250 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Albany. The number which died with the disease was twenty- 

 seven or about one in a hundred. 



Owing to neglect in making the returns, the exact extent of the 

 losses it has occasioned can only be approximately ascertained. 

 But from the data received we feel justified in saying that the 

 losses by injury to the infected stock, the total interruption of 

 some branches of the cattle and milk trade, and the inability 

 to employ oxen as working teams during the prevalence of the 

 disease, must have occasioned an aggregate loss to the commu- 

 nity of at least a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The 

 expenses incurred by the Commissioners during the year, as 

 shown by the auditor's books, is three thousand one hundred 

 and fifty-seven dollars and sixty-nine cents ($3,157.69). A 

 part of this sum, though shown on the books of this year, was 

 expended in 1870, on the occasion of the appearance of a singu- 

 lar malady in southern Berkshire, supposed to be contagious. 

 Of the appropriation made by the legislature this year, one 

 thousand eight hundred and forty-two dollars and thirty-one 

 cents ($1,812.31) remain unexpended. 



Epizootic Aphtha, Epizootic Eczema, Foot-and-Mouth Disease. 



This disease first made its appearance in England in 1839, 

 and it is generally believed to have been introduced from the 

 Continent. 



It has prevailed, more or less, since ; yet while restrictions 

 were in force (during the prevalence of rinderpest), preventing 

 the moving and traffic in cattle, foot-and-mouth disease and 

 pleuro-pneumonia were almost totally unheard of, isolated cases 

 only occurring. Since the restrictions were removed, both dis- 

 eases have prevailed and great losses have been sustained. 



The first known outbreak in this State occurred at Brighton, 

 among a lot of cattle which were being fattened ; inability to 

 eat, with a great flow of saliva, and lameness, were the symp- 

 toms. As they appeared to lose flesh rapidly, all were slaugh- 

 tered and sent to market. 



As the owners were ignorant of the nature of the disease, no 

 precautions were taken. Other cattle were placed in the yards 

 where the diseased had been kept, and sold to go to different 

 places, carrying the malady which was contracted by being in 

 those yards (in some cases but a few hours) wherever they went. 



