45th Congress, ) SENATE. < Mis. Doc. 3d Session. ) ^ j^0# 7^ LETTER THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OX AGRICULTURE, COMMUXICATIXG Information on the subject of pleuro-pneumonia among cattle. February 15,1879.—Ordered to be printed. Defarment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, February 11,1879. Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of recent date, asking for such information as may be in my possession re- lating to the subject of pleuro-pneumonia among cattle. The subject is one that is attracting great attention in this country at present 5 hence information is rapidly accumulating in this department, the more im- portant portion of which I herewith transmit for the information of your committee. I shall first give a brief statement of the action of the de- partment in the matter, and then submit such letters, telegrams, and other information of an important character bearing upon the subject as have recently come into my possession. In August, 1877, within one month after my accession to the position of Commissioner of Agriculture, I instituted a preliminary examination of diseases of domesticated animals. For years I have been cognizant of the loss of immense numbers of swine and other farm animals by dis- ease, supposed to be of an infectious and contagious character; and, with the very limited means at my disposal, I opelied a correspondence with leading farmers and stock-growers in almost every county in the United States. The result of this correspondence was the accumulation of a vast amount of important information on the subject under consideration, which, by request of the Senate, was communicated to that body on the 27th day of February, 1878, and was afterwards published as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 35. In order that a thorough examination might be made into some of the more destructive diseases affecting farm animals, and such remedial and sanitary measures instituted as would prevent the spread of such mal- adies as were well known to be both infectious and contagious, an appro- priation of $30,000 was asked, and the sum of $10,000 was granted. In my letter of transmissal to the Senate in February, 1878, the following lauguage is used: Our wide extent of country and its great diversity of temperature and variation of climate, the severity of frosts in some sections, and the intensity of heat in other lo- calities, render farm-stock liable to the attacks and ravages of almost every disease known in the history of domestic animals. So general and fatal have many of these 2 PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. maladies grown that stock breeding and rearing has, to some extent, become a preca- rious calling instead of the profitable business of former years. This would seem espe- cially true as it relates to swine. Year by year new diseases, heretofore unknown in our country, make their appearance among this class of farm animals, while older ones become permanently localized and much more fatal in their results. Farmers, as a rule, are neglectful of their stock, and pay but little attention to sporadic cases of sickness among their flocks and herds. It is only when diseases become general, and consequently of an epidemic and contagious character, that active measures are taken for the relief of the afflicted animals. It is then generally too late, as remedies have ceased to have their usual beneficial effects, and the disease is only stayed when it has no more victims to prey upon. This interest is too great to be longer neglected by the general government. Not only the health of its citizens, but one of the greatest sources of our wealth, demands that it should furnish the means for a most searching and thorough investigation into the causes of all diseases affecting live stock. At the time this communication was made it was not known that the destructive disease known as contagious or malignant pleuro-pneumonia among cattle was prevalent to any considerable extent in any section of the country. There may have been, and no doubt were, isolated cases of the disease, but they were not sufficient in number to attract atten- tion or cause alarm. During the past summer and fall my attention was called to the prevalence of the disease in several localities widely sep- arated from each other. Among other letters addressed to me on the subject, I cite the following: J. Elwood Hancock, of Burlington County, New Jersey, writes : The prevailing disease among cattle in this county is pleuro-pneumonia. The dis- ease is very fatal, and the losses among this class of animals from this malady have been very heavy. Mr. J. E. Haneock, of Columbus, Burlington County, New Jersey, states that the disease has been prevalent in that county for some years. He says: I have had some experience with pleuro-pneumonia among cattle, having lost one- third of my herd from its ravages in 1861, when I succeeded in eradicating the disease after a duration of about six months. I had a second visitation of the malady in my herd in the early part of 1866, when I lost 6 head from a herd of "23. Of the animals affected I am satisfied that not more than one-third will recover. N. W. Pierson, Alexandria, Ya., writes as follows, under date of Oc- tober 12, 1878: The principal disease among cattle in this locality is pleuro-pneumonia. The dis- ease started from Georgetown, D. C, two years ago, and has gradually spread down the Potomac for a distance of about 25 miles, extending back from the river not more than 2 miles. E. A. Murrill, Campbell County, Virginia, writes, about the same date: An unknown disease has prevailed this fall among cattle in the immediate vicinity of Lynchburg but has not spread elsewhere. [This disease was pronounced pleuro- pneumonia by competent authority.] K. L. Ragland, Halifax County, Virginia, writes, that the cattle in that county are affected with a contagious distemper which is supposed to be pleuro-pneumonia. C. Gingrich, Reistertown, Baltimore County, Maryland, says: Lung fever (pleuro-pneumonia) has prevailed among cattle in the vicinity of Balti- more for the past twelve or fifteen years, and the losses from the same have been quite heavy. A report from William S. Vansant, veterinary surgeon, contained in the report of the New Jersey State board of agriculture for 187<>, shows that nineteen different herds of cattle suffered from this disease in Bur- lington County of that State during the year above named. It would seem that while the disease has been almost constantly present in New PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMQNG CATTLE. 3 Jersey for many years past, no organized effort on the part of the State has been made for its suppression"and extirpation. With no means at my command for the suppression of the malady, in November last I caused an examination to be made of some of the af- flicted cattle in the vicinity of Alexandria, Va. The investigation was conducted by Dr. Alban S. Payne, of Fauquier County, Virginia, who, as will be seen by his report below, pronounced the disease a contagious type of pleuro-pneumonia. The results of his investigation are thus given in the following brief extract from his report: I visited Mr. Roberts's mill, one mile south of the city of Alexandria, Va., with as little delay, under existing circumstances, as possible. I found Mr. Roberts, in con- nection with his other business operations, carrying on a dairy. On his farm were sixty-two milch cows, and of these forty have had pleuro-pneumonia. Twenty-two have not as yet taken the disease. I also found almost in the heart of Alexandria City two cows sick with the disease. One of these cows belonged to Mr. Townsend Bag- gott, and the other to Colonel Suttle. I also examined about the suburbs of Washing- ton City some sick cows. All the case-s I saw were, without doubt, cases of pleuro- pneumonia of the non-malignant variety. Knowing the insidious and destructive character of this disease, and that it was liable to assume a contagious form and cause the destruction of millions of dollars' worth of property, and interrupt and perhaps destroy one of our greatest commercial interests and sources of income, I called the attention of Congress to the existence of this fatal malady in my preliminary report, bearing date of November last, and asked the immediate intervention of the government by the enactment of meas- ures for its suppression and extirpation. The following is a brief extract from this report: One of the most dreaded contagious diseases known among cattle is that of pleuro- pneumonia or lung fever. It was brought to this country as early as the year 1843, afid has" since prevailed to a greater or less extent in several of the Eastern aud a few of the Southern States. It made its appearance about a century ago in Central Eu- rope, and has since spread to most European countries. With the exception of rinder- pest, it is the most dreaded and destructi ve disease known among cattle. Unlike Texas cattle fever, which is controlled in our northern latitudes by the appearance of frost, this disease "knows no limitation by winter or summer, cold or heat, rain or drought, high or low latitude." It is the most insidious of all plagues, for the poison may be retained in the system for a period of one or two months, and even for a longer period, in a latent form, and the infected animal in the mean time may be transported from one end of the continent to the other in apparent good health, yet