As a preliminary measure for securing information in regard to the
character of the disease found in the American cattle slaughtered in
England, the suggestion is made that an arrangement be proposed to Her
Majesty’s Government by which one or more of the veterinary inspectors
of the Department of Agriculture may be stationed at the English
“foreign animals’ wharves.” “These inspectors,” states the Secretary of
Agriculture, “would observe any affected animal which might be
discovered, and by promptly notifying this Department it would be
possible to trace the history of such animals and determine definitely
if they had ever been exposed to a contagious disease.”
You will suitably present these and the other facts recited by the
Secretary of Agriculture in his letter for the consideration of Her
Majesty’s Government, and express the hope that the proposed arrangement
may be effected; or that the removal of the restrictions now imposed or
their essential modification, in view of the assurance herein contained
that contagious pleura-pneumonia no longer exists in the United States
except in the small and unimportant area indicated, may be made in the
interest of American producers, as well as English consumers.
[Inclosure to No. 201.]
Mr. Rusk to Mr.
Blaine.
U.
S. Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D. C., February 18, 1890.
Sir: I have the honor to invite your
attention to certain regulations and prohibitory restrictions which
are enforced by a number of European Governments to the great
detriment and in some cases to the destruction of the trade in live
animals and
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meat products
from the United States, and to request that you take such action as
may be possible looking to a removal of such restrictions or their
modification in favor of American producers.
In 1879 the British Government made regulations that all cattle,
sheep, and swine from this country should be slaughtered at the
wharves within ten days from time of landing. The effect of this
order is to entirely exclude store cattle and sheep shipped for
fattening purposes, and it considerably reduces the amount which can
be realized for fat animals, because these can not be held until
they have recovered from the effects of the voyage, and also because
the buyers know that they must be disposed of within a limited
time.
The order in regard to cattle was issued on account of the existence
of the contagious pleuro-pneumonia of cattle in this country, but
since its issuance this disease has been almost entirely eradicated.
It no longer exists in any section from which export steers are
obtained, and it is confined to two counties on Long Island and one
in New Jersey, all of which are in strict quarantine. The stock
yards which might have been contaminated have been thoroughly
disinfected, and there is no longer danger of exporting the
contagion of this disease.
During the year 1889 a number of cases of pleuro-pneumonia were
reported by the English inspectors among cattle landed from the
United States, but this Department regards such reports as based
upon errors of diagnosis, for the reasons given above. This
conclusion is considered the more evident because the returns which
have been received show that in the greater number of cases but a
single animal was found affected in any one cargo, which would be
unlikely with a contagious disease. It is also admitted by most
veterinarians that there are seldom any typical characters found in
contagious pleuro-pneumonia which enable the inspectors to
distinguish it from the sporadic or noncontagious inflammation
involving the same organs.
In all such cases the diagnosis must be based upon a history of
contagion or upon the discovery of a number of animals in the same
lot which are similarly affected, a fact which indicates contagion.
In the case reported by the English inspectors during 1889 there has
neither been a history of contagion nor a sufficient proportion
found affected to indicate a contagious disease. It would,
therefore, seem highly probable that the disease observed in these
steers was the result of injuries or exposure incident to the
voyage.
As a preliminary measure for securing information in regard to the
character of the disease found in the American cattle slaughtered in
England, I would suggest that the Department of State make
arrangements with the English Government by which one or more of the
veterinary inspectors of this Department can be stationed at the
English “foreign animals’ wharves.” These inspectors would observe
any affected animal which might be discovered, and by promptly
notifying this Department it would be possible to trace the history
of such animals and determine definitely if they had ever been
exposed to a contagious disease.
The thorough control which is now maintained over the small areas
affected with pleuro-pneumonia in this country and the near approach
of the time when this disease will be entirely eradicated, make it
desirable that negotiations should be begun looking to the
withdrawal of the British restrictions. The time is opportune for
this, since the Scotch and English farmers are agitating to secure
the same result so that they can obtain cattle for feeding from the
United States. Their present supply comes mostly from Ireland, where
prices are much higher than here and where the danger from
pleuro-pneumonia is incomparably greater.
The restrictions on the importation of sheep into Great Britain were
based upon the alleged importation of foot-and-mouth disease from
this country. As this disease has never existed in the United
States, except in two or three instances when cattle landed from
England were found affected by it, and as it has never been allowed
to spread here, it is evident that the sheep in question must have
contracted the disease on vessels that had previously been infected
by English cattle. The restrictions are, consequently, a great
injustice, and should have been removed long ago. Their effect upon
the trade is seen by reference to the statistics of the English
agricultural department, which show that in 1879 the number of sheep
imported from the United States was 119,350, and that it rapidly
decreased until in 1888 it was but 1,203, though in 1889 it
increased, according to the statistics of the United States Treasury
Department, to 18,877.
The German regulations in regard to American cattle, as communicated
in your favor of December 3, 1889, prevent the development of a
profitable trade with that country. The single shipment made there
last year yielded good returns, but the statement that was
immediately telegraphed here to the effect that further imports of
American cattle had been prohibited at once arrested all efforts in
that direction. While any quarantine of our cattle is an unjust
requirement, a four weeks’ detention would seem to be entirely
unnecessary with cattle designed for immediate slaughter. Probably
if this matter were brought to the attention of the German
Government more favorable regulations could be obtained. At all
events the State Department
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could be of service to the cattle industry of this country by
obtaining exact information as to the regulations which would be
enforced against cattle landed for slaughter. There appears to be,
at present, considerable uncertainty as to whether such animals are
entirely prohibited, or whether they may be landed and go to any
part of the Empire after four weeks of quarantine, or whether such
quarantine must necessarily be enforced with animals that might be
at once slaughtered at the port of landing.
There have also been press telegrams from Germany which stated that
American dressed beef and canned meats either had been or were about
to be excluded. I would suggest that you obtain reliable information
in regard to this matter and take such steps as you may consider
proper to protect the interests of our exporters.
The prohibition of American pork by both Germany and France is still
continued, notwithstanding the demonstrated healthfulness of this
article of food. This regulation was made with a view of preventing
trichinosis among consumers, but it has been shown that no case of
this disease was ever produced in either country by American meats;
indeed, the curing process through which all exported meats must
pass is a sufficient safeguard against this disease. The surplus of
meat-producing animals in the United States at present is such that
prices are below the cost of production, and consequently it is
extremely important that we should increase our exports of live
animals and meat products, if this can possibly be accomplished.
Any further information on this subject in the possession of this
Department which you may desire will be promptly supplied.
Very respectfully,
