To Farmers and Dealers in Stock. 
CHROITHiJLEb .A.. 
The act of 1877, constituting a State Board of Health, made 
it the duty of this Board “to make inquiries and reports in re- 
ference to diseases affecting animals and the methods of preven- 
tion.” An act of the present Legislature gives additional power 
in reference to pleuro-pneumonia or other contagious diseases 
affecting animals. The State Board of Health directs this cir- 
cular to be distributed. 
The legislation of this State as to the diseases of animals, only 
has reference to preventing the spread of infectious or contagious 
diseases. When animals are seriously sick from any cause, the 
owner should make his own arrangements for skillful treatment. 
But when any infectious or contagious disease so far prevails as 
to threaten to become epidemic, the results which may accrue to 
citizens at large are so serious, that all governments recognize the 
right to investigate for the prevention or limitation, and to enact 
such restriction as those skilled in the management of epidemics 
may advise. This State has now placed this oversight within 
the jurisdiction of the State Board of Health, and thus imitates 
the custom of other countries. 
PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
The chief infectious malady which has been considered as 
existing in this State is Pleuro-Pneumonia. It may be called 
lung-plague, but not cattle-plague, since the latter is the name 
for the very different disease, Rinderpest. That the disease is 
one which inclines to spread, is agreed by all authorities. Its 
very threatening justifies the expenditure of such an amount of 
money as may be necessary to determine its character and its 
extent. When discovered much depends on the severity of the 
type or the disposition it has shown to become^pidemic) 
It is not generally claimed that it ever occurs any more than 
small pox, except as it is transported from some previous case. 
This Board will at first seek to determine where infectious pleuro- 
pneumonia now exists. With a rigid regard to the trouble of 
quarantine, it will only exercise the power when the rights of 
the people require it. Such action, however annoying to the 
owner, is in his real interest. We propose not to give orders 
rashly; to enforce them when given. 
Our trade, food supply and stock interests will be greatly aided 2 
when, as we trust will soon be the case, we can free each owner 
from any suspicion of the disease among his cattle. 
General Le Due, the Commissioner of Agriculture, responds at 
once to our request for an active co-operation with us in stamp- 
ing out this disease where it exists, and in settling, by expert 
aid, the question of its extent. In this, too, we are to have the 
counsel and support of the Executive Committee of the Board of 
Agriculture. A rapid sanitary inspection will at once be insti- 
tuted at all places where it has recently prevailed. It is the duty 
of any owner having cause to suspect such a disease to send us 
notice. 
The attack usually begins with coldness, and dry, hacking 
cough, with symptoms of pain and uneasiness. The animal 
refuses food. Milch cows diminish in milk. Even an unskilled 
man knocking with the fingers against the opposite sides, back of 
the shoulders, will detect the difference in sound of the two sides. 
Both the fever and heat are marked. Many of the symptoms cor- 
respond with pleurisy or pneumonia in man—with the same 
varied severity, and with either acute or chronic symptoms. If 
new cattle have come into the herd, or if the disease is prevalent 
near by, there is more ground for suspicion. 
The owner must exercise close watch and honestly seek to 
know whether there is ground to suspect infection. In disputed 
cases the only way is to consent to submit it to skilled examina- 
tion and inquiry, and not to make a positive diagnosis in mat- 
ters in which the owner cannot expect himself to be fully com- 
petent. 
On March 15tli the secretary of this Board made a visit to a 
farm on the Delaware, opposite the New Jersey border, in order 
to examine into the symptoms of the disease, and to compare it 
with other lung diseases in man or animals. The account of 
the farmer was that three months previous he bought a cow 
which, a few days after, sickened and died. He has since lost 
twelve. His own account, and that of adjoining farmers, would, 
we think, satisfy most that the disease is infectious pleuro-pneu- 
monia. The United States Veterinary Surgeon, the State Inspec- 
tor of Pennsylvania, and other recognized authorities were pres- 
ent, by appointment. Physical examination of four animals 
showed each with one lung consolidated ; three had been sick 
less than one week and one four weeks. Post-mortem examina- 
tions fully verified the diagnosis. The lungs were found in- 
creased from about two and a half to twenty pounds, with such 
changes as are now being microscopically examined. A cow had 
died of the same disease three days before at Camden. There 
can be no doubt that it exists more or less in this State, and still 3 
more in Pennsylvania and Maryland, from which its ingress 
must be guarded. 
