The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-07-02
CATTLE NANCE QUARANTINE,


Dr. r. A. Ramsey OF the United
States bureau OF animal industry,
Washington, D. c., is paying visit
to the local office OF that bureau in
Amarillo, and generally supervising
bureau work throughout the West
relative to the federal regulations for
controlling and Graduating cattle
soabies. DR.. Ramsey spoke as fol-
lows: F"
About four or five years ago II
became evident to the department
that cattle soabies or mango existed
quite extensively In this country, es-
peclally IN some of the states west
OF the Missouri river. There were
reports from government inspectors
at English ports that American cat
tie had landed abroad affected with
this contagious disease. Regulations
tending toward the control and Grad
ication OF the disease were promul-
gated and the areas where cattle
scabies was known to exist to the
greatest extent were placed under
federal quarantine These regula+
tons provided for the inspectionsby
the government inspectors OF all cat
tie moving interstate, the treatment
OF all cattle known to be infected
with or exposed TO the disease, as
we'll as the proper cleaning OF yards,
cars, or vessels having contained cat
tie affected with scabies.
After a trial of the enforcement OF
these regulations they we're found to
be not quite applicable in some ways
to the conditions and to the manner
Of handling cattle In the states under
quarantine. For instance owing to
heavy shipments 1t was found to be
lmpracticable or impossible for the
employees OF Tia bureau TO inspect
all cattle at time OF shipmentl
from points OF origin without causing
delay and Inconvenience to shippers
and railway companies. Such delays
and inconvenience were frequently
magnified BY the shippers and taken
advantage OF by the transportation
companies. The shippers all wanted
TO reach market on the same day OF
the week; the railway companies
indicated their inability to furnish
cars required to move the cattle
and in some instances showed a dis
position to unload their troubles on
the bureau by informing shippers
that II was impossible to procure in
spection for that day, or for many
days. Such statements by railway
agents brought many requests for
additional inspectors, while in real
ity no shipment would be delayed
more than one or two days await
ing inspection.
Then, too, II was discovered that
many cattle shippers we're as expert
in detecting scabies in cattle as were
the bureau inspectors, and as result
all the infected animals we're fire.
quently cut from the herd offered for
shipment, and the inspector being
unable to find disease upon the ar
rival OF the cattle at the shipping sta
ton, he had no other alternative
under the regulations than to issue
certificate for the interstate move
ment OF the cattle as free from dis
ease. when in reality they were a
part OF an infected herd and there
fore exposed to the contagion by
having been with. visibly diseased an
imals. AS a result OF this proceed
ure scabies would develop at later
date in pastures orfeed lots IN some
other state, The new owner or his
banker would then make vigorous
complaint as to his having purchased
diseased cattle accompanied by a bu-
reau certificate stating that they
we're free from disease.
In order that the transportation
companies might assume their own
responsibility for any shortage of
cars or motive power to handle ship.
ments as we'll as to require the cat