EDITORIAL. 
433 
less affected with a cough. A red calf that was examined showed 
a respiration of 40 and a pulse of 80, and this was the only ani¬ 
mal in the herd that could he said to be dangerously ill, though 
the owner regarded others in a similar condition. 
“ The first animal looked at was a calf that was picked out by 
Mr. Merrill (the owner). Dr. Thayer declared, after a careful 
examination, that there was no acute disease affecting it. The 
lungs were sufficiently resonant to refute the theory of the ex¬ 
istence of pneumonia. The second calf was found to be in an 
equally favorable condition. A light-colored cow, that, to all 
external appearance to the casual observer, seemed to be the 
sickest animal of the herd, was next examined. There was a 
little dullness on the left side. Her temperature was 101°, pulse 
♦30 to 62.” After examining some others which were sick and 
making post-mortem examinations upon two, in which lesions of 
pneumonia were found, the conclusions of Dr. Thayer are given 
as follows : u Mr. Merrill’s herd is affected with pleuro-pneumonia. 
The disease is not of the contagious character. It is enzootic, or, 
in other words, confined to one locality.” Further on it is said, 
“ the disease arises from improper sanitary condition about the 
buildings.” It would seem, though, that some outsiders are in¬ 
clined to think the housing of a herd of Canadian cattle in the 
barn last fall had something to do with the outbreak. At a 
meeting of the public in the town hall in the evening, among 
other remarks by different persons present, Mr. Merrill said: 
“ My barn seems to be well ventilated, and I cannot see how cows 
should be affected when all admit that the cow-stable is in good 
condition. Neither can I explain why some of these same cattle 
should be taken sick before they came to the barn, if it is the 
sanitary condition of the buildings that produces the disease.” 
Later in the discussion, Mr. Merrill asks. “ How do you explain 
the coughing of my cows that have been in good quarters ? ” 
To which Dr. Thayer replied: “The coughing of the cows is no 
more than I have frequently and commonly seen in barns where 
cows are fed on dry feed. There is no disease among your cows, 
only in the case of the cow specified above, except what might 
be produced by dry food.” 
