242 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



rested, but never cured. It often happens that cattle are sold appear- 

 ing well, and when slaughtered the lung is found diseased. Some- 

 times in the centre of an apparently healthy lung, a diseased portion 

 is found which is dead and insulated by nature from the living part, 

 being surrounded by a layer of lymph. In no case was the mischief 

 done by the disease upon the lung, ever repaired. When does its 

 contagion cease ? is a question upon which there has been much 

 discussion, and which is still undecided. As soon as the animal 

 sickened, the disease was contagious. If it was arrested, it was 

 not easy to say how soon the animal might safely mix with others. 

 The legislature might with much benefit to the country, take this 

 matter up. On the continent, the measures taken by governments 

 had done much to stay the ravages of the disease. In some coun- 

 tries, if a herd was affected, it was compulsory to separate it imme- 

 diately ; the proprietor was compensated by government, whose 

 ofiScers took possession of the herd. Those badly diseased, were 

 slaughtered, and those that were not affected, or had recovered, 

 were branded on the horn, so as to be always known. By the adop- 

 tion of such measures as these, much had been done to lessen the 

 severity of the scourge. 



The principles of treatment : These could only be properly put 

 into operation by a veterinary surgeon. As a farmer himself, and 

 addressing farmers, he would recommend when the disease was decid- 

 ed, to spend nothing in physic. Get rid of tlie beasts as soon as pos- 

 sible. The first loss is the best." 



This Lung Murrian is both epidemic and contagious, like small 

 Pox. At times it will rage with greater violence than at others, 

 and sometimes nearly subside. 



Its continued existence abroad being known, both in England, 

 Holland and other countries of Europe, its contagious and fatal 

 character being fully established, it behoovs us to be constantly 

 on our guard against future introduction of so dreadful a disease. 

 It would doubtless be a wise measure for Congress to establish 

 some quarantine rcgnlationn, and -enforce a rigid inspection of such 

 animals as may be imported in future ; and may T not suggest that 

 it would be wise for the legislature of this State to enact a general 

 law applicable to any cases where a deadly contagious disease should 

 appear among cattle, thus threatening the most important interest 

 of the State. The loss of our herds would be nothing short of a 

 death blow to the agriculture of the State. 



S. L. GOODALE. 

 Secretary of the Board of Agriculture. 



Augusta, Jan. 16, 1861. 



