220 CONTAGIOUS LUNG FEVER OF CATTLE. 



of February, 1878, and was afterward publislied as Senate Ex. Doc. 

 Ko. 35. 



In order tliat a thorougli 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 ai)pro- 

 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 

 language 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- 

 calites, 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 

 maladies grown that stock breeding and rearing has, to some extent, become a pre- 

 carious calling instead of the i)ro£itablo business of foiiner years. This would seem 

 especially 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 jjermanently 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 pleiiro-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 net sufficient in number to attract atten- 

 tion or cause alarm. During the past summer and fall my attention was 

 caUed 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 Bm-lington County, New Jersey, writes : 



The prevailing disease among cattle in this county is ijleiu'o-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. Hancock, of Columbus, Burlington County, New Jersey, 

 states that the disease has been x^revalent in that county for some years. 

 He says : 



I have had some experience with pleuro-pncumouia among cattle, having lost one- 

 third of my herd from its ravages in 18G1, Avhen 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, Va., 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 

 tlie Potomac for a distance of about 25 miles, extending back from therivcr not more 

 than 2 miles. 



B. A. MurrUl, Campbell County, Virginia, writes, about the same date: 



An unkno^vTi disease has prevailed this fall among cattle in the immediate vicinity 

 of Lynchburg, but has not s])rcad elsewhere. [This disease was pronounced i)leuro- 

 pnoumonia by competent authoi-ity.] 



