18 BOARD OF AQRICULTURE. 



nino; with a pair of oxen sold in Brighton market, in February 

 or March, 1861, one of which was, in the opinion of persons 

 who saw him, sick at that time. These oxen were purchased 

 by J. F. Eaton, of Quincy, and taken into his herd. During 

 the next few months not only these oxen, but several animals of 

 his previous herd had died ; others were sold and taken into 

 other herds, carrying the disease wherever they went ; or, if to 

 change the expression will leave the question more open, we 

 will say, the disease follovjed wherever animals from that herd 

 touched. The disease has exhibited itself in not less than twenty 

 different herds, and in every instance is traceable to the Eaton 

 herd either directly or through other herds connected with it. 



The committee are in possession of the names of the twenty 

 individuals whose herds have been thus affected. 



We cannot present in a more concise or direct form, a sum- 

 mary of the progress of this disease the past year, and its apparent 

 extinguishment, than by quoting that part of His Excellency's 

 Address before the present legislature, relative to this subject. 



He says : " Under the Act of February, 1862, three commis- 

 sioners were appointed on contagious diseases of cattle, — one a 

 veterinary surgeon, one a doctor of medicine, and the third a 

 member of the executive council, all being of some agricultural 

 experience. Tliey were immediately called by the selectmen of 

 Milton to investigate cases of disease among neat cattle which 

 had broken out there and was creating alarm. 



" The animals were carefully examined, and found to be 

 infected by pleuro-pneumonia. The commissioners ordered 

 the entire isolation of all herds of cattle in the counties ot 

 Norfolk, Suffolk, Plymouth and Worcester, which could by any 

 possibility have come into contact with any of the infected 

 animals. 



" One hundred and fifty-four animals have died, or have been 

 killed by order of the commissioners, of whicli number seventy- 

 seven, or just one-half, were found diseased, and in every case 

 but one, contact has been proved. 



" Tiic commissioners are satisfied that the disease is never 

 generated from local causes ; that it is altogether an imported 

 disease ; tliat it cannot be eradicated by treatment; that those 

 cattle whicii have apparently recovered are really the most to 

 be feared, from the danger of relapse ; and that, by care, the 