all the while carry- ing and scattering the seeds of this dreaded pestilence. Since the appearance of this affection on our shores it has prevailed at different times in the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Dela- ware, Virginia, and in the District of Columbia. It has recently shown itself at two points in Virginia (Alexandria and Lynchburg), where it was recently prevailing in a virulent form. At present the disease seems to be circumscribed by narrow limits, and could be ex- tirpated with but little cost in comparison with the sum that would be required should the plague be communicated to the countless herds west of the Alleghany Mountains. This disease is of such a destructive nature as to have called forth for its immediate extirpation the assistance of every European government in which it has appeared, many of them having found it necessary to expend millions of dollars in its suppression. The interests involved in this case are of so vast a character, and of such overshadow- ing importance, both to the farming and commercial interests of the country, as to re- quire the active intervention of the Federal Government for their protection, and for this reason the considerate attention of Congress is respectfully asked to this impor- tant matter. Prof. F. S. Billings, V. S., temporarily residing in Germany, writes under recent date as follows: Berlin, January 16, 1879, 14 Louisen Street. My Dear Sir : I intended in my last to have mentioned some ideas for your consid- eration upon the so-called contagious pleuro-pneumonia of cattle in the United States. U 4 PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. I have given the subject a long-continued consideration, and it seems to me the views which now appear conformable to our case will find their approval with yon. The disease is one which is rather a new thing to us, and while we find cases coming to pass in many sections, still we cannot say it has acquired any devastating extension. I truly believe that by using what means we have at command, and by fixing two or at the most three points by which cattle can be imported from Canada, and by further- more exacting that such cattle be accompanied by attested health certificates of com- petent men, and furthermore that all such cattle, except when destined for immediate slaughter, be compelled to undergo twenty days of quarantine at point of entry, when unaccompanied by such certificates; like rules applied to sea-ports—if we can make and enforce such regulations, then in one year at the most we can stamp the disease out of the United States, and keep it out. For us the inoculation should be absolutely forbidden and severely punished. It is only of value in localities where the disease has become almost domesticated, and where of the two evils the lesser must be chosen, and that is, as is being attempted in Saxony, to inoculate every animal, and produce as soon as possible the artificial disease; all newly introduced animals to be bylaw at once inoculated. This renders the losses less severe to such a community, probably not over 25 to 30 percent., if as much; statistics as yet are unreliable. But it is self-evident this is also a way by which the disease is rendered a constancy—it becomes domiciled, a thing we do not desire. Hence I recommend to your consideration the absolute killing of every infected and exposed animal, or, perhaps, utter quarantining—isolation of the latter under rigid inspection. The slaughtered animals to be paid for at full mar- ket price, real, not fancy, by the respective State governments, or, better, by the gen- eral government; for, if we are to have a general law, then the general government must take care of it. I earnestly recommend your briuging this to the attention of Congress, and you yourself must see the recommendation is logical and true to the country's interest. The first costs might be a little startling, but the final results equally fortunate. The rinderpest was at last reports limited and decreasing. Your obedient servant, F. S. BILLINGS. To Hon. Wm. G. Le Due, Commissioner of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Professor Gadsden, of Philadelphia, who recently made an examina- tion of infected and diseased cattle on Long Island, writes as follows:' 134 North Tenth Stri.kt, Philadelphia, January 29, 1879. Sir: I consider it my duty to report to you that the contagious disease known as " pleuro-pneumonia" exists to a frightful extent among the cows near Brooklyn, Long Island. On the return of Professor McEachran, the cattle-inspector of Canada, from Washington, he asked me to accompany him to New York State, and find out for our- selves if the report was true that a contageous disease existed. We found it too true, as at a distillery at Williamsburg we found a large byre or cow-house, containing about eight hundred cows, with very many of them in the last stages of " contagious pleuro-pneumonia." Others had this disease in a milder form. The place was very dirty, the cows very much crowded, ceiling low, and everything favorable for the rapid spread ot this disease. The cows belong to a number of milkmen, who keep them there very cheap on hot swill (from the distillery) and hay, which increases the milk very much. This place is a regular pest-house for the disease. We were informed, on good authority, that just before the cows die they are killed and dressed, then sent into the New York market as beef, where we are told that they bring a good price because they are ten- der and not too fat. (>t hers are sold when the milk dries up, to farmers on Long Island. This disease, is very prevalent within a few miles of Brooklyn, and has been for some time. Cannot you, sir, try and stamp it ont t as I am afraid if it spreads from there the English Government will not receive any cattle from our ports, as they have a law ready to put into force as soon as they are satisfied this or any contagious disease ex- ists in cattle. I have made inquiry'from several veterinary surgeons in this State; they all answer there is no contagious diseases in cattle in their district. I have no reason to believe there is anv in Pennsylvania or in the Western States, so I do hope this disease on Long Island will not interfere with the sending of live cattle from Philadelphia to England, as I know they are making great preparations for this spring's trade. Respectfully, &c, „ 1 ,y' J. W. GADSDEN, F S. Hon. Wm. G. Le Due, Commissioner of Agriculture. PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. 5 On the morning of the 30tli of January, 1879, the following telegrams appeared in the metropolitan journals: Toronto, Ontario, January 30. Intelligence of the slaughtering of cattle lately shipped to Liverpool on a steam- ship creates an anxious feeling among dealers here. On or about the 14th instant tho steamship Ontario sailed, from Portland for England with a cargo of cattle, the ship- pers being Messrs. T. Crawford & Co., of this city. The cattle numbered 265 head, and were, according to Mr. Crawford's statement, in sound condition, having been ex- amined by competent men at both Montreal and Portland. The Ontario reached Liv- erpool on Sunday last, and on the following day Messrs. Crawford & Co. received a cable dispatch from their agent there that the cattle had been detained for inspection by order of the British Government. This inspection was evidently attended with unsatisfactory results, for on Tuesday the agent cabled that the cattle had been con- demned on account of disease and were to be slaughtered. The disease was said to be pleuro-pneumonia. The Toronto Exportation Company and Messrs. Crawford &■ Co., the two firms that do the largest shipping business in their line in the city, were instructed by their agents to ship no more. The first named have a cargo of 170 head on the steamship State of Alabama, which it is anticipated will arrive at Liverpool on Friday next. What will become of these remains to be seen. The general feeling is that it is not at all likely that a trade which was rapidly becoming a necessity for England will be allowed to suffer interruption for any great length of time without a good cause for the embargo being adduced. Ottawa, Ontario, January 30. Information having been received that the British Government had totally prohib- ited the importation of cattle from the United States, the cabinet met last eveniug to consider the situation. The result of the meeting was the adoption of a resolution that stexis would be taken to prevent any injury being done to Canada. Montreal, Quebec, January 30. Considerable anxiety exists in regard to the order from the imperial government prohibiting the importation of Canadian cattle into England. It is said if the order is continued, cattle will be slaughtered here and the meat will be taken across in refrigerators. On the morning of January 31 I received the following note from Hon. A. W. Cutler, chairman of the Agricultural Committee of the House of Eepresentatives: Washington City, D. C, January 31, 1879. Sir : Learning incidentally of the fear of contemplated action by the British Gov- ernment, I addressed you a letter yesterday touching the subject-matter, with tho expression of the hope that early information from your department, with your views and suggestions in reference to it, so that such legislation (if practicable) could be immediately had as would either stamp out the disease or hedge it in, and the threat- ened action by the English Government might be