556 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



bacterial origin is not probable, but rather some plant, the poison- 

 ous alkaloid of which is excreted in the milk. It would be next 

 to impossible to discover the unknown alkaloid, even if the milk 

 were chemically examined. It also seems unnecessary to under- 

 take a detailed bacteriological examination of either milk or water. 

 A microscopical examination of the ceutrifugalized milk from 

 the "old cow" shows a very limited number of pus cells, not 

 enough to warrant a diagnosis of any suppurative process in the 

 udder ; less, in fact, than one often finds in the best milk. 



Frothingham. 



Mr. Hancock was written to, informing liim of Dr. 

 Bunker's and Dr. Frothingham's conclusions ; and, as the 

 trouble only appears when the cows are in a certain pasture, 

 he was advised to keep them elsewhere, and use the pasture 

 where the difficulty exists, for sheep. 



At the same time, it would be interesting to know defi- 

 nitely what there is in this pasture that causes the milk to 

 be unwholesome for human food, while the general health of 

 the animals appears to be undisturbed. 



Respectfully submitted, 



AUSTIN PETERS, Chairman, 

 JOHN M. PARKER, Secretary, 

 MAURICE O'CONNELL, 

 LEANDER F. HERRICK, 

 CHARLES A. DENNEN, 



Board of Cattle Commissioners. 



