432 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Britain. "Countries which had been free from the disease for 

 many years were visited, and it may be said that from the shores 

 of the German Ocean and the Baltic to those of the Black Sea 

 scarcely a single country escaped." 



The wide-spread pi'evalence of this disease* both in Great Britain 

 and on the Continent of Europe, induced the authorities here to 

 adopt precautionary measures against its introduction into the 

 United States ; and strict regulations issued from the Treasury 

 Department, to be enforced by Custom House officers. 



We know, from personal experience that these were rigidly 

 adhered to at Portland, and undoubtedly equal care has been ex- 

 ercised at many other ports of entry. But the disease has appeared 

 in this country ; and its introduction is said to be traced to the 

 importation of two sick animals from Liverpool into Canada in 

 August last. From these it has spread in various directions and 

 to a wide extent. About the middle of November a drove of cattle, 

 bought in Albany, N. Y., were taken in the cars to Poughkeepsie, 

 and being thence di^ven East left it in their path and carried it 

 into Connecticut. It appears also to have been carried to Brighton, 

 Mass., by Canadian cattle, whence it has spread into many towns 

 in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. 



It remains to be seen whether the climatic and other conditions 

 in this country, at this time, or at any future time, are as favora- 

 ble to its development as in Europe ; and inasmuch as cattle dis- 

 eases have been usually less rife here than abroad, we may, not 

 unreasonably, hope for a larger degree of immunity. Thus far we 

 have escaped the Rinderpest, or cattle plague. Pleuro Pneumonia 

 has existed in the swill-milk stables near New York city for many 

 years, and although few animals leave these stables except to be 

 slaughtered, or in charge of the scavanger, yet some have left, 

 and its spread in this way has been neither so rapid nor extensive 

 as might have been anticipated. About ten years ago the same 

 disease was directly imported into Massachusetts from Europe, 

 but the efforts made for its suppression, although, costly, were 



* The (London) Veterinarian for December, speaking of this disease, says : "At tho 

 date of our report for the month of October, fifty-three counties in Great Britain were 

 returned as having 3,002 centres of infection of this disease, while at the corresponding 

 date for November we find that, although reports have been received from fifty-four 

 counties, the centres of the malady have been lessened by 248. This diminution affords 

 encouragement for hope that the malady is again on the wane." 



