No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 477 



An alphabetical list of towns does not convey much of an 

 idea of the prevalence of the disease in certain localities, 

 but the table shows a marked decrease in Fitchburg and the 

 adjoining towns. It also seems to have decreased very con- 

 siderably in the Connecticut valley. In Berkshire County 

 there is more than for several years ; it occurred in Pittsfield, 

 Adams and Williamstown, although all combined the cases 

 only number 8. There seems to be a tendency toward an 

 increase in the Merrimac valley. Worcester shows quite an 

 increase over last year, but it does not prevail there now to 

 the extent it did four or five years ago. In most of the 

 cities adjoining Boston on the north there is a decrease ; in 

 Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, Everett and Maiden it is 

 quite apparent. Lynn shows a slight increase. South of 

 Boston, in Watertown, Newton, Dedham and Needham, it 

 has increased ; while beyond these places, in Waltham, 

 Wellesley, Dover, Westwood and Medfield, it shows a de- 

 crease. Along the south shore there is a marked abatement ; 

 the towns of Weymouth, Hingham, Cohasset and Hull seem 

 to be free. The 2 cases reported from Hingham properly 

 belong to Boston. The horses were sent there by a Charles- 

 town firm of contractors, and were used to load gravel on 

 scows ; they were entirely by themselves, and never came 

 in contact with Hingham horses in any way. The most 

 serious outbreak of the year was in Middleborough and ad- 

 joining towns. There was also somewhat of an outbreak in 

 Framingham, and a number of cases also occurred in Natick 

 and Brookline ; but in the two towns last named the disease 

 was in each instance confined chiefly to one stable. A small 

 outbreak also occurred in Deerfield. In connection with 

 the Middleborough outbreak, glanders has prevailed exten- 

 sively in Brockton, extending through East Bridgewater, 

 Halifax, Middleborough, Carver and Eochester to New Bed- 

 ford. Many of the infected horses in the towns between 

 Brockton and New Bedford were owned by lumbermen and 

 box manufacturers. It is hoped that the outbreak is now 

 under control. Fall River shows a slight decrease, but the 

 number of cases is practically the same as usual. A few 

 cases occurred on Cape Cod, — more than for several years. 



