REPORT OF TTTE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, 23 



Tabular statement showing the quantity and kind of seed issued, «|-c. — Continued. 



VETERINARY DIVISION— DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 



Investigation of tlie diseases of domesticated animals instituted and 

 conducted under the direction of tlie department has not been entirely 

 confined to diseases of a purely infectious and contagious character, but 

 embraced others of a well-known malignant and fatal nature. While 

 the facts and information elicited are of the most interesting and import- 

 ant character, much yet remains to be positively determined before the 

 work can be regarded as complete. The most valuable point thus far 

 settled is that the disease so long known throughout the entire length 

 and breadth of the country as " hog cholera " is a disease accompanied 

 by few choleraic symptoms, is a purely infectious and contagious malady, 

 and is communicated from one animal to another as aU such diseases are, 

 either by inoculation or by contact. This being the case, notwithstand- 

 ing no remedies have as yet been discovered, the annual losses resulting 

 from the malady among this class of animals will be greatly lessened by 

 the measures taken by farmers and stock-raisers to prevent the commu- 

 nication of the disease from affected to healthy herds. Indeed, the good 

 results of this investigation have already been felt in a marked degree, 

 as the correspondents of the department report a great diminution of the 

 disease during the past summer as compared with previous years. 



In most cases this is attributable to better care of the animals, and to 

 such precautionary and preventive measures as have been advised by 

 those who have had charge of this iuvestigatiou. In no respect has 

 tlie fatal and destructive character of the disease changed, but it has 

 been less widespread and general than in former years. It is confidently 

 hoped that the experiments now being conducted under the direction of 

 the department, and wliich are in charge of able veterinary surgeons, 



