CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 1 7 



fected is not known. Seven herds, at last accounts, were in quarantine; and as all 

 were large herds, containing from 40 to 70 cattle, a large number of animals were 

 exposed. 



Inoculation was extensively practiced to check the fatality; but, in spite of this, 

 reliable authority places the loss at over 50 head. 



In Pennsylvania there has recently been another very extensive outbreak, which 

 was the result of taking a car-load of 14 cows from the Calvert stock-yards in Balti- 

 more to Chester County. Most of these cows were taken into large dairy herds, 

 which they thoroughly infet^ted. In each of these cases the Baltimore cows were the 

 first to sicken, and a large proiiortiou of the native cattle were soon affected with the 

 same disease. These herds were visited the 3d of October by the Veterinarian of the 

 Department of Agriculture, in compauy with the State authorities, who killed 8 

 of the animals in his presence in order to satisfy him as to the nature of the disease. 

 The cases were typical cases of pleurorpneamouia, and all those appearances were 

 present which were recently accepted by the International Veterinary Congress held 

 at Brussels as characteristic of contagious pleuro-pueumonia. In most cases a whole 

 lung was hepatized; the inflammation was of different ages, showing the jirogressive 

 character of the disease; the interlobular tissue was greatly distended with the exu- 

 dation, and the pleurisy was intense. According to an official report, dated October 30, 

 the number of animals known to have been exposed was 104, and the number of sick 

 ones that had been killed or had died was 46. A semi-official report of the present 

 hionth ])laces the number destroyed at 70. It is now believed that the disease has 

 been entirely overcome, and that the State of Penasylvania is free from it. 



In Maryland and the District of Columbia there are many infected herds in which 

 a comparatively large number t>f auinuils annually coutract the disease. Uy direction 

 of the Commissioner of Agriculture a reliable Inspector was sent to Baltimore late, 

 in October, to learn the condition of the stables there as regards this disease. 



Nineteen stables, containing 39'S animals, were examined. In twelve of these the 

 infection was admitted; one had lost more than 200 animals within three years; 

 others had lost heavily for years; 12 sick animals were found, 18 recent deaths were 

 admitted, and 3 sick cows had just been sold or exchanged. This number of sta- 

 bles comprises but a small part of those in the vicinity of Baltimore, but it is believed 

 that the number is sufficient to demonstrate the presence and dangerous character of 

 the disease. We have no information of pleuro-pueumonia in the country districts of 

 Maryland at any great distance from the cities. 



One or more herds uear the District of Columbia have recently lost a number of 

 cows, audat latest accounts had some sick. Within the District, without making any 

 regular inspection, three infected herds have been found where from 3 to 6 animals 

 are admitted to have been lost within the year. lu Virginia there are stables from 

 which auiuialshave recently been lost with sj^mptoms of this disease; but none of these 

 could be secured for examination, and therefore we can not be positive in regard to 

 the nature of the disease. 



RK.\SONS FOR BELIEVING IT CONTAGIOUS. 



The first great reason for believing this to be contagious pleuropneumonia is the 

 fact that nowhere in the country outside of the comparatively small strip of territory 

 stretching from Connecticut to Virginia, and east of the Alleghany Mountains, have 

 any cases been found which bear any close resemblance to the disease under consid- 

 eration. If this disease were the result of climatic causes, or if it were produced by 

 imi)r(>per food and care, then we should certainly find it distributed over the whole 

 country, or at least in all of those paits of it where similar conditions exist. It can- 

 not be originated l»y the manner of stabling and feeding cows near our Eastern cities, 

 for substantially the same conditions exist at Rochester, Buflaio, Cleveland, Detroit, 

 Chicago, Saint Louis, Cincinnati, and other Western cities, and no veterinarian has 



5751 D A 2 



