443 
one or two sick cows in each. The Hartford Insurance Company, which has 
recently suspended operations, lost heavily on the insurance of cows from the 
prevalence of this disease, and that company objected also to the practice of 
inoculation. 
From Mr. Bedell’s statement, there is no doubt of the existence of the contagious 
pleuro-pneumonia in New Jersey when he first bought his cattle. Mr. Robert 
Jennings, veterinary surgeon, had his attention drawn to the disease on its appear- 
ance in Camden and Gloucester counties, New Jersey, in the year 1859. In 
1860 it crossed the Delaware river into Philadelphia, spreading very rapidly in 
all directions, particularly in the southern section of the country known as “ The 
Neck’”—many of the dairymen losing from one-third to one-half of their herds. 
The sale of sick cattle continued, as it always does, unless prevented by rigid 
laws. In 1861 the malady appeared in Delaware, and in Burlington county, 
New Jerséy, and the disease could be distinctly traced to the Philadelphia 
market. 
The records of outbreaks are by no means satisfactory, but a gentleman well 
known in Maryland, Mr. Martin Goldsborough, informs me that the malady has 
been very destructive on many farms of that State for the past three years. 
Individuals have lost their entire herds, in some cases numbering 24, 30, and 
as high as 47 head. Last year an effort was made to direct the attention of the 
legislature in Maryland with a view to the adoption of successful measures, but 
without effect: Mr. Goldsborough’s statement is to the effect that the disease 
in Maryland is due to the purchase of cattle in the Philadelphia market. 
There is no doubt of the great prevalence of the malady for some years in 
Philadelphia. I have seen it on two farms in Delaware county, and it has been 
on several others recently. Bucks county has suffered much for two years. A 
correspondent informs me that in March, 1867, a drove of cows was taken into 
that county, and one of them was observed sick. ‘These animals were dis- 
tributed among the farmers and soon the plague appeared in all directions. An 
effort was made then to secure the aid of the State’ legislature, without effect, 
and to this day the disease is in Bucks county. ‘The last case I have to report 
is at Newtown, Bucks county, where the disease was introduced by cows bought 
in the Philadelphia market. 
That the malady has attained such proportions as to demand constant atten- 
tion, apart from the fact that but one case on the whole continent is a source 
of incalculable danger, is proved by a circular recently issued by gentlemen in 
Westchester, Pennsylvania, and which is of sufficient importance to be repro- 
duced here: 
PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.—The great increase in the disease known as pleuro-pneumonia 
among cattle within a few years past, its highly contagious character and the acknowledged 
inability of the most skilful veterinary surgeons to control or in the least mitigate its severity 
in certain stages of the disease, calls for immediate and earnest attention from the com-’ 
munity. It is a well known fact that the cupidity of many induce them as soon as the dis- 
ease develops itself on their premises to hurry off their stock (diseased as well as those not 
diseased) to the nearest drove yard, to be there sold for whatever they will bring; to be 
either sold as food or driven off to new sections and there to infect and poison other animals 
with which they may come in contact. 
With the view of arresting this increasing and wide-spreading evil, the undersigned, a 
committee of the ‘* Mutual Live Stock Insurance Company of Chester County,” an institution 
established purely for mutual assistance and protection, respectfully invite your co-operation 
in procuring such action at the hands of our next legislature, by the passage of a law 
authorizing the appointment of a suitable number of qualified and conscientious inspectors 
throughout the State, whose duty it shall be to examine thoroughly all animals, especially 
those offered for sale, wherever they may be; and subjecting those offering such diseased 
animals to both fine and imprisonment, and to take such other measures as may be deemed 
necessary to effect the entire extirpation of the disease from our midst. 
I ean corroborate the statements made as to the sale of cattle that are infected. 
Not only has this occurred often where the disease has been moat rife for years 
past, as on Long Island, but recently, in making inquiries in Delaware county, 
