118 
PLEUROPNEUMONIA. 
account the value of the manure, it is sufficient in this case to state the facts’ 
that Nelson said, repeatedly, that the cows, for some reason, gave but little 
milk ; that he could see uo diffiercuce iu them in this respect. Dr. Thayer ex¬ 
amined them again and again, aud could detect no trace of the disease in but 
four, and in one of these he detected it where it did not exist. To state the case 
in a different form : three of the nine cows, (I think there were nine left after 
killing the first one,; had pleuro-pneumonia. None of them paid for their koep- 
ing; ergo, cows that have the pleuro-pneumonia are not worth keeping! So 
easily do men become the dupes of their own prejudices! To such ridiculous 
shifts as these are men driven who have a theory to maintain which they deem 
of vital importance ! It may be said that perhaps the remainder of the herd 
had the disease ; but one of them, at least, did uot have it, and the evidence is, 
that no difference existed among the herd as to the falling off iu the milk. 
Not a little excitement existed in Lexingtou iu regard to a herd belonging 
to I. E. Cutter, from which several cows had died during the spring and summer. 
The Commissioners had the herd isolated, and at a subsequent visit one of the 
cows was found to be very sick. It was though best to have the whole herd, 
consisting of thirteen cows aud a bull, appraised aud killed at Brighton, where 
the meat of the healthy portion could be readily disposed of. All but four of 
the number proved to have had the disease. The only facts I deem it worth 
recording here in relation to Cutter’s herd are, that Cutter declared that neither 
of the cattle killed at Brighton had ever shown to him any symptoms of the 
disease, though he had watched them closely, and had had that experience 
which having the disease iu his herd six or eight mouths would give ; and that 
he did not mention as a fact that the cows did not pay for their keepiug, but 
on the contrary, complained of the loss he should suffer by being deprived of the 
milk of so good a herd. Let it be borne in mind, that eight of this herd had had 
the pleuro-pneumonia for months. 
July 15th ue visited the herd of Oliver Meade, of Boxborough, consisting of 
two cows and some dozen young cattle. Meade had lost two cows, and °the 
selectmen had compelled him to shut up iu his barn the remaining two. On in¬ 
quiry it was found that oue of these cows and a two-year old had been purchased 
of his hi other, who lived about a mile distant, which brother sometimes traded 
with Lexington people, and during the past season had lost an animal of some 
disease. These were deemed suspicious facts, and the cow bought of the brother, 
though appearing to the inexperienced to be perfectly healthy, and the oue by 
her side which was evidently diseased, were condemned. The young cattle were 
taken from the pasture and kept iu a stable for two weeks, that Dr. Thayer 
might have a good opportunity to examine them ; aud that other herds might 
not be exposed previous to such an examination. On our visiting the place, two 
weeks afterward, one of the cows was dead. The young cattle were examined 
thoroughly, particularly the oue bought of the brother, aud also the remaining 
cow. The doctor thought she must have the disease in the chronic stage, being 
positive that she had a slight adhesion on one side, and there seemed to be no 
other way to trace the disease, as none of the young cattie had ever shown any 
symptoms of the disorder, and they had been kept all winter in the barn, with 
tho one bought of the brother. The three cows which Meade had owned for 
years, weie dead. The lungs of oue of them Dr. Thayer had examiued, aud 
theie could be no mistake about its having had the contagious pleuro-pneumonia. 
