The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-28

such rules and regulations as alone have
been found eflectua I'm other countries. win
convince any one of the difficulties to Doe
encountered.
study Of the characteristics OF the dis
ease will also show the devastating effect
lt would have on our Western ranges No
better Illustration exists than the pcrma-
ncnty affected area Of many parts of East
crn Europe against which there Is n per
petual quarantine by other districts and
counties, and where, in spite Of autocratic
government and the use of the military in
large numbers, no success has ever been
attained in its final eradication. II either
of the three exotic plaques Of foot and
mouth disease, plcuro-pneumonia, or rlndcr
pest ever obtained a foothold In the ranges
OF Western America, the cattle Industry
there as It exists at present ia its capacity
OF the main providcr Of the beef market OF
the country, would be doomed, except by
an expenditure and loss Of many millions
Of dollars, and the exercise of such strin.
gent laws in the ultimate suppression as
would practically ruin those of the present
owners, whose only support is that Of cat
tie and sheep.
Under domestlcated conditions where
good care can b. afforded and 9S per cent
OF recovcrics can be looked for In mature
stock, the loss of flesh and milk and Incl
dental cost OF handling and treatment for
an average period Of twenty-one days In
Guiding Conyalescence, the average damage
per head including loss of young stock, can
not be estimated nj less than 10 per cent
OF me pTlElltl ANlNf before inc diltfh. / MS
estimate is based on the carefully COM
puted losses incurred by the farmers Of
England. where the value Of the animals
Iusures the best Of care and attention dur
Ing sickness.
II VIII be readily realized by the West
cru stockman how much greater the loss
would necessarily be under the range con
ditions Of midwinter or during summer
drouths Consider FOR n moment the case
Of Il herd Of 1000 head of cattle, Incapable
in many cases, and unwilling IN all, 10
even move but few yards day during the
height OF the attack. with mouths too sore
10 eat anything. rumnatOn suspended,
standing or lying around in the open in an
ordinary winter day, not to speak or stormy
weather, when they could not even drift
with the storm; or n similar case on the
hot and drouth-strlcken ranges OF New
Mexico, or Arizona In midsummer, mHes
from water. Under either Of these condl.
lions the losses would be terrific and
amount to 80 per cent or over.
Even If capable of being rounded M and
placed in shelter, the impossibility OF pro
viding succulent food would cause the loss
from gastrO-lntestinal complications of az
least 20 per cent. The deficient water sup
ply and the difficulty of It's ready access
would IN any case cause a high mortality
under range conditions.
The general difficulties Of maintaining an
effectual quarantine for the prevention OF
spread OF the disease on the open range
would be almost unsurmountahlc. The enoF
mons distances, the impossihiltty of finding
]
/ tine area, the extreme uDvlllingness OF
/ stock owners to combine for mutual henc
/ ut, the overpowering Importance of the IN
/ tcrest Of the large owner TO that Of tho
small owner. the smallncss OF the appro
| printiou by the legislatures OF Western
/ states for such purposes, coupled with the
/ extremely infectious character Of the dis
/ ease In question. would all combined alb
| golutely prevent the confinement OF this dis
nase 10 any one State possessed OF pablt
! stock ranges. This may be a pesimisN
view, but ! am sure the vast experience o.
other countries viii confirm the positive
| statement, that II foot and mouth dlseas
ever gains Roadway on any one OF the pub
n, cattle ranges II will not be eXtirpate'
for years, and from the north Of Montana
| 10 Southern Texas and from the Missouri
river to the Pacific coast 1t will sooner o
later attack every hoof Of cattle, not strict
| lv isolated on private property.
For this reason ! would have every stock
man in the country support to. the utmos
of his power ana influence the bureau o
animal Industry IN It's good work Of con
| dping this devastating plague 70 the State
now most unfortunately its victims, Yer
| respectfully,
Chas. Gresswell NJ r, G, v s.,
Chairman Of the Sanitary Committee Of tn
National Live Stock Association.