CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED AMMALS. 263 



may be ])artially set aside by saying tliat most of them would have 

 escaped contagion without this, it is yet worthy of record that while 

 there have been sporadic cases of the disease in Orange and adjacent 

 localities, these have been no more numerous than at some other points. 

 For over a year it has been the habit of the veterinary service of the 

 State board of health of Xew Jersey to seek to eratlicate the disease 

 by slaughter if only one or two cases had occurred. But if there had 

 ))een more extended seizures before notice, or if the disease threatened 

 to spread, resort has been had to inocjulation. Dr. J. W. Ilawlc, of New- 

 ark, and Dr. Leatherman, of Clinton, have had occasion thus to inocu- 

 late several herds. In about two hundred cases of inoculation they re- 

 l)ort that the results have been altogether satisfactory. Herds have 

 been i)rotected and the disease limited. While a few of the animals 

 have lost their tails, and some have been for a little time quite sick, no 

 deaths have occurred from this cause. Great care has been taken in 

 the selection of the inoculating juice, and it has been generally intro- 

 duced, by a seton of woolen yarn, into the muscle just beneath the skin 

 of the tail. 



While thus feeling our way on the basis of the authorities before al- 

 luded to, and by a cautious use of the method in general acceptance, the 

 following series of cases occurred : 



A farmer and dairyman having about thirty head of animals in his 

 herd, and not having and never having had any cases of contagious 

 pleuro ])neumonia among his cattle, was informed that two or three of 

 his neighbors had the disi^ase among their herds. He was a mile and 

 a half distant from the nearest one. The cattle had not come near to 

 each other by neighboring fields. He had no occasion to take any of 

 his cattle to other yards, or to have any brought to his. He had not 

 ])urchased an animal for three years. Not knowing the law of the 

 .State, he concluded to have his cattle inoculated by a veterinarian of 

 Newark. His entire herd was inoculated in the month of December, 

 One or two of these animals lost their rails, several were somewhat sick 

 and recovered, and did not contract pleuro-pnenmonia, though after- 

 ward exposed. On the tenlh day after the inoculation t^YO calves had 

 convulsions anddied. Threeof the healthiest cows were taken severely 

 sick with all the symptoms of contagious pleuro-pneumonia, and had to 

 be slaughtered. Post-mortem examination left no doubt as to its being 

 genuine contagious pleuro pneumonia. Some of the other cows did not 

 seem to recover their usual health or milk supply. A thorough exam- 

 ination four weeks later by H. W. llowland, D. Y. S, of Jersey City, and 

 J. Gerth, jr., D. V. S., of Newark, showed conditions of lung that would 

 indicate nothing else than contagious pleuro-i)neumonia. As the cows 

 were gaining, the owner was permitted to keep them, on condition that 

 they should not be sold until fit for slaughter, and then not for any 

 other i)urpose. 



Here we have a series of cases in which either the veterinarian caused 



