TENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



SECRETARY 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of. the Common- 

 wealth of Massachusetts. 



In the early part of the last year the lung disease among 

 cattle, commonly known as pleuro-pneumonia again made its 

 appearance in this State, notwithstanding the efforts which had 

 been made to eradicate it. Those who knew most of the 

 history and nature of this lung disease were fully satisfied of 

 the danger to be apprehended from it, and exerted an influence 

 to have another Commission appointed to exajnine tlie facts, 

 and, if necessary, to take measures to prevent the spread of the 

 contagion. 



A new Board of Commissioners was accordingly appointed 

 in pursuance of an Act of the legislature, and though a part 

 of its members are understood to have entered on their duties 

 with a strong conviction that there had been needless alarm, 

 and that the policy of the Commonwealth in regard to the 

 disease, as carried out by the original Board of Commissioners, 

 had been erroneous, and resulted in unnecessary expense, a 

 careful examination soon satisfied them that the danger had 

 not been exaggerated, and that strenuous efforts were required 

 to meet it and arrest its progress. 



