44 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



until, fears liaving been excited that it was of a contagious 

 nature, legislative aid was asked for. A law was promptly passed 

 and approved by his excellency tlie governor, on April 4th, 

 18G0. This law gave ho power but " extirpation," The Com- 

 missioners, without any direct authority, very properly called 

 to their aid several physicians and veterinary surgeons, under 

 whose direction many cattle attacked by or exposed to the 

 disease were slaughtered. Finding, however, that the appro- 

 priated funds were insufficient, and that the law did not meet 

 all the requirements of the case, the governor was petitioned 

 to call an extra session of tlie legislature. This being done, the 

 first meeting was held on the 30th of May, 1860. 



On this day the Massachusetts Medical Society was holding 

 its annual session in Boston. Its members chose a committee 

 to confer with that of the legislature, and request that a board 

 of scientific men might be appointed to inquire into the disease. 

 A law was passed and approved on June 12th, authorizing the 

 governor to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the 

 council, " three competent persons to be a board of examiners, 

 to examine into the disease called pleuro-pneumonia." The 

 appointments were soon made, but, some delay arising from the 

 refusal of one gentleman to serve, the board was not filled till 

 about the first of September. Entering at that time upon our 

 duties, we ascertained that the Commissioners had slaughtered 

 842 head of cattle, and had estimated that there remained, ex- 

 clusive of Mr. Chenery's herd, diseased, exposed, and suspected, 

 1,055 animals. The senior member of the board of examiners 

 had requested that no animal should be slaughtered until the 

 board was full, and not then, unless at least one of its members 

 was present. The request was comj)lied with, except in one 

 instance, when the gentleman who engaged to be present was 

 unavoidably detained. 



The most logical course to pursue in an inquiry like this, is to 

 ascertain in the first place whether there exists or has existed, 

 on the other side of the water, sucli a disease as contagious 

 pleuro-pneumonia, and, if this prove to be true, to show, by an 

 analysis of facts, whether w^e have had the same here. 



We do not think it necessary to reprint all that has been 

 written on this subject abroad, but to give, in as concise a 

 manner as possible, a sketch which may serve as a point of com- 



