OBITUARY. 
287 
nary profession as well, to receive such recognition of his 
ability and knowledge as falls to but very few men. 
In the early part of the sixties there made its appearance at 
Belmont, Mass , a new form of disease, in a herd of Dutch 
cattle, and Dr. Thayer, in company with Dr. George K. 
Dadd, of Boston, was sent by the State to investigate the 
case. 
« / 
Dr. Thayer made his decision that there was an outbreak 
of contagious pleuro-pneumonia. 
This opinion was further strengthened by new outbreaks 
m various parts of the State, and which could be traced back 
in every case as coming from the Belmont herd. 
Dr. Thayer’s views and advice were not received with 
favor by the medical profession, nor by some of his own pro¬ 
fession, nor by many men at that time prominent in the agri¬ 
cultural interests of the State. 
In 1862 Massachusetts established the Cattle Commission, 
and in company with two lavmen, Dr. Thayer was appointed 
to serve as such. 
This Commission and its successors adopting the views 
and advice of Dr. Thayer, went steadily at work to eradicate 
the disease, and in 1865 they were able to report to the 
Legislature that the disease had been stamped out. 
The total expense of their operations amounting to about 
$68,000, since which time there has never been an outbreak 
of the disease within her borders. 
To the steady, persistent and untiring labors of Dr. 
Thayer, in the face of opposition, bitter in the extreme, 
strengthened and encouraged by professional as well as other 
friends, the State of Massachusetts owes her lasting immunity 
from this terrible cattle scourge. 
For nearly twenty-five years Dr. Thayer was a member of 
the Massachusetts Cattle Commission. 
He also was a member of the United States Treasury Cat¬ 
tle Commission in company with Prof. Law, of Cornell Uni¬ 
versity, and J. H. Sanders, Esq., of Chicago. 
Dr. Thayer was one who had ever an eye single for the 
advancement of the profession which he loved, and for the 
health and welfare of the animal. 
