REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DISEASE. 689 
I_ 1 
the future is probably true; but it is equally true that this 
commission has been able to largely drive these diseases from 
the agricultural districts of the State to the new portions of 
our rural districts and the slum stables of our towns and cities. 
When the commission commenced its attack on this disease it 
was found to exist on many fine farms in the older or southern 
portions of the State, and in liveries and private stables with¬ 
in the cities and villages. Not a year then passed but that 
cases of death from this loathsome disease among the human 
family were called to our attention. Now the situation is en¬ 
tirely changed. Whole congressional districts seem to be 
exempt from it. The cases are simple and isolated. Now we 
find less cases in a year than we formerly found in a school 
district, village or livery stable. So far as we'are informed, 
no human being within this State has died from this incurable 
malady during the last two years. Our plan of dealing with 
all horses pronounced affected with glanders by competent 
authority, is immediate destruction. The previous condition, 
record, value or ownership of the animal cuts no figure. Im¬ 
mediate destruction is inevitable. During 1893-94 forty-seven 
animals were condemned for being affected with glanders. 
“Actinomycosis .—The disease appears to be in some manner 
communicable, but we are unable to exactly determine how. 
We have observed experiments where it appeared impossible 
to communicate it to other cattle, either by association or in¬ 
oculation. In fact, in all the cases in our observation, in at¬ 
tempts to artificially communicate it, the experiments have 
produced negative results. We also have observed that a 
large percentage of cases, when handled in the early stages, 
yield to treatment both with the knife and by prescriptions. 
Also we have noted many recoveries without treatment. 
“Hog Cholera and Swine Plague .—There has been a large 
number of outbreaks of what is termed ‘ hog cholera ’ in dif¬ 
ferent sections of the State during the past two years, and 
farmers have sustained large losses from the disease, amount¬ 
ing in the aggregate to many thousand dollars. The State 
has also sustained a heavy loss. The disease broke out in a 
herd of the Eastern Michigan Asylum in August, 1894, and 
