EPIZOOTIC IN HORSES. 445 



and judicious nursing and the free use of disinfectants, rather than 

 a high degree of veterinary skill. 



Although compartively few animals died, all classes of people, 

 all industries and all branches of business dependent upon the 

 services of this useful beast were seriously embarrassed ; and 

 both the direct and indirect losses were far from trivial. Regard- 

 ing the causes of its origin, of its spread, of its assuming the 

 epizootic form, of its wonderfully rapid progress in some direc- 

 tions^ and slow progress in others, and of the unusual sequelae 

 which sometimes followed it, we can state almost nothing- with 

 certainty. Regarding two of its lessons there can be no mistake ; 

 first, in respect to our dependence upon this useful and valuable 

 animal for many of accustomed comforts of civilized life ; and 

 second, that viewed from a merely pecuniary standpoint, from the 

 lowest and least worthy considerations equally as in respect to 

 higher motives, it is good policy to treat the horse kindly and well; 

 that it is quite as profitable to attend to his wants and his com- 

 forts as to exact service from him, and that abuse and neglect are 

 equally extravagant and wicked. The same lesson is a pertinent 

 one in respect to #11 animals which man has taken from the condi- 

 tions of nature and subjected tp those of domestication. If there 

 be one where penalty for disobedience uniformly comes quicker 

 and pecuniarily heavier than in others it is the milch cow. 



Three years ago the attention of the legislature was directed to 

 the need of a revision of the statutes granting bounty to agricul- 

 tural societies. At the time of its first enactment the present 

 statute met the necessary requirements in a more satisfactory 

 manner than in some cases which have arisen since. One of the 

 instances named in my remarks above referred to, in the Report for 

 1869, was afterward met by a special act for the purpose, but 

 although undoubtedly not so intended, that act, while providing 

 for the emergency, rather increased the chronic inequality of divis- 

 ion and distribution before existing, and which was a well 



