452 EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
American cattle of the Pampas be not found subject to the 
same disease as our Texan cattle, and to carry the seeds of it 
in the same way — fatal to cattle of the temperate region to 
which they are imported, though showing themselves rarely 
in the imported animals. An examination of the organs of the 
next lot of South American cattle that comes to England 
ought certainly to be very carefully made at the time of their 
slaughter. If in no case there should be found any evidences 
of previous disease in the cicatrices of ulcers in the fourth 
stomach, and no abnormal appearances in the liver or spleen 
of any animal, it would go to show that no particular anxiety 
need be felt ; but if the contrary should be the result, timely 
precaution should be taken, and further inquiry instituted/ ” 
Curiously enough, among our “ clippings” we lit upon an 
extract from an American paper which furnishes a remark- 
able commentary on the above alarming prophecy. It is 
headed — 
“ The Texas Cattle Plague Humbug. 
“ The press is gradually learning the true nature of the cry 
against Texas cattle. The Turf, Field, and Farm commenced 
the discussion of the question, and discussion is leading to 
good results. The San Francisco Examiner thus denounces 
the cattle plague humbug : 
“ ( The Bulletin, in the interest of the large cattle monopo- 
lists in this State, is still harping on the Texas cattle disease. 
It learns that large droves of cattle from Texas are entering 
the southern counties. This ought to be good news to the 
consumers of beef, and we congratulate them that there is 
some prospect of a reduction in the high prices now paid for 
that staple article of human food. The Bulletin, however, 
only looks at the matter as affecting the interests of the large 
cattle dealers, and calls on the Legislature to pass a law 
against the introduction of such cattle into our state. It 
says that “ Illinois and other States have found it necessary 
to legislate on this matter, and their laws have been of the 
most stringent character.” Yes, and we showed the other 
day that the Supreme Court of Illinois had just rendered a 
decision pronouncing the cattle law of that state invalid as 
infringing on the provisions of the Constitution, which gives 
to Congress the power to regulate the commerce among the 
states. But be this as it may, this whole cry against Texas 
cattle is the sheerest imposition. It is gotten up by cattle 
dealers for the purpose of enjoying a monopoly of the busi- 
ness. Texas cattle are as healthy as cattle in any other 
