6 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 



Iii addition to the pens and stables a large cliickeii-house, 25 feet in 

 length by 12 feet in width, has been provided for experiments with con- 

 tagions diseases incident to fowls. A small building, midway between 

 the pens and stables, has been fitted np for post-mortem examinations, 

 and is supplied with all the necessary instruments for making autopsies. 



A brick dwelling house, about 40 feet square and two stories in height, 

 is located near the northern extremity of the grounds, and is occupied 

 by W. H. Eose, V. S., superintendent of the Station. The w^ater for the 

 Station is supplied by two excellent wells conveniently located. Plates 

 I, II, and III, accompanying this report, give accurate views of the 

 buildings and grounds from different points. 



INVESTIGATIONS OF PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



Xo systematic inspection of cattle has yet been made in the District 

 of Columbia, but we have secured a number of sick cows which have 

 been slaughtered and examined in order to determine the nature of the 

 disease from which they were suffering. Other cases have been brought 

 to our attention by Dr. Townsheud, the able health officer of the District, 

 in regard to which we have made all the investigations that were pos- 

 sible. During the year we have in this way found the disease in ten 

 stables in which more than one cow was kept, and in three others in 

 which the diseased animal was the only one owned. In one stable two 

 have died ; in a second, one had died and two were sick ; in a third, 

 five had died and six were more or less affected ; in a fourth, two had 

 been lost; in a fifth, six had been lost ; in a sixth, five had died ; in a 

 seventh, three had died ; and in the remaining three stables the loss, so 

 far as we are aware, has been one animal each. 



The total number of animals referred to above is twenty-seven which 

 have died, and eight which were sick at inspection. In these cases the 

 symptoms and post-mortem appearances of the animals examined were 

 those of contagious pleuropneumonia, and the history, when it could 

 be obtained, also pointed in this direction. The following instance is 

 an illustration of this : 



A cow belonging to Mrs. Flanigan, of Benning's road, was discovered 

 sick, May 22, 1883. The symptoms were a severe, dry cough emacia- 

 tion, arched back, extended head, and turning out of the elbows. Per- 

 cussion and auscultation showed that there was dullness and loss of 

 respiratory murmur over the right lung. 



This animal was preserved until August 27, and then slaughtered. 

 The anterior portion of the right lung was found to contain a large 

 encysted mass of hcpati/ed lung tissue, tally 5 inches in diameter, 

 which was beginning to disiutegrate aud break down into pus. The 



