554 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the cleanings from the cow stable are thrown, or among pigs 

 fed offal from tuberculous cattle. 



For reports upon any lesions sent in for microscopic exam- 

 inations to Dr. Frothingham, either "hog cholera" or por- 

 cine tuberculosis, see Dr. Frothingham's report to the com- 

 missioners. 



Other Diseases. 



In July an outbreak of a disease of an unknown and fatal 

 character was reported from Edgartown. Dr. H. P. Rogers 

 was sent to investigate the matter, July 16 ; later, he reported 

 that three cows that had recently calved had died, and from 

 what he could ascertain, he thought they had died of partu- 

 rient apoplexy. 



November 20, a ram was quarantined by the inspector at 

 Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard. Dr. H. P. Rogers was sent 

 to investigate this case also, the inspector believing the ani- 

 mal to have " sheep scab." Dr. Rogers reported, December 

 1, that the ram presented no evidence of " scab." 



July 27, Mr. Freeman Hancock of West Tisbury wrote 

 the Board concerning a bowel trouble that attacked members 

 of his family, as the result of using milk from his cows, the 

 first of it being in 1895. Dr. Madison Bunker of Newton 

 was sent to investigate this matter, and made the following 

 report : — 



Newton, Mass., Aug. 8, 1897. 

 Di". Austin Peters, Chairman, Cattle Coniinissio7i. 



Dear Doctor : — In accordance with your instructions, I went 

 to "West Tisbury this week and made a visit to the farm of Free- 

 man Hancock. 



I found this to be the state of affairs, viz. : at intervals since 

 October, 1895, there has been trouble with milk from three differ- 

 ent cows that have been in his pasture ; this trouble has been in 

 the spring and in the fall, when the feed has been most succulent 

 and thickest. The milk has been thick when allowed to stand, and 

 the cream would when handled hold together and be ropy like cold 

 molasses, — no smell, no color, no taste. 



It has caused diarrha?a in the whole family, with excessive 

 nausea in a ten-months-old child, whose stools were very fluid and 

 very dark green. The child nearly died before the cause was 

 ascertained ; as soon as the use of this milk was stopped, recovery 

 came in all the cases. The local physician is said to have found 

 pus in the milk. 



