356 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
which he is sent, and the chances are that all the more eastern States 
will suffer in turn. The aggregate loss in such a case would be virtu- 
ally incalculable, and if the disease gained a permanent footing among 
us it would be liable to recur more or less widely at intervals of a few 
years. 
ORIGIN OF THE PRESENT OUTBREAK IN AMERICA, 
Though no unbroken chain of evidence concerning the source of the 
present outbreak is forthcoming, no one acquainted with the nature of 
the disease can for a moment doubt that it was imported from Europe. 
Though certainly prevailing in Central Europe for nearly two centuries, 
it reached Great Britain only in 1839, Denmark in 1841, and America 
in 1870. No atmospheric or climatic changes would account for such. 
results. Diseases like influenza, which appear to be due to such vi- 
‘ cissitudes, sweep over simultaneously, or nearly so, our continents and 
islands, and even ships in mid-ocean, whereas this is cireumseribed for 
centuries by a narrow sea, or well-guarded neck of land, and crosses 
only when the victims are allowed to pass. Moreover, in each of these 
cases a definite importation can be traced. Confining our remarks to 
the case of America, we have before us all the facts of our importation 
of the disease from England, in 1870. Not being at liberty to mention 
names, which would serve no good purpose, we can merely state that 
cattle shipped from an English port,in August, showed signs of the 
disease when two days at sea, passed through it on the ocean, and 
landed apparently well, but conveyed it to the stock among which they 
were placed on their arrival in Canada. Whether it spread from this 
point, or whether there was another importation, there is no evidence to 
show. Its existence at Oriskany, Oneida County, New York, was re- 
ported in September about the time of the State agricultural show at 
Utica, supposed to have been brought by Canadian cattle, but subse- 
quent inquiry has failed to afford anything more than report for this 
alleged origin. Atdifferent times from the 15th of November to the 7th 
of December it was brought into Dutchess County, New York, by five 
separate droves from Albany, which had been carried last on the 
New York Central Railroad. It prevailed extensively, and caused great 
losses at Amenia, Pawling, South Dover, Dover Plains, and La Grange. 
From Dutchess County it was conveyed into Connecticut, and spread 
widely in New Milford, Sherman, and Kent. From Albany it was con- 
veyed in a drove to the valley of the Connecticut River, and spread in 
the towns of Hadley, Hatfield, Northampton, and East Hampton. Cat- 
tle from Albany also conveyed the disease to Brighton, Massachusetts, 
and spread it extensively around Boston, at Concord, Ipswich, Newbury- 
port, Acton, Sudbury, &c., reaching at-some points into New Hamp- 
shire. It has more recently gained a footing in Rensselaer County, 
New York. 
TREATMENT. 
Unéer this head little need be said. Keeping the bowels open by 
soft diet, or, if necessary, mild laxatives, administering nourishing 
gruels if the animal threatens to sink, and keeping the seat of eruption 
serupuiously clean, will usually suffice. No vaunted preparations for 
the cure of the disease will really cut it short, as it passes through its 
successive stages, and terminates in recovery in ten to fifteen days, the 
time at which the venders of specifics claim that a cure can be effected. 
A dry floor must be secured, with perfect cleanliness, and the sores may 
be washed daily with a preparation of one part of carbolie acid dis- 
solved in fifty or a hundred parts of water. For the teats, glycerine 
