SECRETAKY'S REPORT. 203 



Pleuro-Pneumonia. 



At the last session of the Legislature, a law was enacted con- 

 cerning contagious diseases in cattle, having special reference 

 to the disease known as Pleuro-Pneumonia, which, a few years 

 ago was imported into Massachusetts, where it created much 

 'alarm and caused serious loss. I refer to this law at this time, in 

 order to correct misapprehensions which seem to prevail regarding 

 it. I have been repeatedly notified during the past season, that 

 this disease or one similar, had broken out. Upon examination no 

 symptoms of it whatever appeared. The alarm was entirely un- 

 founded. Disease in various forms existed, but no reason to be- 

 lieve it contagious in any case. There is no reason to believe that 

 the disease known abroad as Pleuro-Pneumonia exists, or ever has 

 existed in Maine ; and there is no ground for believing that it will 

 ever arise spontaneously in this State. But there is danger that 

 it may, at any time, be introduced by means of infected cattle. It 

 does exist in several of the States, and it prevails extensively in 

 England, Scotland, and on the continent of Europe. There is less 

 talk about it there than formerly, because it is found to lessen the 

 market value and checks the sales of breeding animals to be ex- 

 ported. Last summer I saw a gentleman who had just arrived 

 fi'om abroad, and who, when he went, intended to purchase cattle 

 to bring to America. He did not carry out his intention. He 

 found the disease to exist on many farms, (although not unfre- 

 quently denied,) and in the stables of the large towns, where the 

 cattle he might purchase would be liable to be infected previous to 

 shipment, even if free from disease when bought. Precisely the 

 same reasons prevented Mr. Barberie in 1860, from fulfilling his 

 mission. He was appointed agent of the New Brunswick Board 

 of Agriculture, to visit England and purchase cattle for importation 

 to the Province for purposes of improvement, with funds granted 

 for the purpose by the Provincial Legislature. He found the dis- 

 ease to exist so extensively that he was unwilling to incur the risk 

 of introducing it. He stated the facts in detail in a very interest- 

 ing letter to the Chairman of the Board, which is published in 

 their report for this year. 



