358 
EDITORIAL. 
States, and that many millions of dollars are annually lost to the 
nation from this cause. 
T Yhereas, Several of the most redoubtable of these plagues 
are now restricted to circumscribed localities, but threaten speedily 
to extend over wide areas, where, from the mingling of herds 
on unfenced ranges, like the plains, they must become perma¬ 
nently domiciled, at an immense yearly loss that will steadily in¬ 
crease with the constant advance of agriculture, and the inciease 
of our live-stock. 
Whereas, The unfenced stock ranges of the South and West 
are at the source of the traffic in live stock, and their infection 
must determine the infection of all the channels of the traffic 
(cars, boats, yards, &c., &c.), and of the Middle and Eastern 
States. 
Whereas , Several of these animal plagues have already led 
different American and European countries to place embargos on 
our live stock, which will be maintained so long as these pestk 
lences are allowed to exist in our midst. 
Whereas , The extinction of these animal contagia is of in¬ 
comparably more importance to the Western stock raising States 
than to the Eastern, even though they may be at present ex¬ 
clusively confined to the latter. 
Whereas, It is not probable that all the infected States will of 
themselves go to the trouble and expense of stamping out these 
pests, in which they have so much less pecuniary interest than 
other States, which are as yet unaffected. 
Whereas, Certain of the most destructive of these pestilences 
are exotics to the stock exporting States, and can be effectually 
and permanently eradicated from them. 
Whereas, A large number of animal diseases are due to con¬ 
tagia or to parasites that are communicable to man with equally 
disastrous results. 
Whereas, There is constant danger of reimportation of the 
same and of other exotic animal plagues, unless a proper inspec¬ 
tion and quarantine of imports shall be inaugurated , and, 
Whereas, The restriction and extinction of these diseases can 
be best accomplished under the direction of the veterinary profes¬ 
sion, who alone have made a special study of these epizootics, 
