326 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



At this time we found that one ox had been killed and buried by 

 Mr. Williams, as also a cow belonging to Capt. Seaman had been 

 disposed of in a similar manner. Another cow of Mr. Williams 

 was found to be seriously afflicted, and the remaining three animals, 

 including Molly Lathrop 3d, were pronounced by the veterinarians 

 as affected with some lung difficulty, undoubtedly pleuro-pneu- 

 monia, and the immediate slaughter of the whole herd was advised. 

 Owing to the obstacles thrown in our way by Mr. Williams, we 

 were unable to secure an appraisal or to make any arrangement 

 to accomplish this object. 



August 29th, Dr. D. E. Salmon, Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington, visited the herd, and endeavored to purchase the sur- 

 viving sick ox of Mr. Williams for pathological examination, but 

 failed to make any terms. 



Sept. 7th the Commission again visited Salem, accompanied by 

 Drs. Thayer, Salmon, Rice, and Parkinson. At this time, though 

 the veterinarians were all agreed as to the nature of the malady, 

 we failed to get an appraisal, so that the fact could be settled by a 

 post-mortem examination. One assessor was sick, and another, 

 after notice, absented himself from his place of business and could 

 not be found. 



We arranged to make another effort Sept. 10th and 11th, and 

 found the sick animals locked in the barn, so that we could not 

 get access to them. 



Returning to Colchester, on consultation we decided to send a 

 special messenger, who served written notices upon each of the 

 assessors to meet at Mr, Williams's to appraise the cattle. We also 

 sent notice to Mr. Williams to unlock his barn and have his cattle 

 ready for our inspection. 



This notice was not served, as Mr. Williams refused to admit the 

 messenger. On our arrival on the morning of the 12th, we were 

 told that Mr. Williams had gone to New York. The barns were 

 still locked and in charge of Mr. Williams, his brother. 



He proposed that he would open the barn and consent to the ap- 

 praisal of one animal for slaughter, provided the Commissioners 

 would engage to go no further. This proposition was promptly re- 

 jected, and we notified him that we should make no compromise, 

 but should enter the barn. We found that the assessors would not 

 act at all, except on the proposition of Mr. Williams to slaughter 

 but one animal. 



