EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
721 
spirited citizens, representing different business interests, 
voluntarily subscribed to a fund which was intended to 
enable the commissioners to continue their work, notwith¬ 
standing the failure of the appropriation, and to guaranty all 
parties concerned against loss, in case the legislature should 
fail to recognise and provide for the unauthorised expenditure 
of money. 
“ Subscriptions to the amount of nearly $20,000 were at 
once made, and the commissioners, under the protection of 
this guarantee, made some further progress. But the disease 
had spread over a larger territory then was at first supposed. 
More definite instructions from the legislature as to the course 
to be pursued were desired. It was believed that more 
stringent regulations than those allowed by the act of April 
4th, 1859, were required, and that additional appropriations 
from the treasury might be indispensable. 
“ On the 18th of May, the commissioners made a formal 
request that an extra session of the legislature should be 
called. This request was supported by a petition of a com¬ 
mittee of the State Board of Agriculture, by several members 
of the board, and by many influential and honorable citizens 
of different parts of the commonwealth. On the 24th day of 
May, the proclamation was issued for a session of the legis¬ 
lature for the consideration of this special subject, and the 
members assembled on the 30th of May. They appointed 
committees, who at once commenced examining diseased 
herds, and will doubtless take efficient measures to arrest the 
progress of the distemper (if it be possible so to do) by legisla¬ 
tive enactments. 
“Meanwhile the distemper has been carried from Massa¬ 
chusetts into Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New 
Jersey, and even into Michigan —every case easily traced to 
the cattle imported from Holland . The price and value of 
stock in the neighbourhoods where it prevails have been 
decreased, and, as a consequence, drovers have purchased 
cattle in those neighbourhoods, and driven them far away 
for sale.” 
The Committee concludes its report by recommending 
Congress to adopt the following resolutions: 
“ Resolved , That, in view of the extent and magnitude of 
the national interests threatened by the fatal malady now 
prevalent among the cattle within several of the States of this 
Union, this House cannot but regard with special solicitude 
