SECRETARY'S REPORT. 51 



year after recovery. In the other organs we usually find no 

 changes, and if any exist tliey are not essential. 



Having thus shown that there has prevailed for a long time 

 among the cattle of Great Britain and Europe a disease, wJiich 

 is in all probability contagious, and having described its most 

 marked peculiarities, let us examine the facts belonging to the 

 disease which made its appearance in our community during 

 the past year. The medical board was appointed at a time when 

 the disease no longer existed in an active state, and after most 

 of the affected animals had been destroyed. On this account 

 it was useless to attempt any experiments ; and to obtain any 

 knowledge of the disease, it was necessary to rely upon the 

 records of the Commissioners, which are unfortunately of such 

 a character that portions only could be used, as we felt com- 

 pelled to reject every doubtful statement. We do not intend 

 to deny that the animals reported as diseased were so, but the 

 terms used are not such as to convey an accurate idea to a 

 medical man. 



HISTORY AND PATHOLOGY. 



No better history can be given of the origin of the disease in 

 this couimy than by inserting a copy of a letter from Mr. 

 Chenery, published in the Boston Cultivator on March 7th. 



Boston, March 7, 18G0. 



Dear Sir, — In compliance with your request, I take pleasure in 

 furnishing you with a succinct account of my last importation of cattle 

 from Holland, and, also, of the disease that subsequently prevailed in 

 my herd at the Highland Farm in Belmont, as is now generally sup- 

 posed, in consequence of that importation. 



It may be remarked, that I had previously made two importations 

 of cattle from Holland, and the extraordinary superiority of the animals 

 received from that source, in comparison, either with our native, or any 

 of the foreign breeds heretofore imported, induced me to increase my 

 stock of Dutch cattle by further importations, rather than wait the natu- 

 I'al increase from those already imported. 



Accordingly, in December, 1858, I transmitted an order to my cor- 

 respondents in Schiedam, Holland, instructing them to employ a compe- 

 tent person expressly to proceed to the north of Holland and make 

 selections of the best animals that could be obtained without regard to 

 the expense. Following my instructions, four cows were procured from 



