464 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



before it could be slaughterecl. Besides tbe expense of fe«-dii]^ all tins 

 time, his animals were positively sliriiikino- in weight— tliat wlien they 

 were finally slaughtered he was compelled to accept any price offered 

 He found dealers there who said they could afford to give from $15 to 

 $20 per head more for the animals if they were allowed to drive them 

 back into the country and slaughter them only as needed. 



During the day I met, by appointment, Secretary Edge, special agent 

 of the governor. He seemed to appreciate the fact that more thoroiigh 

 and active measures than those heretofore used are necessary for a com- 

 plete supi)ression of the plague. He thinks the better plan would be to 

 l)ay a good price for all exposed animals, and that in the country all ex- 

 posed and infected animals should be slauglitered as well as those acutely 

 diseased. Under existing circumstances he does not think it would be 

 politic for the State of Pennsylvania to thoroughly eradicate the dis- 

 ease ; indeed, he does not think this possible so long as the southern 

 border of the State is unprotected from importations from Maryland. 

 Until quarantine measures are established against this State, or the 

 State itself takes some action for the suppression of the disease within 

 its borders, the State of Pennsylvania cannot hope for success. The 

 farmers of Pennsylvania will go to the Baltimore stock -yard to buy 

 " frames," and in this way new cases are continually being brought into 

 the State. Under the present construction of the law sufficient means 

 to pay a fair indemnity cannot be obtained, and to kill even diseased 

 animals without funds to pay for them, the secretary believes would re- 

 sult disastrously, as it would prejudice the farmers against a better law, 

 which is hoped for in the near future. His policy is simply an effort to 

 keep the disease within its present limits with the destruction of as few- 

 animals as possible. Up to January 1, 1880, the secretary had expended 

 but $2,700 in repressive measures. 



On February 28, while examining some cows at the stock-yards, I 

 found an acute case of contagious pleuro-pneumonia. The affected 

 animal was in a yard with some twenty other milch cows, and all were 

 being offered for sale. This animal was seen also by Dr. Bridge. 



On March 1, while examining lungs of slaughtered animals at the 

 Philadelphia abattoir, I found one showing the well-marked lesions of 

 the plague. The butcher said the animal came from Eliuois, but it was 

 afterwards traced to Cecil County, Maryland. 



On the 2d day of March I visited Camden and learned some facts 

 relative to the extent of the plague in Kew Jersey. 



On the 3d instant I attended a meeting of the farniers and stock- 

 raisers in the infected district. The meeting was held in Philadelphia, 

 and was called for the purpose of devising means for the extirpation of 

 the plague. During the day, visited Elm Station, Montgomery County, 

 and assisted in selecting six diseased animals from Mr. Wynne's herd 

 for the purpose of post mortem examination. 



On the 4th and 5th days of March I was engaged in examining lungs 

 of slaughtered animals at the Philadelphia abattoir. I found no traces 

 of the disease, but on the 4th instant, while examining some cows at the 

 stockyards, I found a second case of the plague in an animal that came 

 from near Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania. 



The folloH-ing are the sources of infection and locations of diseased 

 herds in Pennsylvania : 



Philadelphia County. — The Philadelphia stock-yards are infected. 

 These yards are constantly receiving and sending out to different locali- 

 ties diseased and infected animals. 



