74 THE LUNG PLAGUE OF CATTLE. 



There is the less objection to such yards that this is not an expedient 

 for which the necessity will expire with the extinction of the lung plague, 

 but it must continue in use so long as cattle are imported from countries 

 where infection exists. These yards can further be used for all conta- 

 gious diseases in all classes of animals. 



The present system of allowing animals to be quarantined at any point 

 which can be reached by coast or inland navigation, and usually on the 

 owner's own premises or others which have been hired by him, and under 

 a verbal or written bond furnished by him, is to be strongly condemned. 

 Instances are spoken of in which the quarantined cattle were separated 

 from the neighboring herds by an open rail fence only, the segregation 

 becoming no better than a farce. Aside even from such willful neglect 

 and carelessness, there can be no guarantee that the quarantine is per- 

 fect. The owner indeed may act in good faith and give the most strin- 

 gent orders that nothing shall be done which may in any way compro- 

 mise him in the matter of his bond, but who can assure the integrity of 

 his servant when the owner's back is turned? A door left accidentally 

 open, a fence broken down, or the desire of the servant or one of his 

 friends to obtain a cross with the coveted blood of an imported bull is 

 liable to set all precautions and orders at defiance and allow a chance 

 of infection from the imported stock. Nor is such outside infection 

 likely to be easily discovered and stamped out. The owner of the cow 

 served will fear to confess to the stolen use of the bull, and the servant 

 who allowed the act will doubly fear to confess his disobedience of 

 orders, lest he should lose his situation. 



Any supposed quarantine in places apart from a constant government 

 control is utterly unreliable, and should be at once amended. Under 

 these circumstances we do not hesitate to advise the erection of perma- 

 nent quarantine buildings at the various ports where the regular lines 

 of transatlantic steamers arrive and at the port of San Francisco. 



PROTECTION OF CATTLE ON BOARD THE OCEAN STEAM- 

 ERS. 



In approaching this subject we are conscious of the wide field open- 

 ing before us and the difficulty of doing justice to the subject in a report 

 like the present, which is necessarily limited in extent. We think it im- 

 portant nevertheless to draw attention to the more essential conditions 

 of safety in the transportation of animals by sea. We leel this duty the 

 more incumbent upon us, that we are convinced that a sea voyage under 

 proper sanitary provisions is by no means such a serious drawback to 

 the animal as is usually supposed. With proper accommodations and 

 good weather the export cattle usually gain in flesh and arrive in Eu- 

 rope in better condition and consequently of more value than when they 

 left the American ports. Apart from storms, animals on board ship 

 can take no exercise, the warmth of the space between decks obviates 

 the necessity for almost any expenditure of carbon, &c., and the mainte- 

 nance of the animal heat ; they have the further advantage of an invig- 

 orating 'change of air, and if well fed and watered, most of the food 

 consume^! is laid up as flesh and fat. In the case of breeding cattle sent 

 on long voyages, as from England to Australia, New Zealand or Singa- 

 pore, the greatest concern of the shipper usually is the danger of obe- 

 sity and consequent sterility. We cannot therefore look upon the sea 

 voyage as necessarily an evil to fat cattle, but only as becoming so ex- 

 ceptionally in connection with stormy weather and insufficient accom- 

 modations 