prevented which would result in serious damage to a growing and increasing revenue to our people, both as producers and shippers. Yours, truly, AUGS. W. CUTLER, Chairman. Hon. Wm. G. Le Due, Commissioner of Agriculture. The following letter will explain itself: American Veterinary College, New York, February 1, 1879. Sir : In returning from Washington, where he had the honor of seeing you, Pro- fessor McEacliran, of Canada, asked me if pleuro-pneumonia was to be found in New York State. I t<>th instant, inclosing a copy of one ad- dressed by you to Dr. John J. Craven, of Jersey City, N. J., authorizing him to make inquiries into the condition of live stock about to be sent from that port to foreign countries, and to certify daily to your department the health of each particular ship- ment as far as possible. I inclose herewith for your information twelve copies of a circular issued by this department, under date of the 1st instant, requiring as a condition precedent to the shipment of live cattle abroad an examination thereof by the customs-officers with reference to their freedom from disease, and the issuance of a certificate by the col- lector that they are free from such disease, if the facts shall be found to warrant it. Doubtless Dr. Craven, and any other person appointed by your department for the purpose named, could give valuable aid to the collectors of the ports from which such shipments are made, and this department would be pleased if you would instruct the experts selected by you to afford, aid to the customs-officers in this respect as far as possible. You will see that the circular requires that the officers of the customs shall also fur- nish this department from time to time such information upon the subject as they may be able to procure, and I would be pleased if you will also forward such information as you receive it. This department has furnished the State Department with copies of the circulars before mentioned, and the Secretary of State has doubtless furnished them to the proper representative of the British Government. 8 PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. This department perceives the importance of protecting its export trade in live ani- mals as far as possible, and will do all in its power to attain the desired object. Very respectfullv, JOHN SHERMAN. Secretary of the Treasury. Hon. Wm. G. Le Due, Commissioner of Agriculture. The following is a copy of the circular inclosed by the Secretary of the Treasury: [Circular.] INFORMATION IN REGARD TO CATTLE DISEASE. Treasury Department, Washington, D. C, February 1, 1679. To collectors of customs and others: By department's circular of December 18, 1378, it was directed that live cattle shipped from the various ports of the United States might be examined with reference to the question whether they were free from contagious diseases, and that, if found to be free from such diseases, a certificate to that effect should be given. By that circular such inspection was not made compulsory, but the certificate was to be issued only upon the application of parties interested. As the export trade in live cattle from the United States is of vital importance to large interests, every precaution should be taken to guard against the shipment of diseased animals abroad, and such a guarantee given as will satisfy foreign countries, especially Great Britain, that no risk will ensue from such shipments of communi- cating contagious or infectious diseases to the animals in foreign countries by ship- ments from the United States. Collectors of customs are, therefore, instructed that in no case will live animals be permitted to be shipped from their respective ports until after an inspection of the animals with reference to their freedom from disease, and the issuance of a certificate showing that they are free from the class of diseases mentioned. Notice of rejected cattle should be promptly given to this department. In order that this department may be fully informed in regard to such diseases in any part of the United States, collectors of customs are requested to promptly for- ward to this department any information which they may be able to obtain of the presence of contagious or infectious diseases prevailing among live animals in their vicinity. It is probable that if the disease prevails to any considerable extent it will be no- ticed in the local press, and collectors are requested to send copies of any such notices to this department for its information. JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary. The following letter has been received from Prof. James Law, who, it will be seen, has been ordered to the port of New York by the governor of that State: Astor House, New York, February 8, 1879. Dear Sir : I came down here last night in accordance with instructions from the governor of New York to ascertain and report as to the existence of the lung fever in cattle. From what I have seen to-day I have no doubt of its existence in Kings and Queens counties, but I hope very soon to be able to report on the jyost-mortem lesions as well as the ante-mortem symptoms. I hear that the malady exists in Watertown, Conn., perhaps at Ratonah, Westches- ter County, New York, and around Newark, N. J. The two first places I expect to visit in the interests of New York, and I shall find out what I can about the vicinity of the shipping yards for the stock exported to Great Britain. Would it be well for me to visit Newark also before returning ? I strongly commend the position you have taken in this matter, as the only just and tenable one. If we should ever suffer from a temporary suspension of the foreign trade in cattle, it will be well expended if it should lead to a thorough extinction of the lung plague in the Cnited States. Yours, very truly, JAMES LAW. Hon. Wm. G. LeDuc, Commissioner of Agriculture. PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. 9 The following late telegrams, showing the action of the British Gov- ernment, tire appended: THE AMERICAN CATTLE TRADE—NO FURTHER INTERFERENCE EXPECTED. London, February 8. A committee of the Cattle Trade Association at Liverpool, in order to avoid inter- ruption to the trade, have offered to erect the necessary lairage and abattoirs to com- ply with the requirements of the Privy Council. It 'is believed, however, that, in consequence of the growing importance of the trade to Liverpool, either the authori- ties or the corporation or the dock board Avill undertake the work. All arrivals of cattle from America since the steamer Ontario's cargo have been found entirely free from disease. The severity of the weather, therefore, it is believed caused the out- break in That instance. The British Government is, under the circumstances, not in- clined to interfere with the importation of cattle from America, provided there is adequate inspection before shipment and provision of the required lairage at Liver- pool to put them in position to meet such cases as the Ontario's. It is not believed that slaughter on the quays will be enforced where no disease exists. Persons in the trade say that under these conditions American shippers ueed not fear any interference with the business. London, February 9. In regard to the importation of cattle from America, no action of the Privy Council has been made known since the notice read in the Liverpool town council on February 5, that cattle cannot be landed at the Liverpool docks after March 1, unless provision is made for slaughter on the quay. THE CATTLE EXPORT TRADE—EFFECT OF THE BRITISH ORDER IN COUNCIL. Liverpool, February 11. The order of the Privy Council adopted yesterday revoking after March 3, 1879, article 13 of the foreign animals order so far as it relates to the United States was a great surprise to the trade here. All cattle from the United States after March 3 will have to be slaughtered in abattoirs now being prepared on the dock estates of Birken- head and Liverpool within ten days after landing. I also forward you articles on the subject of pleuro-pneumonia, clipped from the Xational Live Stock Journal of March, 1878, and November, 1878. They were inclosed to me and my attention directed to them by Mr. J. H. Sanders, the editor of the Journal. [From the National Live Stock Journal of March, 1878.] THE GREATEST DANGER TO OUR STOCK—THE LUNG FEVER—CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEU- MONIA. The Journal has frequently called attention to the great dangers that beset our live stock from imported plagues of foreign origin. During the past year the sudden in- vasion of Western Europe and England by the rinderpest roused the agricultural com- munity from their dream of safety, and called forth from the Treasury an order remark- able alike for its promptitude and good intentions, and for the fatal blunders which rendered it worse than a dead letter. Once more there seems a prospect of a renewal of these apprehensions, the Russo-Turkish war having led to an extension of this cat- tle plague into Hungary, from which the Atlantic coast aud Great Britain may be any day infected, owing to the activity of the stock trade. Should this unfortunately take place, it will find us no better prepared than we were a year ago, and our Treasury order, now in force, will freely invite the disease to enter, provided it makes its advent respectably—in the systems of blooded stock, and not in poor cross-bred animals, which it would be ruinous to import, even if sound. A similar welcome is extended, by im- plication, to all