SECRETARY'S REPORT. 17 



Tlje comniitteo now further report that they were diligent 

 and imtiriui!; in their exertions, by the presentation of facts 

 which were daily transpirinj^, to urge upon the legislature the 

 importance of immediate efficient action. 



After much delay, a bill was passed authorizing the governor, 

 with the consent of the council, to appoint a board of three 

 commissioners whenever in his judgment the public good 

 required. 



This measure was strongly opposed at every stage, in both 

 branches of the legislature, and after having become a law, the 

 council were slow to be convinced or to allow that the public 

 good required any such appointment, and would consent to 

 make one only by appointing a board the majority of whom 

 were opposed to any legislation upon the subject, and who were 

 known disbelievers in the contag-iousness, if not in the existence 

 of any such disease ; and we believe it is no injustice to the 

 commissioners to say, tlrat at the time of their appointment, 

 none were more thoroughly opposed to the common theory of 

 the disease, and the past action of the State, and former board 

 of commissioners, than were two of the gentlemen composing 

 the present board. 



Immediately upon their appointment, the commissioners were 

 notified by the selectmen of Milton, of tlie existence of the dis- 

 ease in that town in a herd from which two animals had died 

 within a few weeks, and two had been killed by order of the 

 selectmen, being beyond all hope of recovery. The commis- 

 sioners entered upon their investigations on the 27th of Febru- 

 ary, 1862. As these investigations progressed, the truth, not 

 only of the existence, but of the contagiovsness of the disease 

 became so apparent, that notwithstanding previous opinions, 

 and the circumstances under which their commissions were 

 granted and accepted, those opinions and prejudices have van- 

 ished before the light of truth ^ and the commissioners have 

 quietly but faithfully performed the duties of their oflfjce, and 

 in our opinion should be spared the odium which some have 

 endeavored to throw upon the former board, and should receive 

 the support and co-operation of every friend to the prosperity of 

 the agricultural interest. 



We proceed to narrate briefly, the rise and progress of the 

 disease as developed in this vicinity during the past year, begin- 



3 



