THE LUXG PLAGUE. 21 



attention, apart from the fact tliat but one case on the whok> continent 

 is a source of incah'uhible danf;:er, is proved by a circuhir recently issued 

 by gentlemen in Westchester, Pennsylvania, and which is of sufficient 

 importance to be reproduced here : 



rieitro-pticnmnnia. — The great increase in the disease known as plenro-pnonnionia 

 among- cattle within a few years past, its highly contagions character, and the acknow- 

 ledged inability of the most skillful veterinary snrgeons to control or in the least miti- 

 gate its severity in certain stages of the disease, calls for immediate and (^arnest atten- 

 tion from the commuuity. It is a well-known fact that the cupidity of many induces 

 them as soon as the disease develops itself on their premises to hurry off their stock 

 (diseased as well as those not diseased) to the nearest drove-yard, to he there sold for 

 whatever they will bring ; to be either sold as food or driven off to new sections, and 

 there to infect and poison other animals with which they may come in contact. 



With the view of arresting this increasing and wide-spreading evil, the undersigned, 

 a committee of the "Mutual Live Stock Insurance Company of Chester county," au 

 institution established purely for mutual assistance and protection, respectfully invite 

 yoiir co-operation in procuring snch action at the hands of onr next legislatiire, by the 

 passage of a law authorizing the appointment of a suitable number of qualified and con- 

 scientious inspectors throughout the State, whose duty it shall be to examine thoroughly 

 all animals, especially those offered for sale, wherever they may be; and subjecting 

 those offering snch diseased animals to both fine and imprisonment, and to take such 

 other measures as may be deemed necessary to effect the entire extirpation of the dis- 

 ease from our midst. 



I can corroborate the statements made as to the sale of cattle that are 

 infected. I^ot only has this occurred often where the disease has been 

 most rife for years past, as on Long Island, but recently, in making 

 inquiries in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, I learned of three cows 

 which had been sold " healthy" (?) out of an infected herd. Such a prac- 

 tice explains the progress of the disease even further south than Maryland. 



I have been informed that the malady has traveled as far west as 

 Kentucky and Ohio, but of this I have not been enabled in the brief time 

 since I commenced the inquiry to obtain satisfactory evidence. I have 

 taken some pains to ascertain if the disease had reappeared in Massa- 

 chusetts, and personal inquiries in various i^arts of the State show that 

 it is quite free from the disease, thanks to the energy of its people and 

 the enlightened action of its legislature. 



The conclusions that are warranted by the facts 1 have gleaned are as 

 follows: 



First. That the lung plague in cattle exists on Long Island, where it 

 has prevailed for many years ; that it is not uncommon in New Jersey ; 

 has at various times appeared in New York State ; continues to be very 

 prevalent in several counties of Pennsylvania, especially in Delaware and 

 Bucks; has injured the farmers of Maryland, the dairymen around Wash- 

 ington, D. C, and lias penetrated into Virginia. 



Second. That the disease trav(^ls wherever sick cattle are introduced, 

 and that the great cattle-rearing States of the west, which may not at 

 present be entirely free from the disease, have been protected by the fact 

 that they sell rather than buy an<l import horned stock. 



Third. There are no proper restrictions on the sale of infected stock, 



