SECRETARY'S REPORT. 19 



disease may be prevented from extending from one herd to 

 another. The expenses of the commission, as nearly as can 

 now be ascertained, are about !S>5,700. Tiie appropriation being 

 but 85,000, there will be a deficiency to be supplied by legis- 

 lation. 



" The disease is apparently extinguished, and has now no 

 visible foothold in the Commonwealth. The ease and celerity 

 of its eradication by prompt treatment on its rc-a])pearaiice last 

 year, removes all apprehension that it may hereafter become 

 unmanageable, unless precautionary measures, when needed, 

 shall be too long delayed." 



Other Acts relative to this subject were passed by the last 

 legislature ; one of which provides that " whenever cattle 

 exposed to contagious diseases are killed by order of the com- 

 missioners, and upon a. post mortem examination shall be found 

 to have been entirely free from disease, it shall the duty of the 

 commissioners to cause the same to be sold under their direc- 

 tion, first giving to the purchaser notice of the facts ; and if the 

 said purchaser or any other person shall sell said slaughtered 

 cattle or any part thereof, they shall in like manner give notice 

 to the parties to whom the same is sold ; and the proceeds of 

 the sales made by order of the commissioners shall be applied 

 in payment of the apprized value of said cattle." 



This seems a wholesome provision, and is found to relieve in 

 some measure the treasury of the Commonwealth, and also 

 removes an objection often urged against the indiscriminate 

 slaughter of animals exposed to contagion, namely, that of 

 waste. 



Some months since the board of commissioners made a 

 statement of their doings and experience with the disease, 

 together with an appeal to the farmers of the State, which is at 

 once so clear and convincing that we deem it worthy a place in 

 this report : 



To the Farmers of Massachusetts: 



The disease termed pleuro-pneumonia has appeared in several herds 

 of cattle in the eastern portion of tlie State during the present season. 

 The State cattle commissioners have adopted the most effective measures 

 to prevent its dissemination. All cattle that have been exposed, with 

 the exception of four, have been destroyed. The commissioners have 

 been forced to this mode of action by the logic of facts. These have 



