Year: 1868

TUE CATTLE PLAGUE.


That the disease now prevailing among
Western cattle some of which have been
shipped to this market, is not the nnderpest
or the pleura pneumonia is certain. Still, there
are some features strongly resembling the
rinderpest of the mildcr stage, but not in
Guiding liberation or gangrene. The proper
term of the disease has been decided by our
Board of Health to be malignant typhus, and
DR.. Harris declares it to be infectious through
the breath and both cxcrcta. 1t is conceded
that the origin is among Texas cattle, nOtwith-
standing the fact That these animals are free
from it. The testimony to this end is stronger
than the actual proof. Prof. Gamgce says that
disease is often transmitted in this way, and
he adds that neither the meat nor the milk of
the animals affected with this plague is un-
wholesome, which is both surprising and hard
to believe. Tie leading symptom is a fever,
indicated by the blood and internal organs
being at a temperature of 1862 when state OF
health should mark only about 1902.


This calamity has been expected, and, in the
absence of any definite facts regarding the
origin and remedy, wide field is open to in
vestigation. The several State authorities
should at once enter upon a thorough eXami-
nation of the whole subject, for there seems
little doubt now that infection has only begun
to spread This may be too strong a state
ment; the plague may be stayed; we hope 1t
will be, and we would not say one word to
create unnecessary alarm; but the evidence of
the disease breaking ont and spreading in
various parts of the country seems so well
4 IL I ,...4
the calamity as best we can. No half way
measures, 10 superficial research, and, above
all, no CLOSING over, will be of avail.


There are the grayest suspicious that this
plague is not wholly new. So loIg ago as
June meat was sold in Washington Market
which had every appearance that The meat Of
the infected animals now presents, and we are
credibly informed that as long rs n year
ago cattle supposed to have the Texas fever
were sold from one of our yards 90 be butch
cred That the butchers themselves now are
neither surprised nor alarmed would seem evil
dent from the fact that last Saturday they
offered $50 n head for a drove of III cattle
which were 50 sick that many could not stand,
and they were even anxious to get them. These
cattle were aftcrward sacrificed by being
slaughtered for the hides and tallow. Much
praise is given the owners for pursuing this
course and sinking SO much money but
whether the presence of a member of the
Board of Health, OF the account of the plague
previously given in THE TRIBUNE, had any
effect, is perhaps unknown. In connection, it
is asserted that whole ilocks of sheep afflicted
with the foot-rot have been sold to the butch
ers of this city and slaughtered. One thing
we do know, and that is, there is no inspection
of meat in our great market worthy of the
name for at this very hour meat is exposed
for sale which is wholly unfit for human food
for there is the green dull, gangrenous appear
ance which flesh presents when surcharged
with blood, or cOngested with the approaching
stage of putrefactiOn; and yet it is customary
for butchers to speak of such meat as being
"a little musscd.r Such condition of things
is, of course, absolutely appalling, and we
are glad that there will be an investigation,
for there is a chance Of reform in many mat
tiers Of less importance, but to which, in ordi-
nary times, little or 10 attention could be
drawn.


The origin of this malady is remote and ob-
scure, but we may be certain that it has
arisen from the violation of some hygicnic law
some neglect or some outrage, which by long
suleTance has accumulated the seeds of dis
ease, and at last broken ont into plague.


One of the subjects demanding the earliest
attention of the authorities is the method of
transporting cattle over the long line of nearly
a thousand miles to tins city. 1t is understood
that by the Northern routes drovers are COM
PEELED by law TO feed and water the cattle
a. Il, Al a,
by the Southern line there is no such obliga-
ton. How strictly the law is Obeyed in one
case, or how much advantage is taken of the
absence of law in the other, is not well known
but it should be subject to strict inquiry.


In their native state, on the heathful praries,
or pastures alternating with wood, with abun-
dance of food and water, and remote from
cities and the haunts of men, disease has been
unknown. Without warning or preparation
the well-caredfor and quiet animals are at
once driven to the stations, forced into the
cars, and started for the great markets
Wearicd through the long days and hours Of
standing frightened by shrill noises and the
roaring of passing trains, wreDched by sudden
starts, hungry and thirsty, whether in Winters
heat or Summers cold, and saved from falling
in their exhaustion, only because they are so
closely packed they are obliged to stand, it
may be inquired whether their prison houses
named cattle-cars, reeking with filth, have not
through years, accumulated from these agOnics
the germs Of the disease which, at last, have
burst forth to avenge their suflerings. In pur-
suing the investigation it will be found that
the great feeding grounds of the West, to
great measure, are stocked by cattle brought in
from other points. Chicago receives, in the
aggregate, greater number of cattle than any