SECRETARY'S REPORT. 11 



enacted for the extirpation of a disease amongst cattle, tlicn 

 raging in that town and its neighborhood. Tliis was followed 

 by petitions of a similar import from New Braintree, signed by- 

 Samuel Mixter and others ; from Hardwick, signed by Joseph 

 Powers and others ; and from Barre, signed by Edward Denny 

 and others. A memorial in behalf of the Massachusetts Society 

 for the Promotion of Agriculture, for the same object, was also 

 presented. 



These petitions were referred to the Committee on Agricul- 

 ture ; and several distinguished gentlemen, connected with the 

 agricultural interest, appeared before the committee, in aid of 

 the petitioners, urging the necessity of immediate legislation. 



On the 21st day of March, "Resolves, in relation to a conta- 

 gious disease amongst cattle, in the towns of North Brookfield 

 and New Braintree," were presented by Mr. Eldridge, of the Com- 

 mittee on Agriculture,which, after discussion, were recommitted. 

 March 23d, the same were reported in a new draft, entitled, 

 " Resolves, to prevent the spread of the disease, called Pleuro- 

 pneumonia, amongst the cattle of this Commonwealth." 

 ]\Iarch 2oth, the Resolves were read a second time, and laid 

 upon the table. March 28th, they were taken from the table, 

 and amended, by substituting a "Bill to extirpate the disease, 

 called Pleuro-Pneumonia amongst cattle ;" which passed its 

 several stages, and was approved April 4th. It was as follows : 



AN ACT 



TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXTIRPATION OF THE DISEASE CALLED 

 PLEURO-PNETJMONIA, AMONG CATTLE. 



Be it enacted, 8fc., as follows : 



Sect. 1. The governor is hereby authorized to appoint three com- 

 missioners, who shall visit without delay the several places in this Com- 

 monwealth, where the disease among cattle, called pleuro-pneumonia, 

 may be known or suspected to exist, and shall have full power to cause 

 all cattle belonging to the herds in which the disease has appeared, or 

 may appear, or which have belonged to such herds since the disease 

 may be known to have existed therein, to be forthwitli killed and buried, 

 and the premises where such cattle have been kept, cleansed and puri- 

 fied ; and to make such order in relation to the further use and occupa- 

 tion of such premises as may seem to them to be necessary to i)revent 

 the extension of the disease. 



