No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 44<i 



a gross ignorance in this regard of the conditions which do 

 and must exist in Massachusetts. 



Brighton and Watertown in this State, to which Maine 

 exports, and from which she imports " cheap cattle "are two 

 of the great collecting and distributing points of cattle for the 

 whole country. Hundreds of thousands of animals are gath- 

 ered here from all the New England, northern and western 

 States and Canada, and either slaughtered here or taken 

 abroad to other countries and States, including Maine. 

 While here, these animals are only in transit for their real 

 destination, or waiting for slaughter; and while here they 

 very rarely affiliate with or become a part of our home stock. 

 Tuberculosis exists both in men and bovines over the entire 

 country from which these animals are gathered, and it would 

 be very strange if an animal thus affected was not occasionally 

 found among them, or if the Crowleys of Maine, in buying 

 "cheap cattle at Brighton," did not get some of them. 

 Maine is a large contributor weekly to the stock market of 

 Brighton, and she has tuberculosis among her home stock; 

 and it would not be strange if she contributed her mite to 

 increase the volume of this pest of " cheap cattle " said to be 

 found there. The facts gathered weekly show that Maine is 

 a larger contributor to that market than Massachusetts. 

 For the week ending December 24 last, there were in that 

 market 2,143 cattle. It being Christmas week the number 

 of cattle from abroad was very small ; but, of the whole 

 number stated, Massachusetts furnished 39 and Maine 104. 

 The size of this market varies somewhat from week to week, 

 but the comparison between the two remains practically the 

 same through the year. 



With the above facts and conditions in mind, it is well to 

 consider the unreasonableness if not falsity of the charge of 

 Dr. Bailey, "that, while Maine some ten years ago awoke 

 to the realization of the danger to humanity from this dread 

 disease, and has since actively tried to stamp it out and has 

 practically succeeded, Massachusetts does not attempt to 

 stamp it out, and does not spend a single dollar to accomplish 

 so desirable an end." The people of Massachusetts and its 

 Cattle Commissioners are perfectly familiar with the process 

 and cost of " stamping out "cattle disease, and the Cattle 



