LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL- 



Hon. Geo. B. Lorinci, 



Commissioner of Agriculture : 



Sir: I have the honor to herewith transmit a report of the results of 

 the experiments and investigations of the Veterinary Division for the 

 year 1883-'84. The first Annual Report of the Bureau of Animal In- 

 dustry-, which will contain a detailed statement of the investigations 

 made and all the work accomplished since the organization of the 

 Bureau, in conformity with the act passed at the last session of Con- 

 gress, will be submitted for your approval at the close of the year. 



My work at tlie Veterinary Exi)erimental Station has been greatly re- 

 tarded during the j)ast three or four months, made necessary in the in- 

 vestigation of an outbreak of ergotism among cattle in the West, and 

 later in the supervision of the work necessary for the organization 

 of the Bureau of Animal Industry. In addition to this I spent the 

 months of August and September in tracing the cattle infected with 

 contagious pleuropneumonia in some of the Western Stntes, a detailed 

 account of which will be furnished you in the First Annual Keport of 

 the Bureau of Animal Industry. 



My report proper contains the results of experiments and investiga- 

 tions of Pleuropneumonia, Ergotism, Southern Cattle Fever, and Swine 

 Plague. 



In addition to the above this volume will contain interesting and val- 

 uable papers on the following subjects : Ergotism among cattle in 

 Kansas, by M. K. Trumbower, V. S. ; >Syng(i)n us trachealis, or (lape Disease 

 of Fowls, translated from the French by Dr. Theobald Smith; Proceed- 

 ings of the International Veterinary Congress, as reported by Dr. James 

 Law; Hamburg International Exhibition, reported by Mr. J. H. San- 

 ders and Dr. Rush Shii)pen Huidekoper; a detailed report of the losses 

 sustained by an extensive outbreak of Southern cattle fever among cat- 

 tle in Kansas, by Dr. M. K. Trumbower; Investigations as to the Cause 

 of Southern Cattle Fever, by Dr. J. H. Detmers; Contagious Animal 

 Diseases, and their Relation to the Public Health, by Dr. Ezra M. Hunt; 

 results as to the prevalence of trichinte as shown by the reiK)rt of the 

 recent commission api)ointed by the President; salt used in packing; 

 extracts from letters of correspondents, and statistical returns as to 

 losses and general condition of farm animals as reported b^* the regular 

 correspondents of the Department. 

 V'eiy respect full \, &c., 



D. E. SALMON, 

 Chivfof Bureau of A uiuud Industry. 



Washington, D. C, Octvlter liS, 1884. 