those ruminants which are devoted more particularly to luxury, an d have not been.degraded to such vulgar utilitarian objects as the production of meat or wool. Yet all ruminants are subject to rinderpest, aud this malady was carried to France, in 1866, by two gazelles, as other plagues have often been carried to new countries by the privileged blooded stock. But we started out to notice a danger which is no longer separated from us by the broad barrier of the Atlantic, and whose malign presence is not to be dismissed by any one of ten thousand contingencies, as is the case with the possible advent of the rinder- pest. This danger stands in our midst, and is steadily gaining in force as it encroaches 10 PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. further and further, showing how certain it is, if unchecked, to lay the whole country under contribution, and inflict most disastrous aud permanent losses. The lung fever of cattle, imported into Brooklyn, L. I., for the first time, in 1843, in a Dutch cow, has never since been at any time entirely absent from our soil. From this center it has slowly and irregularly extended over a portion of New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- vania, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, besides having repeatedly invaded Con- necticut. The slowness of its extension has begotten a false sense of security, and no real apprehensions of serious consequences remain from an animal poison which has been for over a third of a century hidden away in the near vicinity of the Atlantic coast. To disturb this comfortable aud restful condition of the public mind is an unpleasant task, which nothing but the imperative sense of duty would compel us to undertake. But this disease has a history, which we can only ignore at our peril; and as its records can now be drawn from all quarters of the globe, we can have before us an unequivo- cal testimony as to what will inevitably happen under given conditions of climate, surroundings, aud treatment. England imported the lung fever of cattle in 1842, just one year before we did, was soon very generally infected, and has continued so to the present time. Up to 1869, it is estimated that England had lost, almost exclusively from this disease, 5,549,7-iU head of cattle, worth £83,616,6'A (say $400,000,000). For the succeeding nine years, up to 1878, the losses have been, in the main, as extensive, so that we may set them down as now reaching at least $500,000,000 in deaths alone, without counting all the contin- gent expenses, of deteriorated health, loss of markets, progeny, crops, manure, &c, disinfection, quarantine, &c. With us no attempts have been made to estimate the losses, but they cannot exceed an inconsiderable fraction of those above named; and thus we have slept on in a pleasant dream of immunity. It is even alleged that the disease has, in a great measure, been shorn of its virulent power, by being transplanted to the shores of the New World, and that we may com- fort ourselves with this, and continue to ignore its presence. If, on the other hand, it can be shown that the difference is in no material respect affected by climate, but altogether determined by the surroundings, it will be well for us to attend to the facts of the case, and face the real danger. The lung fever, which had really entered Eng- land, by a special importation, some time before the free trade act of 1842, was, by virtue of this act, thrown upon her in constantly accumulating accessions, The ports at which the continental cattle were landed, and the markets in which they were sold —London (Smithfield Market), Southampton, Dover, Harwich, Hull, Newcastle, Edin- burgh, &c.—insured the miugliug of the imported stock, week by week, with the native store cattle. Then, if they failed to find a profitable sale, they were sent by cars to other and inland markets, where they were again and again brought into con- tact with numerous herds of store cattle, by which the germs of the disease were taken in, and carried all over the country. With us, on the other hand, the disease was long confined to the dairies of Brooklyn aud New York, where the cows were kept until they died, or were fattened for the butcher. A few doubtless found their way to the country, and by these the disease was carried to different farms, which were thus coustituted centers of contagion from which the adjacent country became infected. But any such movement from the city dairies was necessarily of the most restricted kind, and it never took place to any great distance. It would have been folly to move a common milch cow, worth 840 to *70, to the West, where she could be bought for one-half or one-third of that sum. The same deterrent condition existed in the case of the farms on which the diseased city cows had been brought. Sales were no doubt occasionally made from infected herds, to secure the apparent value of an animal which the owner had good reason to believe to be doomed, aud as such animals would, for obvious reasons, be sent as far from home as possible, this became a principal means of the formation of more distant cen- ters of contagion, and the wider diffusion of the malady. But with us the disease has hitherto had to fight against the heaviest obstacles—the current of cattle traffic hav- ing been almost without exception from the cheaply-raised herds of the West to the profitable markets of the East. The exceptions have only been in the case of thorough- bred stock, and hitherto our Western stock has escaped contamination by this means. The wonder is not so much that the plague has failed to reach the West, but that in the face of such tremendous obstacles it has succeeded in invading all of the six or seven States that are now infected. In Great Britain, where some would have us believe that the disease is more virulent, Ave can point to a more satisfactory record. There the great body of the country has been infected for thirty-five years, but the greater part of the highlands, exclusively devoted to the raising of cattle aud sheep, has en- joyed the most perfect immunity. Here, under nearly all possible predisposing causes of lung disease—altitude, exposure, cold, chilling rains, and fogs, the piercing blasts of the Atlantic and German Oceaus—this contagious lung disease has never penetrated, thonoh severely ravaging the lowlands immediately adjacent. The explanation is, that these hills support none but the native black cattle, and other breeds are uever PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. 11 introduced. In spite of the alleged virulence of the disease in England, it has proved powerless to enter this magic circle from which all but the native stock is excluded. The same holds true concerning some parts of Normandy, Brittany, the Channel Islands, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, ivc. The fact that the disease has maintained a foothold among us for thirty-four years, and in spite of all obstacles has made a slow but constant extension, is sufficient ground for the gravest apprehensions. A disease-poison which shows such an obsti- nate vitality and such persistent aggressiveness cannot be allowed to exist among us without the certainty of future losses which will eclipse those of Great Britain by as much as our herds of cattle exceed those of that nation. A recent outbreak in Clin- ton, N. J., caused by a cow brought from Ohio, suggests the possibility of the disease having already reached the latter State, an occurrauce which was inevitable sooner or later, but the actual existence of which must enormously increase our dangers. With every such step westward there is the introduction of more diseased and infected cattle into the natural current of the traffic, and the earlier probability of the general infection of all parts to the east of such ultimate centers of disease. There is, further, the infection of more cattle cars which, carried west, may be the means of securing a rapid extension of the plague to our most distant States and Territories. RELATIVE DANGERS OF THE POISONS OF LUNG FEVER AND OTHER PLAGUES. The persistent vitality of the lung-fever poison, in comparison with that of any other animal plagues, is noteworthy. It lias held a tenacious grasp on the United States for over a third of a century, though forbidden by circumstances to make a wide ex- tension. Aphthous fever (foot and mouth disease), on the other hand, though twice imported into Canada within the last ten years, and on one occasion widely spread in New York and New England, was on each occasion easily and early extinguished, and with little or no effort on the part of the States. It might indeed almost be said to have died out of itself. Even the dreaded rinderpest has its poison early destroyed by free exposure to the air, in thin layers, at the ordinary summer temperature. Numer- ous experiments on hides hung up aud freely exposed in warm weather, have shown that the infecting power is lost as soon as they are quite dried. But the poison of lung fever maintains its virulence for months in the dry state in buildings, and we have known parks, with sheds, that proved regularly infecting year after year to all cattle turned into them. In other cases we have known the virus carried for miles on the clothes of attendants, and thus introduced into new herds. A far greater danger lies in the lengthened period during which the poison of lung fever remains dormant in the system. This averages about three weeks or. a month, but