442 
days. The fourth continued in a thriving condition. A Dutch cow, imported 
in 1852, was the next one observed ill, early in the month of August following, 
and she succumbed on the 20th. “ Several other animals were taken sick in 
rapid succession, and then it was that the idea was first advanced that the dis- 
ease was identical with that known in Europe as epizootic pleuro-pneumonia.” 
Mr. Chenery then did all in his power to prevent the spread of disease from his 
farm. The last case at the Highland farm, Belmont, occurred on the 8th of 
January, 1860. 
In June, 1859, Curtis Stoddard, of North Brookfield, bought three young 
cattle, one bull and two heifers, from Mr. Chenery. One calf showed signs of 
sickness on the way home. Leonard Stoddard, father of Curtis, thinking he 
could better treat this sick calf, took it to his own barn, where he had 48 head, 
exclusive of calves, and with which the calf mingled. One animal after another 
was attacked, till the 12th of April, when 13 head had died, and most of the 
remainder were sick. The disease continued to spread from farm to farm as . 
rapidly as circumstances favored the admixture of stock. The period of incu- 
bation in well defined cases varied from 19 to 36 days, and averaged 26% days. 
The people of Massachusetts, a little slow at first, overcame the delays inci- 
dent to legislation, established a commission for the purpose of exterminating 
the disease, and an appropriation of $10,000 was placed under the control of the 
commissioners on the 4th of April, 1860. The disease was gaining ground 
rapidly, and a bill to extirpate the disease passed its several stages and was 
approved on the same day. Commissioners were appointed; herds were ex- 
amined by surgeons, and, if infected, slaughtered; the animals pronounced 
healthy at the time of inspection alone paid for ; all the money appropriated was 
spent, and such was the feeling then in Massachusetts that private gentlemen 
made themselves responsible for a second amount of nearly $20,000. An extra 
session of the legislature met on the 13th of May. Fresh powers were sought 
and obtained, additional commissioners appointed, and the disease apparently 
exterminated. Itreappeared in 1861,a new board of commissioners was appointed, 
and further successful efforts made to prevent the disease. On the 24th of De- 
cember, 1863, Mr. Charles L. Flint, in a letter to Governor Andrew, asserted 
that pleuro-pneumonia still existed in 12 or 15 towns of the commonwealth of 
Massachusetts. Mr. E.'T. Thayer, to whom the people of Massachusetts owe 
much for his skill and industry as the veterinary commissioner, and Mr. 
Charles P. Preston, wrote their final report to the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of Massachusetts on the 30th of December, 1867. In that report, 
and tendering their resignations to the governor, they congratulate the people 
on the success which had been insured by efficient co-operation ‘in eradicating 
one of the worst forms of contagious disease which has been found among 
cattle.” 
From numerous inquiries there is not the slightest doubt in my mind that the 
lung disease continued, ever since its first introduction, to attack some of the 
numerous dairies on Long Island. One of the best informed dairymen in Brook- 
lyn informed me that, three months after starting in business, 16 years ago, he 
lost 11 out of 12 cows he had purchased in Newark, New Jersey. He bought 
more and began to inoculate with excellent results. . Other people were losing, 
and he established himself on Jamaica Pond to be clear of every one. When 
he stopped inoculating the disease reappeared. Mr. Benjamin Babbit, of Lafay- 
ette avenue, was the first to inoculate after the introduction of this practice in 
Enrope, and many dairymen adopted it. The board of health opposed the 
practice, as many of the cows lost portions of the tail, and reports were made 
of blood and matter finding their way into the milk-pail. The disease has 
never ceased, and I have visited many dairies, in all of which at one time or 
another and in most of which during the present year, the disease has pre- 
vailed. In five dairies I examined, within 100 yards of each other, I found 
