .
I'd that everyone concerned in their la
ansportation and care should be re- q
Iired to see that they are in conditions cl
nearly healthful as the difficulties of IN
q case allow. Ia