may extend, in exceptional cases, to not less than two months. An ox or a cow which has been exposed to the contagion may, therefore, be carried from one extremity of the continent to the other, may be exposed in a succession of markets, and may change hands an indefinite number of times, and be all the while in the best apparent health, though infallibly approaching the manifestation of the disease, and for the lat- ter portion of the time spreading the germs of the malady to others. There is here an opportunity for the unscrupulous to sell off exposed and infected animals without the purchaser having the least suspicion of foul play. There is also the strong probability of animals that have contracted the disease by accident, in cars or otherwise, in pass- iug to a new home, mingling with the herd of the new owner aud infecting them ex- tensively before there is a suspicion that anything is amiss. This long period of incu- bation after the animal is infected, and the equally long period of latency of the malady in animals he has infected, one or two of Avhich only will be attacked at inter- vals of a month, lull suspicion as to the presence of contagion, and it is too often only after great damage has been done that the truth dawns on the mind. In aphthous fever and rinderpest, on the other hand, the disease shows itself in from one to four days after infection, and the surrounding animals are so rapidly attacked after the coming of the infected stranger, that there is no room for hesitancy as to the existence of contagion. Nor can the victims of these diseases be carried far from the point where they have been infected and disposed of as sound animals, so that in the very vigor and promptitude of their action we have an excellent basis for their restriction and control. DANGER OF INFECTION IN OUR UNFENCED STOCK RANGES. It is needful to note the above-named insidious progress and stealthy invasions of the lung fever, and to contrast them with the more prompt and open manifestations of the other animal plagues, in order to show the great peril to which Ave are subjected by the presence in our midst of a pestilence which literally ivalketh in darkness. Let us now consider the prospective infection of our great stock ranges. That this is inevi- table, though slow, at the present rate of progress of the plague, has been sufficiently 12 PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. shown. That it might occur any day by an animal infected in an Eastern farm or stock-yard, or in a railroad car in which it Avas sent for the improvement of the West- ern herds, must be abundantly evident to every one who has read this article. If we now add the fact that more thau one thoroughbred Ayrshire and Jersey herd has been infected with this disease during the past year, we are at once confronted with a strong probability of an early Western infection. Let us remember that thoroughbreds alone are carried West for improvement of native herds, and that a bull of the Ayrshire, Jersey, Holstein, or short-horn breed, taken from a herd now or recently infected, may be carried to any of our Western Territories and mingle for a month with the nati\e herds before his oavii infection is so much as suspected; and Ave can conceive Iioav im- minent is the danger Avhen the infection has reached our Eastern thoroughbred cattle. To illustrate the result of the infection of our unfenced stock ranged I must quote another page from the history of this disease in other countries. The instance of Aus- tralia is the most recent as well as the most striking. The lung fever was introduced into Melbourne in 1858, by a short-horn English cow, which died soon after landing. Having been confined to an inclosed place, theie is every reason to believe that with her the disease would have ended, had not a teamster turned his yoke of oxen into the infected park under cover of the night. These oxen working on the streets infected others, the disease soon spread to the open country, and the mortality increased at an alarming rate. Vigorous measures for its suppression Avere adopted, thousands of in- fected and diseased cattle Avere slaughtered, but all proved of no avail. Not only Avere the free, roaming herds infected, but so many places were contaminated that it was soon perceived that help from this source Avas not to be expected. Destroy a whole infected herd, and you still left the infection in the station from which, in its unfenced state, other herds could not be excluded, and where they were certain to take in the germs of the malady. After enormous losses had been sustained by the combined operations of the pest and the pole-ax, it was concluded that the remedy was worse than the disease, and the colonists reluctantly fell back on the expedient of inoculation. This is based on the fact that the disease is rarely contracted a sec- ond time by the same animal, and it can be practiced on all calves with losses at the rate of from tAvo to fiAre per cent, only, so that the mortality is insignificant as com- pared with the thirty to fifty per cent, which perish Avhere the affection is contracted in the ordinary way. The great objection to inoculation is, that it can only be prac- ticed at the expense of a universal diffusion of the poison, aud of its maintenance in a state of constant activity and growth. With such a universal diffusion of the virus, the stock owners are virtually debarred from introducing any new stock for improving the native breeds, or infusing neAV vigor or stamina, inasmuch as such neAv arriAals would almost certainly fall early victims to the plague. Australia, therefore, now suffers from the permanent incubus of the lung plague, and can only import high-class cattle at great risk. This is an occurrence of yesterday, but it is only a repetition of the immemorial ex- perience of the steppes of Russia. There we find the same conditions of great herds roaming free over immense uninclosed tracts, and all the facilities for an easy and Avide diffusion of animal poisons. There, accordingly, Ave find the home, in all ages, of the animal plagues of the Old World. To these endless steppes Europe aud Euro- pean colonists owe their frequent invasions of lung fever, rinderpest, aphthous fever, and sheep-pox. To these are to be charged the losses, to be estimated only by many thou- sands of millions, which have repeatedly fallen on the other civilized countries of the Avorld. From these steppes the disease has spread over the continent on the occasion of every great European Avar, dating from the expulsion of the Goths from Hungary by Atilla and his Huns, in A. D. 376, down to the present Turkish Avar, which has se- cured the extension of the rinderpest to Hungary at least. On these steppes, too, the Russian veterinarians believe the rinderpest, at least, to he an imported disease derived from Eastern aud Central Asia, yet all their efforts to crush out this or the lung fever, though receiving the freest support from the Russian Government, have failed. The same conditions exist, to a large extent, at the Cape of Good Hope; and there, too, the lung fever, imported in 1854, has acquired a permanent residence. PREVENTIVE MEASURES DEMANDED. Such is the history. Now comes the question pregnant with weal or woe to our future stock, agricultural, and national interests: Shall we learn from the disastrous experience of others and extirpate the lung plague from the United States while it is still possible, or shall we sit quietly l>y with folded hands and await the inevitable, early or late, infection of our open Western stock ranges, and then repeat, for the benefit of other nations, the already twice-told tale of a desperate and extravagant but fruitless attempt to suppress a'plague which we have criminally allowed to pass beyond our control ? With or without a prodigal but vain effort to crush out the poison, the results may be thus summed up: The infection of stock-yards, loading- banks, cars, and markets, aud a general diffusion of the plague over the Eastern States. PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. 