458 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF- AGRICULTURE. 
\ 
PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
At the time my last report was supmitted the contagious pleura 
pneumonia, or Huropean lung plague of cattle, existed not only in 
the plague spots of the Eastern States, where its presence has been 
recognized for years, but to an alarming extent in Chicago, one of 
the greatest live-stock centers of the country. The knowledge that 
this deadly contagion had fixed itself so far in the interior, where 
there was so much danger of its being scattered in many directions — 
by the movement of cattle, caused apprehension and alarm among 
the cattle owners and business men of all the Western States and 
Territories. The introduction of cattle, not only from Cook County, 
but from the whole State of Illinois, was prohibited by the State 
authorities in many instances. Thus there was at once a most se- 
rious and widespread interruption of traffic and disturbance of values, 
in addition to the losses from the disease. 
When the outbreak at Chicago was discovered, and for some 
months afterwards, both national and State laws applicable to its 
eradication were imperfect. The appropriation for the Bureau of 
Animal Industry for the year ending June 30, 1887, authorized the 
purchase of diseased animals whenever it was necessary to prevent 
the spread of pleuro-pneumonia from one State into another; but as 
the statute then in force in Illinois required the slaughter of ani- 
mals affected with this disease without compensation, it did not ap- 
pear necessary that they should be purchased by the General Gov- 
ernment. Thework of the Department was therefore confined to an 
investigation of the extent of the disease and the maintenance of a 
guard over the infected distillery stables and over one infected farm 
upon which were found exposed about 250 head of cattle. 
The inspection made by the Department veterinarians soon showed 
that the contagion had been disseminated quite extensively by dis- 
eased cattle which had pastured upon the vacant lots and commons 
about the city, and there mingled with many milch cows which had 
been allowed to run at large, 
The appropriation act approved March 3, 1887, not only increased 
the sum to be expended by the Bureau of Animal Industry from 
$100,000 to $500,000, but gaveauthority to purchase both diseased and. 
exposed cattle, and made $100,000 immediately available. The Chief 
of the Bureau was at once directed to proceed to Illinois and reach 
some understanding, if possible, with the governor and live-stock 
commission, by which the work in that State >-icht be made efficient 
and the disease eradicated without further delay. At a conference 
between these gentlemen, held in Springfield, [1l., it was decided 
that the Department of Agriculture would pay for the diseased and 
exposed animals that were slaughtered; a veterinarian; not pre- 
vioasly *. oned there, and having reputation and experience, would 
be placed i: charge of the Department work ; the force of the Depart- 
ment would be increased as required for the extermination of the 
plague; the separate offices previously maintained by the Depart- 
ment and the State commission would be consolidated ; the State com- 
mission would do everything in its power to secure the rigid enforce- 
ment of the State law. 
It was evident from the amount of the appropriation for the cur- 
rent year, and the authority accompanying it, that Congress intended 
not only that measures should be adopted to prevent the spread of 
