SECRETARY'S REPORT. 15 



throw light on the nature and symptoms of the disease. Both 

 these points seemed of importance, that it might be intelligently 

 determined what animals were to be paid for according to law ; 

 and that the public might gain a knowledge of the fatal 

 malady. 



Accordingly, Dr. E. F. Thayer and Dr. George H. Dadd, 

 well known veterinary surgeons of Boston, were selected, and 

 gave their attendance at most of the examinations made 

 througliout the proceedings of the commission. Drs. 0. Martin 

 and J. N. Bates, of Worcester, George N. Bates, of Boston, 

 and Warren Tyler, of North Brookfield, all of the regular 

 medical profession, were also in attendance at many of the 

 examinations. Other gentlemen of the profession were present 

 at different times as spectators. 



The first step in regard to any suspected herd was to order 

 an examination by the surgeons. If they decided that the dis- 

 ease existed in the herd, they were next directed to select from 

 the whole number " such as appeared not to be diseased." The 

 whole herd was then slaughtered. Those which had been con- 

 demned before as " appearing to be diseased," were not paid 

 for ; the rest were. By this course of procedure, all disputes 

 and differences with the owners were prevented. The whole 

 question was referred to those who were believed to be most 

 competent to decide it ; and the subsequent action of the Com- 

 missioners was regulated by their Report. 



In examining and disposing of the first five herds, in which 

 the pleuro-pneumonia was so very conspicuous, the Commis- 

 sioners discovered that certain other herds had been greatly 

 exposed ; and had begun to exhibit marked symptoms of tlie 

 disease. For example, the neat stock of Mr. Lewis E. Hill, 

 (occupying a farm adjoining that of Leonard Stoddard,) which 

 had run, during the last fall feed, in fields only separated 

 from Stoddard's cattle by a common fence, or stone-wall, were 

 evidently sick. Examinations were at once made ; very severe 

 cases were found, the herd was condemned, and in some 

 instances the autopsies showed conclusively that Mr. Hill's 

 cattle were in the same general condition with those of his 

 neighbor. The same was found to be the case, though not in a 

 degree as strongly marked, with the cattle of Mr. John Hill, 

 which had a similar connection with Stoddard's. The cattle of 