13 This would imply a national loss, by cattle disease, like that of England, but much more extensive in ratio with our great numbers of stock. Thus England, Avith her 6,000,000 head of cattle, has lost in deaths alone from lung fever in the course of forty years over $500,000,000. We, therefore, with our 28.000,000, should lose not less than $2,000,000,000 in the same length of time, allowing still a Avide margin for the lower average value per head in America. And this terrible drain is for deaths alone, Avith- out counting all the expenses of deteriorated health in the survivors, of produce lost, of loss of progeny, of loss of fodder no longer safe to feed to cattle, of diminished harvests for lack of cultivation and manure, of quarantine and separate attendants whenever new stock is brought on a farm, of cleansing and disinfection of sheds and buildings, &c, which become absolutely essential in the circumstances. We do not include the expense of supervising the trade, examining and quarantin- ing the stock at the frontier of every State, and of the disinfection of cars, loading- banks, stock-yards, and markets. If such were resorted to, after an extensive infection of our Western herds by lung fever, tin; cattle trade would be virtually stopped. Thus a safe quarantine for store cattle could not be less than three weeks, and a registra- tion and supervision for five weeks more on the farms to which they are taken, Avould be absolutely essential. Thus the quarantine yards and sheds would be continual centers of infection, and would require to be very extensive, thoroughly isolated from each other, and constantly and perfectly disinfected, the air as Avell as the solids, to prevent the infection of ncAvly-arrived stock. Such an incubus upon the trade Avould amount to a virtual prohibition. In rinderpest, sheep-pox, and aphthous fever, quar- antine is a comparatiAely simple and available expedient, as the disease sIioavs itself within a week ; but, in lung fever, with the germs lying unsuspected in the system for one or tAvo months, a protective quarantine is practically impossible wherever an active cattle trade is carried on. Hence in the countries of Central and Western Europe, through which the active traffic from the East is carried on, a complete con- trol is usually maintained over rinderpest and sheep-pox, while the peoples have resigned themselves to the prevalence of lung fever as an unaA^oidable infliction. The same holds in Great Britain. TAvice Avithin eleArcn years has she crushed out nrvasions of rinderpest, and repeatedly has the same thing been accomplished for sheep-pox; but the lung feArer is accepted as a necessary evil, between which and her large im- portations of continental cattle she must make a deliberate choice. Happily, in these United States we are as yet under no such compulsion. The lung fever on American soil is still confined to the Eastern States and to inclosed farms, from which it is quite possible to eradicate it thoroughly. Of this possibility we have abundant evidence, alike in the Old World and the New. In seA^eral countries of Western Europe, through which there is no continuous cattle traffic between nations on opposite sides, this disease has been killed out and permanently excluded by an in- telligent \reterinary sanitary supervision. Sweden imported the disease in Ayrshire stock in 1847, but at once circumscribed the infected herds and places, slaughtered the diseased, disinfected all with Avhich they had come in contact, and promptly extin- guished the outbreak. Denmark, inA'aded the same year from a similar source, and on several subsequent occasions from Holland and England, as often quenched the poison by analogous measures. Oldenburg, Schleswig, and Norway, successively iiiAaded by the importation of infected Ayrshires, in 1858, 1859, and 1860, respectively, enjoyed a similar happy riddance, through the application of the same system of suppression. Switzerland, long slandered as the natiA-e home of the lung plague, has at last awoke to the truth of the statement of the immortal Haller, made more than a century ago, that this disease only occurs "when an animal has been brought from an infected dis- trict"; and by the judicious use of suppressive measures, has permanently rid the country of the pestilence, and demonstrated that their Alpine air is as clear and whole- some for beast as for man. In America, Massachusetts and Connecticut have furnished examples equally strik- ing. The former imported the disease in Dutch cattle in May, 1859. In April, 1860, when it had gained nearly a year's headAvay, an act Avas passed, and a commission appointed, with full power to extirpate it. After the slaughter of 932 cattle, it Avas believed that this had been achie\red; but new centers of infection Avere discovered in the two succeeding years, and it Avas not until 1865 that the commonAvealth was purged of the poison. Since that year.the lung fever has been unknown in Massachu- setts. Connecticut has had a similar experience. Her proximity to NeAv York City and Long Island has brought upon her a series of invasions; but, profiting by the ex- perience of her neighbor, she has, on each occasion, grappled successfully with the enemy, and driven him from her midst. What has been done by the Scandinavian nations, by Oldenburg and Switzerland, by Massachusetts and Connecticut, can be done by all of our Eastern States. On this point the teaching of history is as unequivocal as on the certainty of the irreparable results if our open Western stock ranges were infected. The one indispensable pre- requisite to success is the vigorous and simultaneous action of the various infected States, and its persistent maintenance until the last infected beast has disappeared 14 PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. aud the last contaminated place or thing has been purified. It matters little whether controlled by State or national government, if vigor and uniformity of action can be secured: but, as such combined and unflagging work is necessary, it could be best con- trolled by an intelligent central authority. The United States Government is as much called upon to defend her possessions against an enemy like this—so implacable, so relentless, and so certain, if not repelled, to lay us under an incubus which will in- crease Avith the coining centuries, and dwarf the prosperity to which we are entitled— as against the less insidious one who attacks us openly with fire and sword. Let the national Congress consider this matter well. Let every stock-owner press it upon his Representative as a matter that cannot be safely ignored even for a single day. Let boards of agiiculture, farmers' clubs and conventions, granges, and all citizens avIio value the future well-being of the nation, unite in a strong representation on the sub- ject. If the present Congress should neglect it, let citizens make it a test question to every future candidate for their suffrages, and elect only such as are pledged to carry suppressive measures into effect. The danger threatens all classes alike, though the first sufferers will be the stock-owners; for every tax upon production necessarily enhances the value of the product; and, as agricultural progress must be seriously retarded, the tax will not fall upon meat alone, but upon eArery product of the farm. Nothing can excuse a continued neglect of this subject, the dangers surrounding which increase from day to day, and the final results of Avhieh, if once it reaches our Western and Southern States and Territories, can only be computed by the prospective increase of our population and our herds of cattle. Fortius is not like an evil preying on our cur- rency, banking, trade, or manufactures, the full extent of Avhieh may be. in a great measure, seen from the beginning, and the repair of which may be at anytime inaugu- rated by legislative enactment. The animal plague only increases its devastations as we increase the numbers of our herds, and threatens soon to acquire an extension to which no legislation can oppose a check, and a prevalence in the face of Avhieh the most desperate efforts of the nation Avill proAe of no avail. Thus, our cattle are in- creasing at the rate of 13,500,000 every ten years, so that, by the end of this century, they may be exactly doubled, with a prospective loss, if our Western and Southern ranges are infected, of $130,000,000 yearly in deaths alone. The choice is hoav in our power. So far as Ave know, our stock-raising States aud Territories are still unaffected. We can still successfully meet and expel the invader; next year it may be too late. [From the Kational Live Stock Journal of No\-ember, 1878.] OUR GOVERNMENT AND THE ENGLISH CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACT. By an Associated Press dispatch from Washington Ave learn that "The Secretary of State has been officially notified of the passage of an act by the British Parliament, entitled 'The Contagious Diseases (Animal) Act, 1878,' under which, except in the case of countries specially exempted by the Privy Council, in whole or in part, from the operations of the act, all animals landed from abroad in any part of the United King- dom Avill, after the 1st of January next, be slaughtered at the port of debarkation. The British Government has also notified Secretary Evarts that, in case the United Stales desire to be exempted from the operations of the act, the lords will require a statement of the law s Avhieh regulate the importation of animals into this country, and the method adopted to prevent the spreading of any contagious disease when it exists in any part of the United States. Secretary Evarts has sent a copy of the act of the British Parliament to the Secretary of the Treasury, in order that he may fur- nish the desired information preliminary to any action being taken to have the animals shipped from the United States into the United Kingdom exempted." We think it will puzzle the Secretary of the Treasury to find any methods that have been adopted by our general government "to prevent the spreading of any contagious disease Avhen it'exists in any part of the United States"; and if he Avill take the trouble to investigate the matter pretty thoroughly, he will find that all the regulations that have from time to time been ordered by his department to prevent the introduction of contagious and infectious diseases into the United States from foreign countries are practically worthless. When this fact comes to be reported to the British Govern- ment, it is not unlikely that the exemption which the United States now enjoys from the operation of the act will be revoked, notwithstanding our present comparative freedom from any diseases likely to be transmitted by exportation to England. When this condition of things is brought about, and the business of exporting fat cattle, sheep, and swine from this country to England—which has, within the past few years, groAvn to such enormous proportions, and exercised so powerful an influence upon prices in this country—comes to a sudden halt, we shall expect such a pressure to be brought to bear upon Congress as Avill compel the passage of some such act as that introduced into the House last May, by Hon. J. S. Jones, of Ohio, to which reference was made in these columns in June last. But is it wise in us to await unfavorable action on the part of the British Govern- PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. 