308 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



cated from our territory. Our citizens have enormous pecu- 

 niary interests in the cattle-ranges of the Western plains, 

 the 'stock of which can be preserved from this disease 

 only by untiring vigilance. The losses by it in Australia 

 have amounted to more than a hundred million of dol- 

 lars ; but this loss is small compared with what must 

 ensue if it should make its appearance among the countless 

 cattle of the far West. We cannot refrain from calhng 

 the attention of the legislature to these facts, and intimat- 

 ing- that our interests call for some action to awaken the 

 general government to the adoption of a comprehensive 

 plan to ensure the public safety. 



The efforts of the Commissioners during the last three 

 years, and the modification of the laws relating thereto, 

 appear to have produced the desired results of diminishii.g 

 the disease called glanders, and the cost of controlling it. 

 During the year 1881, we were called by municipal officers 

 to take charge of fifty-seven cases, in forty of which the ani- 

 mals were condemned, and ordered to be killed. The pres- 

 ent year we have been called to twelve cases, and have 

 caused seven animals to be killed ; in addition to which three 

 have been killed by the selectmen of different towns without 

 the interference of the Commissioners. The legislature of 

 1882 appropriated two thousand dollars for the purposes of 

 the Commission that year. Of this sum there has been ex- 

 pended in bills paid or now outstanding six hundred sixteen 

 dollars and fifty cents ($616.50), leaving an unexpended 

 balance of thirteen hundred eighty-three dollars and fifty 

 cents ($1,383.50). If by the provisions of law this balance 

 now reverts to the general treasury, it will be necessary that 

 another appropriation be made, and as a measure of safety 

 against emergencies which are liable to occur, it should not 

 be less than that of 1882, though it is hoped there would be 

 no occasion for its expenditure. 



LEVI STOCKBRIDGE, 

 E. F. THAYER, 

 H. A. JORDAN, 



Gomtnissioners on Contagious Diseases among Cattle. 



