REPOET OF CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 389 



an:ntjal report 



CATTLE COMMISSIONERS, 



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

 wealth of Massachusetts. 



The undersigned Cattle Commissioners, as the statute 

 requires, present their Annual Report. 



Neat Stock 



The neat-stock interest of the State, especially in the 

 department of the dairy and fine thoroughbred cattle, grows 

 more important year by year, and the protection of the 

 herds from contagious diseases, both on account of the value 

 of the animals and the influence of their products on the 

 public health, is a matter of great concern. The action of 

 the general government during the last two years, through 

 the Bureau of Animal Industry, has materially lessened the 

 prevalence of contagious pleuro-pneumonia, and perhaps 

 "stamped it out" in certain sections of the country from 

 which no inconsiderable proportion of our cattle supply is 

 received. Since August last, the condition of New York, 

 Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and other States west has been such, 

 in this respect, that it has been considered safe for cattle 

 from those States to mingle freely or be domiciled with ours, 

 and we trust that this safety will continue. We have had 

 occasion during the year to fear that the disease had made 

 a lodgment with us, and that it might be disseminated far 



