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twenty per centum from a disease commonly designated “blind staggers,” and 
other portions of the south have been severely afflicted with the same disease. 
The mortality among swine exceeds that of any other species of farm stock, 
involving a loss of not less than fifteen millions of dollars, though the extent of 
the ravages of hog cholera has been less than in previous years. Not unfre- 
quently from 1,000 to 5,000 hogs are reported to have fallen in a single county. 
In the Ohio valley and the southern States this disease has been most prevalent. 
In some localities it has discouraged the raising of this variety of farm animals, 
and in many pork producing districts it has cut off the entire surplus for ship- 
ment, leaving a scanty supply of bacon for local use. 
Tn view of such facts as these, I deem a scientific investigation of the causes 
and character of these maladies worthy of the early attention of Congress. If 
remedies may not be found for all of them, the best means of prevention can 
certainly be pointed out by veterinary science. 
I am, very respectfully, yours, 
HORACE CAPRON, Commissioner. 
Hon. Row.anp E. TROWBRIDGE. 
Chairman Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives. 
CONDITION OF FARM STOCK AT THE CLOSE OF WINTER. 
The heavy losses and depreciated value of cattle and sheep during the winter 
of 1866-’7, from insufficient feed, care, and shelter, in those partions of the 
country where good barns and constant attention are not deemed vital points iu 
stock-growing, have evidently had an influence in the direction of sound econ- 
omy, true humanity, and good husbandry. It is remarked particularly that 
greater attention than usual has been given to the care and feeding of the ani- 
mals of the farm, and the results have been satisfactory and remunerative. The 
past winter has also been peculiarly favorable to the health and comfort of 
domestic animals. The season has been long, uniform in temperature, and not 
excessively cold; and these characteristics have been more general than usual 
throughout the national area, which includes so many varieties cf climate and 
meteorological conditions. In the eastern and northern States hay was generally 
abundant; in the Ohio valley, between latitude 38 and 40 degrees, the long and 
severe drought diminished the supply of feed, so that this region of ordinary 
superabundance of forage was put for once to a severe test, and in some places 
an actual scarcity resulted. 
The necessity of barns, or efficient shelter of some description, in the entire 
area west and south of Pennsylvania, demands the immediate and urgent con- 
sideration of humane and thrifty farmers. The region of the northern Missis- 
sippi and Missouri is far better calculated for grazing and feeding of stock than 
for growing of cereals. It combines a healthy climate with a deep, fine, rich 
soil, and a long summer of high temperature, giving rampant growth to vegeta- 
tion, succulence, bulk, more straw than grain, more grass than seed, a better 
growth of green than of white crops; and its capabilities are not improved, or 
its resources utilized, by growing grain and ignoring cattle. 
In Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and to a great extent in more eastern States, 
the only barns, with few exceptions, are poles or boards forming a skeleton 
frame, covered with heavy masses of straw from the stacks, from the interior of 
which nearly all light and air are excluded, and in which horses, cattle, and 
sheep lie upon their filth, until the whole structure is a mass of rotten straw, 
mold, and reeking dampness. In some cases these rude shelters are arranged 
with some regard to cleanliness and healthfulness of stock, but most of them are 
damp, noisome, and repulsive in the extreme. The business of stock raising 
will never be sufficiently extended, or properly remunerative, till some attention, 
some expense, is bestowed upon barns and eattle sheds. 
