72 
X. LAW. 
regardless of expense and of the numbers of animals that might 
have to be slaughtered. In Tasmania, New Zealand, and South 
Africa the experience has been the same—the plague, once 
planted on unfenced ranges, pastured in common by large herds, 
the property of different owners, has perpetuated itself in spite 
of every effort of man to suppress it. 
Nor is our danger alone from thoroughbred cattle. The great 
investments in cattle from the plains, and the consequent en¬ 
hanced prices, have established a trade in common stock for the 
supply of the western ranches, and young stock are extensively 
shipped from the Middle and Eastern States to meet the demand. 
In years past the losses in ventures in young calves have seemed 
to check the trade, but 1 regret to say it still continues to a con¬ 
siderable extent, and every such shipment is pregnant with danger. 
If there were any hopes of the extinction of the lung plague 
after it had reached our unfenced pastures, we might find some 
excuse for those who would have us close our eyes to the 
danger ; but when it threatens us with a tax of $60,000,000 to 
$200,000,000 a year, a tax which must increase in a ratio with the 
increase of our herds, and which no statesmanship and no financial 
ability can ever hope to arrest or abolish, we cannot but consider 
him as an enemy to his country and to humanity, who would 
counsel or encourage apathy and inaction. Who would cry peace ! 
peace! while a remorseless enemy is at our doors, and his emis¬ 
saries and battalions are even in our midst, ready to seize on our 
stronghold ? Who would claim health, while the cancer was eating 
into the tissues and slowly extending toward the vitals ? Who 
would claim security, when the deadly cobra had been roused, 
and had coiled himself for his fatal spring ? 
If I speak strongly, it is because I see the full measure of our 
danger. It is because I have traced the history of this disease 
in all historic time, and can speak from the unvarying experience 
of successive centuries and of different hemispheres ; it is because 
I have been honored with a great trust in this matter, and that I 
would be recreant to that trust, to the country, to my profession 
and to myself, if I failed to give a warning where danger threat¬ 
ens, and reassurance where our course is safe. 
• (To be continued .) 
