196 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



February, 18S4, and these animals were widely distributed through the Western State*. 



It is hoped, therefore, that persons owning cattle tracing to this sale, and all others 

 having cattle affected with disease of the lungs, will at once communicate with Dr. 

 D. E. Salmon, Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry, care of the Breeders' Gazette, 

 Chicago, 111., and clearly state the condition of their herds and symptoms of the disease. 



The attention of owners of cattle and railroad and other transportation companies 

 is called to section 7 of the act establishing the Bureau of Animal Industry, which 

 makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by a line of not less than $100 or more than $5,000, 

 or by imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, for shipping cattle affected 

 with any contagious, infectious, or communicable disease, and especially the disease 

 known as pleuro-pneumonia, from one State or Territory into another. The cordial 

 co-operation of State authorities and of all persons interested in the welfare of our 

 cittlc indu.vtries is earnestly desired in order to avert this danger which now menaces 

 the herds of the country. 



GEORGE B. LORING, 

 Conimi>isio)icr of Agriculture. 



August 22 I visited Mr. Epler's place at Virginia, secured a complete 

 list of the animals which he had sold on the 21st of February, and made 

 an examination of the remainder of his herd. I found no animals there 

 showing- any symptoms of pleuro-pneumonia, and Mr. Epler informed 

 me that he had lost none from his original herd since the sale; but a 

 cow called Jessie of Oloverside, which he had bought at Beardstown, 

 111., and brought to his place in April or May, died in June of an acute 

 lung disease, which, judging from the description of the appearance of 

 the lungs that I received from him, must have been pleuro-pneumonia. 

 A cow called Deerfoot, which was purchased by Mr. Bevis, of Virginia, 

 at the sale, contracted pleuro-pneumonia and died in March. The de- 

 scription of the symptoms and appearance of the lungs was very clear 

 and left no doubt of the nature of the affection. This animal had not 

 come in contact with other cattle during her sickness. Another cow, 

 called Jennie of Mapledale, was sold to Porte Yates, of Springfield, 111. 

 She was afterwards attacked with pleuro-pneumonia and died in April. 

 I saw the owner of the cow and the gentleman who made the post- 

 mortem examination, and their statements show that she had been 

 affected with pleuro-pneumonia. Maud Holly was sold to E. S. Hod- 

 son, of Springfield, and soon after her arrival was treated for some 

 slight sickness. When I examined her, August 22, she was looking 

 well, but had a cough, with slight dullness and loss of respiration over 

 the posterior part of the left lung. Mollie of Mapledale was sold to 

 Frank Gaston, of Normal, 111. She became sick April 6, a few days 

 after having dropped a premature calf. She was supposed to be affected 

 with lock-jaw, and no post mortem examination was made. It is difficult 

 to say at this time what really was the matter with this cow, but I am 

 inclined to think from the history and symptoms of the case that it was 

 one of pleuro pneumonia, although no other animals in the herd con- 

 tracted the disease. The cow Patalene was purchased by D. W. Eaw- 

 lings, of Jacksonville, 111., but he left her with Mr. Epler until April 2 or 

 3. She was afterwards sick, but there is considerable discrepancy in the 

 various accounts I have received as to the character of her trouble and 

 the time when she showed the first symptoms. Mr. Kawlings gave Dr. 

 Trnmbower a statement dated September 22, in writing, that he found- 

 ered her a little the first time he fed her, and that he called Mr. Rock- 

 well to see her the following Sunday, and that this gentleman gave her 

 medicine on Sunday and Monday and possibly on Tuesday ; that she 

 never was sick a day after that to his knowledge. Mr. Bawlings had pre- 

 viously written to me, under date of August 22, that he understood from 

 inquiries recently made that his cow had been affected with lung fever. 

 He knew she had a very bad cough and did not get over it for several 



