6 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



brought into our markets by the arrival of cattle from the West. 

 It was of short duration, owing to the strenuous and prompt 

 efforts of the executive to check its progress by the appointment 

 of a commission charged witli the duty of controlling it. Tlie 

 stei)s taken by that commission will be more clearly set forth in 

 tlie following 



REPORT OF THE CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 



To the Honorable Senate and House of Hejjresentatives of the Com- 

 monwealth of Massachusetts. 



In accordance with tlie provisions of law, the undersigned 

 Commissioners on Contagious Diseases among Cattle would 

 submit the following Report : — 



No contagious disease has scourged the cattle of the Com- 

 monwealth during the year past. The pleuro-pneumonia, so 

 judiciously stamped out three years since, has not again made 

 its appearance in our herds, though it is said to prevail to some 

 extent in the Middle States. The cattle-growing States of the 

 "West have the past year been visited by a comparatively new 

 and very alarming disease in their herds, known as Spanish 

 fever, or Texas cattle fever, in consequence of its having been 

 introduced by cattle from Texas, and which has proved alarm- 

 ingly 'destructive to the neat stock of some sections. By the 

 transportation of beef cattle, this plague has spread through 

 nearly all the States to the seaboard, creating panic and fear in 

 its progress. The State of New^ York, along its great lines of 

 travel, and near its principal large cattle markets, became in- 

 fested with it to such an extent, that State and municipal 

 authority was resorted to, to protect their home stock and pre- 

 vent the sale of unwholesome beef in their markets. About 

 the 10th of August last, a cattle ti'ain was despatched from the 

 cattle-yards of Albany with many diseased cattle on board for 

 sale in the markets of our State. A portion of these diseased 

 cattle were sold in Worcester, and went to Providence. The 

 remainder went on to Brighton. A part, on arriving at Brighton, 

 were sold to Mr. William II. Alger, and by him conveyed to Taun- 

 ton. The remainder, it is reported, though very much diseased, 

 were immediately slaughtered in the night, and their meat sold 

 in the markets of Boston the following day. These facts being 

 reported to the Commissioners, it was deemed advisable to resort 