15 nient, before taking such steps as will preclude all probability of this country being included in the prohibition"! Clearly, the interest is too large, and the effect of ad- verse action on the part of the Government of Great Britain Upon our farming com- munity would be too disastrous, to justify us in taking any chances in the matter. The regulations now provided by law against the importation of plagues and infectious diseases from abroad are confessedly worthless; and as for the stamping out of such diseases Avhen they do make their appearance, we have absolutelv no laAv that is gen- eral in its operation. A few of the States have attempted it oil their oavii account, but most of them have no laws at all upon the subject; and none can be effectual without, the sanction of our general government, for Congress alone has the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and between tlie'several States. It is imperative that early and efficient action be taken bv our Congress upon this matter, if Ave Avould not have our present lucrative trade in fat cattle and sheep Avith England seriously crippled. Members of Congress are now at home among the people, and such a pressure ought to be brought to bear upon them as Avill compel them to act upon this question as soon as they reassemble at Washington. In addition to the foregoing-, I inclose you copies of the laws passed by the legislatures of Massachusetts and Xow York for the suppres- sion and extirpation of the disease during its prevalence in those States, and the rules adopted and enforced by the British Government for the extirpation of this and other contagious diseases among farm animals in its Indian possessions. All of which is respectfully submitted. WM. G. LeDUC, Commissioner of Agriculture. Hon. A. S. Paddock, Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture, Washington, D. C. MASSACHUSETTS. LUNG FEVER OR PLEURO-PNEUMONIA OF CATTLE. The following act, for the suppression and extirpation of the disease called pleuro-pneumonia among cattle, was passed by the Massachusetts legislature April 4, 1860: AX ACT to provide for the extirpation of the disease called pleuro-pneumonia among cattle. Be it enacted, prevent the introduction and spread of the disease known as rinderpest, and for the pro- tection of the flocks and herds of sheep and cattle in the State of New York from this and other in- fectious and contagious diseases. Passed April 20, 1866. Be it enacted by the Senate and Assembly of New York: Section 1. It shall be the duty of the health officer of the port of New York, in addition to the duties now imposed on him by existing law, to examine and inquire whether any animals are brought in any vessels arriving at said port iu violation of any regulation of la\v passed by the Congress of the United States prohibiting the im- portation of such animals. 2. Whenever any animal brought as a ship's cow, with no intention of landing the same or of violating any such law or regulation of Congress as aforesaid, the same shall be carefully examined and kept in quarantine for the space of at least twenty- one days, and if any symptoms of the infection or incubation of the disease commonly known as the rinderpest or any other infectious or contagious disease shall present themselves, it shall be the duty of the said health officer immediately to cause the said animal or animals to be slaughtered, and their remains boxed with a sufficient quantity of quick-lime, sulphate of iron, or other disinfectant, and Avith sufficient weights placed in said box to prevent the same from floating, and to be east into the waters of the said port. It shall also be his duty to cleanse and disinfect by suitable agencies the berth or section of the ship in which said animal or animals were lying or slaughtered, and also'to cause the clothing and persons of all taking care of the same or engaged in slaughter and burial to be cleansed and disinfected. 3. William Kelley, of Dutchess County, Marsena R. Patrick, of Ontario County, aud Lewis F. Allen, of Erie County, are hereby appointed as commissioners under this act, and with powers and duties as hereinafter enumerated. 4. In the event of any such disease as the rinderpest or infectious disease of cattle or sheep breaking out or being suspected to exist in any locality in this State, it shall be the duty of all persons owning or having any interest whatever in the said cattle, immediately to notify the said commissioners or any one of them of the existence of such disease; Avhereupon the said commissioners shall establish a sanitary cordon around such locality. And thereupon it shall be the duty of the said commissioners to appoint an assistant commissioner for such district with all powers conferred by this act on tho said commissioners or their agents or appointees, which said assistant commissioner shall immediately proceed to the place or places where such disease is reported to exist, aud cause the said animal or animals to be separated from all con- nection or proximity Avith or to all other animals of the ruminant order, and take PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. 19 such other precautionary measures as shall be deemed necessary ; and if in his opinion the said disease shall be incurable or threaten to spread to other animals, to cause the same immediately to be slaughtered, their remains to be deeply buried and all places in which the said animals have been confined or kept, to be cleansed and disinfected by any of the,agencies above mentioned; and also to cause the same to be carefully locked or barred so as to prevent all access to the same by any animals of a like kind for a period of at least one month. Any animal thus slaughtered shall be appraised under the supei'A'ision of said commissioners, and one-half of the value of said animal shall be paid by the State to the oAvuer thereof. 5. It shall be the duty of the said assistant commissioner, immediately on his being- notified of his appointment, or at any time thereafter, of the breaking out of the said disease in any place contiguous to the same and within the county in which he resides, to give public notices of the same in at least one newspaper printed or published in the said county, and to cause notice to be posted up in at least fiAre conspicuous places in said neighborhood, and it shall be his duty to enjoin, in said notice and otherwise, all persons concerned in the care or supervision of neat cattle or slice]) not to come Avithin one hundred feet of the said locality Avithout the special permission of the said assist tint commissioner. 6. It shall be the duty of the commissioners appointed under this act, whenever they are advised that any such disease has made its appearance within the limits of the State, to publish in the State paper and in at least one paper published in any county where such disease exists, a statement of the methods approved by the New York Agricultural Society for the treatment of cattle affected therewith, for the isola- tion of the same, for the disinfection of the premises or building in which said cattle are found affected as aforesaid, and for the prevention of the spread of the same through any agencies of whateA'er kind. 7. The commissioners aforesaid, and all such assistants as they may appoint, when- ever in their judgment or discretion it shall appear in any case that the disease is not likely to vield to' any remedial treatment, or whenever it shall seem that the cost or Avort'h of any such remedial treatment shall be greater than the value of any animal or animals so affected, or whenever in any ease such disease shall assume such form of malignity as shall threaten its spread to premises, either contagious or infectious or otherwise, are hereby empowered to cause the said animals to be slaughtered forth- with and buried, as above provided, and to do all such things as are mentioned in the fourth section of this act. 6. The said commissioners or their assistants are hereby empoAvered to enter upon and take possession of all premises or parts thereof Avhere cattle so affected as afore- said are found, and to cause the said cattle to be confined in suitable inclosures or buildings for any time requisite in the judgment of the said commissioners or their assistants, and prior to the slaughter aud burial of the said animals and the full and complete disinfecting and cleansing of such premises; and all persons, whether owners of or interested in such cattle or otherwise, avIio shall resist, impede, or hinder the said commissioners or their assistants in the execution of their duties under this act sb all be deemed guilty, and on conviction of the same, of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable with fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment not exceed- ing the term of six months, or of both, in the discretion of the court before which thev shall be adjudged guilty as aforesaid. 