DISEASES AMONG CATTLE. 307 



what the trouble is, and not attribute it to the disposition of 

 the colt. I don't believe there ever was a bad-tempered 

 colt, and I have had a great manj'. The fault is in the man. 

 Our balky horses are made by the drivers. A horse can 

 learn almost anything that man can learn in languao-e. 



The discussion here ended, and the convention adjourned, 

 sine die. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMxMISSIONERS ON CONTAGIOUS 

 DISEASES AMONG CATTLE. 



To the Honorable Se?iafe and House of Representatives of the Common- 

 weaUh of MassacJmsetls. 



The Commissioners on Contagious Diseases among Cattle, 

 in submitting their annual report, are happy in being able to 

 convey the information that the past year has been one of 

 almost unparalleled prosperity to every department of our 

 neat-slock interest. As in former years, the municipal offi- 

 cers of many towns and cities have notified our board of 

 supposed contagious disease within their jurisdiction ; but an 

 examination proved in all cases that such was not the fact, 

 and that the diseases, though in some places causing con- 

 siderable individual loss, were ordinary sporadic complaints, 

 the causes of which were purely local, and with no con- 

 tagious or even epidemic character. The known fact that 

 contagious pleuro-pneumonia exists in several States of the 

 Union, between which and ourselves there is more or less 

 exchange of cattle, and that our railroad connections are 

 such that Spanish fever may be brought here by any stock- 

 train from the cattle-ranges of Texas, causes a constant ap- 

 prehension among the owners of neat-stock, especially when 

 their animals are of great value. Therefore, when any dis- 

 temper afflicts their herds with some symptoms similar to 

 those of the diseases named, alarm takes the place of appre- 

 hension, which calls for the services of the Commission, and 

 which it is very difficult to allay. Though for the la^t three 

 or four years these fears have been groundless, yet the fact 

 remains, that we are in constant danger, and shall continue 

 so, until by the action of the national or state government, 

 or of both combined, the former of these diseases is eradi- 



