SECRETARY'S REPORT. 29 



iniraerous autopsies and other facts reported in the "Evidence" 

 before referred to, published by that committee, render a 

 farther treatment of tliis subject, by this Board, superfluous. 



Certain clear and practical conclusions to which the Com- 

 missioners have arrived, in view of the facts under their obser- 

 vation, they feel it incumbent on them explicitly to etate : — 



1st. That the disease is strictly contagious, no case having 

 occurred where it was not directly and indisputably traceable 

 to contact with some animal known to be diseased. 



2d. That the severity or virulence of the disease is in propor- 

 tion to the closeness of contact ; that where animals are con- 

 fined in barns, they take the disease from each other, in the 

 most aggravated form ; the more close or air-tight the barn or 

 stable, the more rapid the development of the disease. 



3d. That cleanliness, ventilation, and the use of disinfectants 

 are important, as means of preventing the spread of the dis- 

 ease amongst a herd in which it exists, and of modifying its 

 character. 



4th. That the disease, as it always, in the end, produces 

 ulceration of the lungs, is hopelessly incurable. 



The annexed diagram, carefully prepared from the records 

 of the commission, will establish, it is believed beyond cavil, 

 the first of the foregoing propositions. It is intended to show 

 the connection of every case with the original infection ; and 

 to exhibit not only every well-defined instance of disease, but 

 also those cases where animals were so far implicated by expo- 

 sure, as to make them, in the opinion of the surgeons, danger- 

 ous, and were therefore condemned and destroyed. 



The endeavor has been, to make this chart, or diagram, as 

 complete as possible, and it is believed that there is no essential 

 omission or mistake. 



It will be seen, on examination, that certain names are 

 inserted two or more times, upon the chart. This is explained 

 by the fact, that the herds of such persons were exposed to 

 infection in several ways. [See next page.] 



At the time of the breaking out in this country of the dis- 

 ease, called pleuro-pncumonia, but little was known respecting 

 it, even by veterinary surgeons. Not one of these, it is believed, 

 had ever seen a case of it. Its laws were not understood, and 

 consequently the Commissioners were compelled to act very 

 4* 



