352 



BOARD OF AGKICULTUKE. [Pub. Doc. 



newspapers the day after Thanksgiving. It is therefore ap- 

 parent that foot and mouth disease existed in the locality of 

 Prattsville as far back as the last of August. 



As the inspector of animals of Chelsea and Kverett is a 

 veterinarian, and the inspector of animals for the toAvn of 

 Revere is also a veterinarian, it seems strange that, when 

 they made the annual inspection of the neat cattle in these 

 towns, which was ordered by the Chief of the Cattle Bureau 

 to commence October 1 and be completed November 15, no 

 suspicious cases were observed by these inspectors ; but it 

 is not unlikely that, when they made theif rounds, the cases 

 which had been ailing had recovered to such an extent that 

 symptoms of the disease escaped their observation. If the 

 disease had been reported when it first appeared in the 

 neighborhood of Prattsville, it might easily have l)een held 

 in check there, and a great financial loss saved to the com- 

 munity.* 



The following table sho^vs the number of herds quaran- 

 tined up to December 31, and the disposition made of 

 them : — 



Statistici^ on Foot and Movth Difiease hi Mafisachusetts, Dec. 31, 



1902. 



[Showing the toAvns in wliicli the disease has appeared or been suspected, the number of 

 herds and numlier of animals qiiarantiued, number released, number killed, etc., to date.] 



Neat Cattle. 



* In fact, the owner of one of the infected herds in Chelsea says that he had the inspector 

 of animals examine his cattle in a professional capacity about tlie middle of September, at 

 which time the inspector called the disease foot-rot, and did not recognize its character. If 

 the above statement is true, the Inspector of animals made a grave error in not reporting it, 

 as he should have done, to the Cattle Bureau at that time. 



t Killed as owned l)y Ilayden of Watertown. 



X Probably included in quarantine in Sudbury. Owner in Auburndale. 



