SECRETARY'S REPORT. 29 



circumstances of the western continent, has yet to be written. 

 This is said in no disparaging- spirit, but is simply expressive of the 

 little that has yet been attempted, in comparison with the greatness 

 of the work to do ; and if any one dovibts its truth, let him point 

 out the publications that exist to disprove it. In all of them that 

 the author has seen (he says) the descriptions of diseases are too 

 palpably English to be applicable to American circumstances ; 

 while the modes of treatment prescribed, wherever originality has 

 been attempted, are too American to be of use in any but the 

 slightest cases, or those that would do better if left by themselves.' 



In connection with Dr. Cuming's name, and the existing poverty 

 of veterinary knowledge which is ours, and with a thought upon 

 the constant and incalculable good we might have from the pres- 

 ence of an educated practitioner of this art, your committee desire 

 to call the attention of the Board to the results already known to 

 all, from the article on Horse Shoeing, written by this thorough 

 veterinary surgeon, and published in our report of 1857, the merits 

 of which are very widely recognized. Who of ^s can doubt, that 

 the gain of dollars to this State from the information imparted by 

 that single paper, is suflScient to give a handsome support to such 

 a man, if ft could be gathered and devoted to this object ? and who 

 can estimate the gain which would accrue to us by his constant 

 residence here? Losses, to have been thus avoided, have occurred 

 within the observation of each member of your committee, which 

 would have amounted to a very considerable sum, to be counted 

 by hundreds, if not by thousands of dollars. 



And to a few hints dropped by Dr. Cuming while inspecting the 

 neat stock of one member, he is indebted for a most decided im- 

 provement in rearing his young animals, so that by his present 

 practice he obtains results in one year which before his interview 

 with that able man required two. 



Such being the views of your committee, they would urge the 

 Board to adopt the resolve, * That the need of veterinary science in 

 Maine is such as to demand earnest efforts to secure its benefits.' " 

 J. F. Anderson, E. L. Hammond, W. E. Drummond, Com. 



Mr. Dill said that in no department of agriculture was there a 

 greater want than in that to which the report related. Our cattle 

 were sick of all manner of diseases, and without a remedy. The 

 loss of property from the prevailing ignorance was not the worst 

 result. Men were tempted to sell their sick cattle to drovers, 

 where the disease was of such a character as to be hidden from 



