256 



GRAZING CATTLE DISEASES 



Values of Annual Imports into the United Kingdom of 

 certain Articles of Live Stock Production. 



Rinderpest or Cattle Plague in its home on the steppes 

 of Russia, in Tartary and Japan, is a chronic enzootic malady, 

 and only a moderate proportion of the animals attacked die ; 

 but it is the most virulent and deadly of all bovine diseases 

 among Western cattle. It spreads rapidly, and less than 10 

 per cent, of those affected recover, but they acquire immunity 

 against future attacks. A very few animals are naturally 

 immune. It is due to a specific organism in the blood, and 

 is highly infectious and contagious. 



The symptoms are those of acute fever, with discharges 

 from the mucous membrane of the mouth, nostrils, eyes, 

 etc., as a forerunner to ulceration. These are followed in 

 turn by constipation, diarrhoea, emaciation, and exhaustion. 

 It runs its course in about seven days. A military cordon 

 along the Russo-German frontier to prevent Eastern cattle 

 coming west and vigorous port inspection are the safe- 

 guards of continental Europe against the dire consequences 

 of its introduction. But, mindful of the disaster and ruin 

 to many stockowners in Great Britain and Ireland during 

 the outbreaks of 1865 and 1877, the British Government 

 wisely prohibit the importation of live cattle from all 

 sources, except for immediate slaughter. Treatment is 

 useless, and slaughter of all infected animals is a necessity. 

 Rinderpest was prevalent all over South Africa in 1896-7, 

 and a serious outbreak occurred after the close of the Boer 



