20 BOARP OF AGRICULTURE. 



The legislature met on the thirtieth of May ; and the entire 

 history of the case was presented to the large and able commit- 

 tee to which the matter was referred. Numerous persons gave 

 evidence in relation to the disease, amongst them many 

 gentlemen of the medical faculty ; and after long and careful 

 consideration^ the following law was enacted and received the 

 sanction of the executive on the twelfth of June. 



AN ACT 



CONCERNING CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AMONG CATTLE. 



Section 1. The selectmen of towns and the mayor and aldermen of 

 cities, in case of the existence in this CommonweaUh of the disease called 

 pleuro-pneumonia, or any other contagious diseases among cattle, shall 

 cause the cattle in their respective towns and cities, which are infected, 

 or which have been exposed to infection, to be secured or collected in 

 some suitable place or places, Avithin such city or town, and kept isolated; 

 and when taken from the possession of their owners, to be maintained, 

 one-fifth of the expense thereof to be paid by the town or city wherein 

 the animal is kept, and four-fifths at the expense of the Commonwealth, 

 such isolation to continue so long as the existence of such disease or 

 other circumstances renders the same necessary. 



Sect. 2. Said selectmen and mayor and aldermen, when any such 

 animal is adjudged, by a veterinary surgeon or physician by them selected, 

 to be infected with the disease, called pleuro-pneumonia, or any other 

 contagious disease, may, in their discretion, order such diseased animal 

 to be forthwith killed and buried at the expense of such town or city. 



Sect. 3. Such selectmen and mayor and aldermen shall cause all 

 cattle which they shall so order to be killed, to be appraised by three com- 

 petent and disinterested men, under oath, at the value thereof at the time 

 of the api)raisal, and the amount of the appraisal shall be paid as pro- 

 vided in the first section. 



Sect. 4. Said selectmen and mayor and aldermen are hereby author- 

 ized to prohibit the departure of cattle from any enclosure, or to exclude 

 cattle therefrom. 



Sect. 5. Said selectmen and mayor and aldermen may make regu- 

 lations in writing to regulate or prohibit the passage from, to, or through 

 their respective cities or towns, or from place to place within the same, of 

 any neat cattle, and may arrest and detain at the cost of the owners there- 

 of, all cattle found passing in violation of such regulations, and may take 

 all other necessary measures for the enforcement of such prohibition, and 

 also, for preventing the spread of any such disease among the cattle in 

 their respective towns and cities, and the immediate vicinity thereof. 



