KEPOKT OP THE STATISTICIAN. 105 



The high prices of liorsea in the Middle States are much reduced. 

 The decliue has been greater in the South than in the West. 



The price of cattle in Texas has not materially declined, nor in Mis- 

 souri, Kansas, or Nebraska ; but the high ibices that have prevailed 

 in Iowa and Minnesota have been somewhat reduced. There is little 

 change in prices in Illinois, but more in the States farther east. A 

 great decline has taken place in California, from the scarcity of feed and 

 pasturage during the past year. 



An increase in numbers of swine is noticed in several States ; for par- 

 ticulars of which see the accompanying table. 



CONDITION OF FARM-ANIMALS. 



Eeturns of the condition of farm-animals indicate a general state of 

 health and thrift above average. Feed has been abundant, except 

 in sections where little or no precaution is taken to store up hay for 

 winter. Excei)t among hogs, there has been no prevalent epizootic, and 

 local diseases reported are mainly either lingerings of chronic ailments 

 or euphemisms for emaciation and death occasioned by want of proper 

 food and attention. 



Horses. — Horses have enjoyed a general exemption from unusual 

 diseases. Mild forms of cateirrhal disease, with occasional cases of lung- 

 fever, are reported from northern latitudes ; and from the South more 

 frequent mention of similar diseases and local losses from blind-stag- 

 gers — less frequently from glanders j and in the Mississippi Yailey a few 

 cases of charbon. 



Cattle.-No county reports acondition below averageinNew England, 

 and only one in each of the Middle States. In the Southern States'the 

 condition has been better than usual for that section ; but the cruelty 

 and bad economy of neglecting due provision for shelter and winter- 

 feeding are quite apparent. The old story is repeated of exposure and 

 starvation, resulting in deaths on an extensive scale, and in far greater 

 losses from emaciation, engendered disease, and retarded growth in the 

 surviving. Facts show that in many localities in the mild and produc- 

 tive South Atlantic States stock-raising is far less profitable than in the 

 extreme Northern States, where the cold of winter is intense and cattle 

 have to be fed from the barn six to eight months in the year. The 

 obvious reason is that in the latter States due provision is made to pre- 

 vent direct losses by death, and far greater indirect losses by emaciation, 

 weakened constitutions, and engendered diseases, and from exjjosure 

 and want. The return from. Taylor, Georgia, reijorted that from these 

 causes alone, out of a herd of 500, 150, or nearly 43 per cent., had died, 

 and they were " still dying." This is perhaps an extreme case, but other 

 localities, and not a few, report results scarcely less disastrous. In the 

 Northwest and "West a superior condition was generally reported. In 

 the five States north of the Ohio, and those west of the Mississippi, 

 scarcely one in ten of the returns have been unfavorable. 



Diseases. — The only disease extensively reported is starvation, and 

 that is confined to the mildest and most productive portions of the 

 country. No disease of any kind is reported from New England or New 

 Yock. Pleuro-pneumonia has prevailed to a limited extent in Burling- 

 ton, New Jersey, and Baltimore and Montgomery, Maryland. The prev- 

 alence of abortion and milk-fever was noted in a few localities. Black- 

 leg is reported to a limited extent from all sections of the country. 



A report from Laurens, Georgia, says : " There has been a great loss 

 of cattle from ■what owners call ' murrain;' but I think it is emaciation 



