SECRETARY'S REPORT. 9 



Mr. Smith was confident that his herd would not take 

 the disease, as the ox was removed soon after the sickness 

 commenced. 



On the 2d of July, nearly every animal was sick. Two were 

 selected for experiment ; the remainder were slaughtered on 

 the 3d of August, and all but one were diseased. 



July 15th. At Boxborough the Commissioners found two 

 cows isolated by order of the selectmen, one of which showed 

 symptoms of lung disease ; the remainder of the herd had been 

 turned to pasture, consequently were not in fit condition for 

 examination. 



On the 29th, on examination, all were found healthy, except- 

 ing the one sick at the former visit, which had died, and been 

 buried several days. The body was exhumed, and the right 

 lung was found to be diseased with contagious pleuro-pneumonia, 

 so called. 



Early in May, the Commissioners were requested to examine 

 the herd of T. E. Cutter, in Lexington. Upon examination, all 

 appeared healthy. The owner being a,bsent at the time, no 

 information could be elicited. In June, it being again intimated 

 that a disease existed among his cattle, another examination 

 took place, by appointment, July 1st. Several chronic cases 

 were found, and it was ordered tliat the herd be isolated. Mr. 

 Cutter stated that he had already lost eleven head of cattle, the 

 first one dying in March, and there being no case of sickness 

 for several weeks, it was hoped the remainder would escape ; 

 but on the 21st, one of the most severe cases was found ; in 

 fact the animal could not long survive. It was then decided 

 to have the herd slaughtered. On examination, eiglit were 

 diseased and five were healthy. 



The Commissioners were next called to examine a herd of 



- cattle at Deer Island, belonging to the city of Boston. Five had 



been killed, by the order of the directors of the institution 



there, before the appraisal of the herd was made. It consisted 



of forty-one head, many of them valuable. Eleven heavy oxen 



being among the number, seven were selected for experiment ; 



thirty-four were slaughtered, seventeen proved healthy and 



seventeen diseased. Thirteen hundred and thirty-eight dollars 



and fifty-three cents ($1,338.53,) was realized from the sale of 

 2* 