It is strongly in the interest of the farmers and stock dealers 
of this State in every way to meet the facts and aid us in a 
speedy riddance of the malady. We propose to act in concert 
with them for the public welfare. There can be but one con- 
clusion after due examination had—where the disease is found 
to exist, we must either isolate or quarantine, or give notice to 
others of the place where it exists, or notify the owner that he 
will be held accountable if any animal of others becomes in- 
fected by exposure to his herd. Where the veterinarians finds 
the disease it is better to kill the animal. 
The fact of pleuro-pneumonia in an animal does not decide 
that it is unfit for food use. This is determined chiefly by the 
severity of the sickness. 
All farms or herds in the State which have been adjudged to 
have had infectious pleuro-pneumonia should, as a preventive, 
keep the cattle this spring and summer in temporary sheds, so 
that the others can be thoroughly /cleansed of all movable 
material and be well white-washed. It is best to add four 
ounces of dry chloride of lime to a gallon of .the white-wash. In 
any case the cattle will be benefited by this removal from the 
yards, and the farmer’s interest be promoted by the removal of 
all suspicion of the disease. It is a short-sighted policy for any 
one for a little present saving to subject his cattle to continued 
suspicion, or to an actual and prolonged existence of the malady. 
As it is believed that the chief contagion comes from the lungs, 
it is best to sponge the mouth and nostrils of all well and ex- 
posed animals, twice each day, with a solution of chloride of 
zinc. The fifty per cent, solution (Squibb’s) costs twenty-five 
cents per pound, and, diluted one-fourth, a tablespoonful of it 
suffices each time. Or it can be purchased solid in ounce bottles 
for eight cents, and dissolved in a half gallon of hot water. A 
little tar rubbed in the mouth also cleanses. Those about sick 
animals should wash their hands in the zinc solution. For 
various other disinfectants, see Third Report (or the last July 
circular) of the State Board of Health. 
Every farmer who purchases new stock should, for a month, 
keep it apart from his herd while any infection is prevalent. 
No cattle should be allowed to pasture on commons, as this 
disease thus spreads in the summer. Read the law and the penal- 
ties you may incur by spreading the contagion. It is to be remem- 
bered, that animals, in order to health, need to be kept natur- 
ally ; that they need right food, pure air, good water and exercise 
in order to be healthy. If well fed,.and yet having neither 4 
rubbing nor exercise, the result must be to breed disease. It is 
profitable to change stabled cattle from their stalls from time to 
time. Some diseases are made malignant or contagious by 
closeness and filth. It is for the interest of all owners to adopt 
those precautions which by the most successful dealers are re- 
garded advantageous. Milk is a great absorbent of contagion. 
It is very important that it should not be kept standing in or 
near the yards, but the cans to receive it should be outside the 
pens and yards, and removed as soon as the milking is over. 
As the present law extends to the care of all infectious diseases 
of animals, and has not'single reference to anyone disease or 
any single year, we shall hope to aid and to be aided by all 
those who rightly estimate the great pecuniary profit and per- 
sonal comfort of prevalent good health among the lower animals. 
Cows kept after the packed-herring system, or tied all winter in a 
stall, will not maintain good health, and will stand ready for 
any epizootic disease. 
PNEUMO-ENftRITIS.—(HOG- CHOLERA.) 
There is evidence that this disease prevails considerably in 
some parts of the State. The loss to this country last year was 
about twenty millions of dollars from this disease. 
It is actively contagious. The name cholera deceives as to it, 
for it is a fever in which not only the intestines, but the lungs 
and glandular system are usually affected. 
It commences with loss of appetite and constipation, the skin 
becomes reddened and often pimpled. Cough and hurried re- 
spiration as well as diarrhea are among the symptons. About 
seventy per cent, of the pigs die in two weeks, while those sur- 
viving are of little value. The time of catching is generally 
from five to fifteen days. The only method of dealing with it is 
the same as with pleuro-pneumonia, viz: the killing of all bad 
cases, isolation of the sick, and an entire removal to another pen 
of all well ones. 
The Board will be glad to receive information as to any pre- 
valent disease of animals, and will give to the subject such 
attention as it may demand. 
Whenever any contagious or infectious disease has caused the 
death of any animal, or is believed to exist in any neighbor- 
hood, any person may properly state the fact to us. 
Copies of the law can be had on application. 
Letters or postals should be addressed, 
State Board of Health, Trenton, N. J.