9." The commissioners shall have poAver to establish all such quarantine or other reg- ulations as they may deem necessary to prevent the spread of the disease, or its transit in railroad cars, by Vessels, or by driving along the public highways ; and it shall be proper for the governor of the State, by public proclamation as aforesaid, to enjoin all persons concerned or engaged in the traffic or transit of cattle or sheep, not to enter upon any such places, or take therefrom any such animal, or to pass through any such locality, and AA'ithin such distances from the same as in the said proclamation may be "prescribed t 10. The sum of one thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to pay to the said commissioners for their services, while actually engaged in the duties enjoined upon them in this act, at the rate of fi ve dollars per day to each, and such further sums as may causethem actual expenditures in traveling to and from the places they may be called upon to inspect or visit, and in the printing or pub- lishing of all regulations or notices mentioned in this act. And the further sum of fifteen thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropri- ated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to pay for animals slaughtered by the provisions of this act, and the comptroller is hereby directed to pay for the same on the warrant of the said commissioners. 11. The assistant commissioners are to receive for each and every day while actually eno-ao-cd in duties provided by this act the sum of three dollars per day, aud all actual expenses and disbursements paid or incurred in the discbarge of their duties as afore- said, Avhieh said sums shall be a charge upon the county for Avhieh he is appointed, *v PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. and shall, when duly audited by the board of supervisors of the said county, be paid by the county treasurer. 12. The slaughtering of animals for beef after having been exposed to the contagion, or supposed to have been so exposed, may be permitted by the commissioners, or pro- hibited by them, as they may judge proper. 13. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall continue in force for one year. THE IMPORTATION OF CATTLE PROHIBITED. The following; is an official copy of the act passed by Congress to pro- hibit the importation of cattle in 1SG5: AX ACT to prevent the spread of foreign diseases among the cattle of the United States. Be it enacted bythe Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Con- gress assembled, That the importation of cattle be, and hereby is, prohibited. And it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to make such regulations as will give this law full and immediate effect, aud to send copies of them to"the proper officers m this country and to all officers or agents of the United States in foreign countries. Skction 2. And be it further enacted, That when the President shall give thirty davs' notice by proclamation that no further danger is to be apprehended from the spread of foreign infectious or contagious diseases among cattle, this law shall be of no force, and cattle may be imported in the same way as before its passage. Passed the House of Representatives December 11, 1865. Attest: EDWARD McPHERsOX. Chrk. THE BRITISH GOYEKXILEXT. The following is an abstract of the rules and regulations adopted by the British Government to prevent the spread of the rinderpest and pleuro-pneumonia among- cattle, and foot and mouth disease among sheep in its Indian possessions: 1. When cattle or sheep are purchased at a fair, they should always be treated as having been probably exposed to contagion. 2. When cattle or sheep are being removed from one locality to another, they should not be allowed to mix with other cattle or sheep en route. and should never be kept overnight in or near quarters previously occupied, as such quarters are often contaminated by having recently been occupied by diseased animals. 3. When cattle or sheep are purchased in a fair or elsewhere, they should, on being brought to the purchaser's premises, be kept by them- selves, and not allowed to mix with the old cattle of the farm, at pasture or watering time, or at any time. They should be kept by themselves in complete isolation for one month or six weeks, in order to have proof afforded whether they are affected with a contagious disease or not. 4. When cattle are traveling, or are moved from one district to another, they are liable to be exposed to contagion and contract disease; there- fore, on their arrival at home, they should be carefully inspected, and if they have passed through an infected district they should be kept by themselves for some time. (See Utiles 20 and 21.) o. When diseases of a contagious nature, or supposed to be of a con- tagions nature, appear among cattle, the first important duty is to sep- arate the sick from the healthy animals.» 6. Carefully inspect all the animals, and remove to the hospital any showing the slightest symptoms of disease. PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. 21 7. Divide the healthy cattle into several lots, making each lot as small in number as space wiU permit. Picket the cattle in such lots a good distance apart, and to windward of the sick cattle. Frequently inspect each lot, and remove at once any animal in the least unwell. By steadily adopting this plan, the disease will be found in a few days to exist only among one or two lots, and by at once removing to the hospital any becoming sick the disease will speedily be arrested in spreading through the herd. Each lot should be kept isolated from other cattle for a period Irom four to six weeks. 8. The hospital to contain the diseased cattle should be inclosed by a strong fence and isolated. The attendants and the sick cattle must not be permitted to leave the isolated area. Food and water may be taken to the attendants and cattle, but no forage, water, litter, clothing, or anything else should be taken from the hospital. Dogs should not be allowed to go to and from the hospital, as they may carry contagium to places where healthy stock may be. 9. The dry litter, &c, of the hospital should be burnt inside the hos- pital area^ and the moist dung and discharges, &c, should be frequently removed from the stalls and buried in pits dug in the hospital premises. These pits should be six feet or more deep, and should be filled with the wet litter, dung, &c, of the hospital up to within two feet of the sur- rounding ground surface, and then quicklime and good fresh earth should be used to fill up the remaining two feet. 10. The stalls, walls, &c, and ground of the hospital should be scru- pulously cleaned by frequent sweepings and washings, and after every cleansing disinfectants, lime, ashes, or even dry earth, should be plenti- fully scattered over the floors and ground, and the wood-work and walls shoidd be first washed and then whitewashed. 11. The hospital should be well ventilated; sulphur fumigation should be daily carried out for an hour or so in the hospital building, and at this time the doors and windows may be closed and the ventilators only kept partly open. 12. The constant burning of sufficient litter, opposite the doors or the windward side of the building, at seasons when flies are numerous and troublesome to cattle. 13. The sick cattle should be kept scrupulously clean, and have thin gruel and fresh green grass in its season for diet. The healthy cattle should also be kept on laxative food, as cattle fed on hard dry food have the disease in a more severe form than those fed on laxative fodder. 14. When these contagious diseases have prevailed among cattle or sheep, they should not be allowed to pasture, or to be kept with unaf- fected herds, until a month or six weeks have expired after the last case of disease occurring among the affected lot. 15. Animals that recover should be well washed with warm water and soap prior to being removed from the hospital, and, if obtainable, car- bolic acid should be added to the warm water in the proportion of one wineglassful of the acid to a gallon of warm water. 16. Carcasses of stock that die of rinderpest, black-quarter, and other forms of anthrax fever, and pleuro-pneumonia, should be buried and covered with at least four feet of earth. 17. The hides of cattle that die of these contagious diseases should be either well scored and slashed with a knife, thus destroying their value, and should be then buried with the carcasses. 18. The surface of earth floors of stalls, and ground on which cattle affected with contagious diseases have been kept, should be removed and buried, and the earth below should be well dug up and turned over, 22 PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. and the floor remade with fresh earth. Brick and stone floors may be scraped, washed, and disinfected with quicklime or carbolic acid. 19. Poles of carts and harness, or saddlery, &c, used by animals affected with contagious diseases, should be washed and disinfected. . 20. The periods of incubation of rinderpest, black-quarter, and other forms of anthrax fever, all believed to be within twenty-eight days; so a month has been named as the time for an animal supposed to have been exposed to the contagium of these diseases to be kept isolated. 21. The period of incubation of pleuro-pneumonia varies from two to six weeks, but has been found, as a rule, to be about forty days ; so when cattle have been exposed to the contagium of this disease, they should be kept isolated for forty-live days. O |N i