374 THE MEANS OF PREVENTION. 



a herd, causing perhaps the loss of but one or two out of a large 

 number of animals, and affecting the remainder to so slight a degree 

 that the layman can scarcely appreciate it, we must admit it differs 

 widely from that form which (under similar circumstances) causes a 

 mortality of fifty and sometimes sixty per cent. To the former type 

 may be traced the cause for the disputed question, Does an animal 

 once affected ever recover ? We are inclined to the negative side 

 of the question : after having destroyed a number of cases that have 

 passed through a mild attack of the malady, we have found upon 

 examination lung lesions generally in an encapsulated form. 



These cases we are willing to admit are perfectly safe to mingle 

 in a herd, so long as the capsule walling up the disease-germs re- 

 mains intact, but if it should break down, a condition we may very 

 reasonably look for, and those germs be allowed to escape, shall we 

 not have another outbreak ? If it is true, as claimed, that the dis- 

 ease-germs are imprisoned and lie dormant in the lung for months, 

 even years, the question very naturally presents itself, Do they in 

 the mean time lose their infecting principle? Until this vexed 

 question is settled beyond doubt, we advise as a means of preven- 

 tion the destruction of all such cases. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



James C. Coelies, D. Y. S. 



To General W. H. Sterling, 249 Washington Street, Jersey City, N. J. 



The following is a summary of the work accomplished : Number 

 of cattle inspected, 40,309 ; diseased, 572, of which 315 were de- 

 stroyed. 



It will be seen from this report that " dealers " in cattle are a 

 source of great trouble to those intrusted with the execution of laws 

 against contagious animal diseases. 



I wish also to express my earnest opposition to inoculation, so 

 far as it may be advocated as a preventive means for this country. 

 Were it absolutely necessary that every head of cattle in this coun- 

 try should have the disease, either in a natural or artificial form, in 

 order to put a stop to its ravages, then this procedure would be jus- 

 tifiable. At present it is not. The disease has not as yet acquired 

 any very devastating extension, although, from the want of really 

 competent veterinarians, it is doubtful if we know exactly to what 

 decree it has extended in all the States where it is now domesticated. 

 We shall know in time to our cost. Were our people so educated 

 that they could really appreciate the truly devastating character of 

 this animal pest ; were our legislators at all adequate to the demands 



