234 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



On removing the walls of the chest of a cow which died a 

 week previous, the left lung was found consolidated, present- 

 ing the usual appearances of pneumonia ; there was no effusion 

 in the thorax, nor any evidence that pleuritis had existed. 

 After returning to the barn, a more thorough examination 

 was made of the animals ; several were found so severely 

 affected that recovery seemed impossible. The owner was 

 requested to forward the lungs to the Commissioners, of one 

 which was selected for the purpose, after the death of the 

 animal. 



The lungs were received the 14th day after the examination 

 and were examined, presenting the same general appearance 

 as the one examined at the farm. 



The left lung was thoroughly consolidated, the right only 

 about one-third ; the remainder appeared normal ; the inter- 

 lobular tissue was not thickened, as was always found in the 

 case in contagious pleuro-pneumonia ; the pleural membrane 

 covering the lung was not inflamed and showed no evidence 

 of eflusion having at any time existed. 



In reply to inquiries, Mr. Ford writes, date June 3d : "We 

 had on the 1st of March sixty-three head of cattle, and have 

 lost twelve cows since ; seven others have slunk their calves, 

 four of which are dry. AH- the stock, except seven head, have 

 been ailing, coughing more or less ; they are all improving 

 now, we think, but they give but little milk." A letter was 

 sent to Mr. Ford on the 19th of December, soliciting a state- 

 ment of the condition of the herd at the present time. No 

 answer has been received. From the examination of the ani- 

 mals before and after death, and their history (no animal hav- 

 ing been brought to the farm from November to the time of 

 the outbreak of the disease) , it is evident that endemic pneu- 

 monia was the disease which prevailed among the cattle be- 

 longing to Mr. Ford. 



European writers report such a disease as occasionally oc- 

 curring among cattle ; yet this is the first instance which has 

 come under the observation of the writer during nearly thirty 

 years' practice among domestic animals. 



During the past year, diseases among horses have occurred, 

 of an unusual character, entailing great losses, not only to 

 horse-owners, but subjecting the whole business community 



