148 
EDITORIAL. 
kidneys, the surrounding tissues; then enters the rachidian canal 
and reaches the spinal cord.” * * * 
In all probability, this explanatory theory of the writer is 
open to many objections, but we still hold that the point of 
essential importance is the parasitic nature of the disease. More¬ 
over, if we cannot admit its contagious nature, neither can we 
ignore its infectious nature. We can understand that an animal 
exposed to the influence of the germ and to its introduction into 
his system may become affected with the disease, but the identi¬ 
fication of this germ, and the mode by which it acts and gives 
rise to the peculiar manifestation of loss of nervous power as it 
does, are matters upon which sufficient light has not yet been 
shed, and which still wait for some studious and fortunate pathol¬ 
ogist to elucidate, and by so doing win distinction and honor. 
Fighting Contagious Fleuro-Pneumonia. —The labor under¬ 
taken by the Bureau of Animal Industry in its efforts to “ stamp 
out” contagious pleuro-pneumonia in the States where it has be¬ 
come established, and has been for so many years practically 
tolerated, is something to which the term herculean may fitly 
apply. Even veterinarians not familiar with the scope of the 
enterprise cannot correctly estimate the greatness of the attempt. 
A proximate idea may be formed, however, from the following 
table, wffiich we obtain from the report of the Chief of the Bureau, 
Dr. Salmon, and which will show conclusively the faithfulness 
and energy exercised by the officers of this branch of the Bureau 
of Agriculture, in the performance of their onerous and not always 
pleasant duty in the premises. 
Character of work , dec . 
Ill 
Va . 
Penn . 
N . P 
Md . 
A. Y . 
Total . 
Herds inspected. 
140 
18 
198 
3,057 
4,008 
5,082 
12,498 
Cattle inspected. 
285 
297 
31,422 
34,581 
23,080 
40,932 
130,697 
Cattle tagged. 
16,812 
5,391 
6,407 
61,327 
89,937 
Herds found diseased. 
1 
14 
144 
35 
142 
336 
Animals in diseased herds. 
— 
39 
111 
1,451 
641 
2,769 
5,001 
Animals diseased, physical exam-) 
ination. / 
6 
32 
391 
71 
445 
945 
Post mortem examinations. 
1,712 
103 
2,929 
1,705 
2,242 
9,010 
17,701 
Animals diseased on post mortem. 
45 
59 
332 
326 
1,452 
2,214 
Premises disinfected. 
1 
2 
36 
72 
83 
670 
864 
Diseased animals purchased. 
4 
44 
45 
830 
310 
939 
1,672 
Paid for diseased animals. 
$81 
$719 
$958 
$8,613 
$8,285 
$21,371 
$39,864 
Exposed animals purchased. 
129 
52 
62 
530 
647 
2,031 
3,461 
Paid for exposed animals. 
$2,408 
$601 
$1,384 
$15,437 
$15,952 
$41,688 
$77,371 
Average for diseased animals. 
$20 
$16 
$21 
$25 
$26 
$22 
$23 
Average for exposed. 
$18 
$11 
$22 
$29, 
$24 
$20 
$J2 
