158 
PLEURO-PNECTMONI A. 
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts : 
The Board of Commissioners on Coutagious Diseases among Cattle, which 
has been continued in accordance with the wishes of His Excellency the Gov¬ 
ernor during the past year, the object being to guard against the introduction 
of the cattle plague (rinderpest) which has caused so much loss in Great Britain 
during the past three years ; or the possible breaking out and spread of the 
disease called “ pleuro-pneumouia,” which has heretofore pr vailed to an alarm¬ 
ing extent in this Commonwealth, congratulate the people upon the exemption 
from the former, and the probable extinction of the latter from our herds. 
From the latest reports it appears, through the energetic action of the Eng¬ 
lish government, the rinderpest is nearly “ stamped out,” consequently the fear 
that it would be brought to this country is lessened. Should, however, the ca¬ 
lamity occur, it is hoped that the same vigorous measures adopted by Massachu¬ 
setts to extirpate pleuro-pneumouia, and Great Britain the rinderpest, would be 
executed without delay. 
Ihese measures, together with the restriction placed upon the importation 
of cattle by our government, have so far protected us against the rinderpest. 
The active and timely exertions made in our Commonwealth have saved our 
herds from the devastation which was so seriously threatened by the pleuro¬ 
pneumonia, so that by the expenditure of a very small proportion of the appro¬ 
priations made in 1864 and 1866, we have now eutire confidence that it is eradi¬ 
cated; and from what we know of the nature of the disease, we feel certain 
that it will not again appear among our herds unless, as in 1859, imported from 
beyond our limits. 
As the Commission has accomplished the work for which it was appointed, 
in tendering to His Excellency our resignation we congratulate the people on 
the success which has been insured by tbe prompt action of the State Board of 
Agriculture, and especially its Secretary, in connection with the Legislature, and 
with the co-operation of many of the leading agriculturists and breeders of 
stock among our citizens, in eradicating one of the worst forms of contagious 
disease which has been found among the cattle; and we would at the same time 
congratulate the breeders of stock that the investigations of scientific men in 
relation to this, as well as other forms of disease peculiar to animals, is tending 
in so large a degree to save them and the country from such great losses as they 
would otherwise inevitably incur. 
The Commissioners have been called in several instances during the past 
year to examine diseased cattle. 
In one herd only, and but for a few days, during which three cows died, was 
there any evidence of a coutagious disease found. The character of the disease 
is unknown, as the animals had been buried before our arrival at the farm. 
E. F. THAYER, 
CHAS. P. PRESTON, 
. Commissioners. 
December 30, 1867. 
