Litchfield enquirer., 1860-05-17
MISCELLANEOUS.

--- We lind some interesting facts relative to the alarming cattle dlstemper now prevailing in Massachusetts, in the Boston .J0u,.nn The facts were gathered on the occasion of the visit to the locality on Wednesday of the Comms- sioDers and agents of County Agricultural Soci- cites;
 But two of the Commissioners (Hon Amasa Walker and Paoli lathrop) were present at the examinations. Dr. LOrlng was prevented from bcrg present on account of business. The ex- aning surgeons were Dr. Dada of Boston and Dr. Tyler of North Brookfed. The first herd visited was that of Ecnj. w. Dean, which had had four separate exposures to tEe contasion but which two weeks ago were professionally ex amined and pronounced sound. On Tuesday 6 further and more particular examination. by means of sounding the chest, showed every ani nal to be diseased--a rapidity of development partly attributable to the change of weather Yesterday the herd presented most miserable appearance, but their forlorn aspect appeared tt be quite os much due to insufficient feeding as tc the disease itself. The barn was nearly destitute of hay. and the cattle were not allowed to range the pastures. The first animal dissectel exhibit cd the disease in its incipient stages. The first lung exposed was twice the size of healthy or gan and was fastened to the diaphragm by , false membrane. 1t was also slightly disculor s,l The other jung was also much cnlarpcd. mar ]e, and full of air, with tie connecting tissue hmr ened. Liberation would probably have enslec in the course of a week. The second case ex amned Was not so advanced case, but tLe symptoms were not unlike these ofthe first. Tn, next case was that of an OK. which exhibited the usual symptoms of nhamaton discoloratiol and adhesion. The Commissioners next went to the farm of Mr. Omstead and killed two OK en, which on the day previous had worked upon 8 breaking up blow. They were taken sick in February and condemned about two weeks ago The first OK killed was in excellent condition and breathed as well as usual. The first lung cxro,- od was found to have very extensively adhered to the diaphragm and ribs. The other lung was taking the acute form of the disease Both lungs weighed ] l., pounds, CT about 1 pounds more than they would have weighed in healtly condition. The lungs of the other OK exhibited thicEening of the tissue. Giscoloration ard gen
 eral incapacitation, but not very advanced stacs of the disease. In the bronchial tubes were dis 1 covered little Jumps of fine hay, which had eth- CT been drawn into the nostrls hy q srasm0dic. unnatural action. or retained there because the lungs were too diseased to throw cat the irrita ting substance, which had produced cxtrYyass- ton.
 The naxt examinations were male upnn three of the herd Of William Dcane 1Le first case was that of the two oxeu which carried tie dis case to tie herd of Mir. Nlnstea: The mate which was badly diseased; was killed a week ago. Although these oxen calTied the disease to the cattle of Nr. OimseSi.. the latter were the first to develop the syEp tons. ln fact, aI- though the disease was introduced into Fir. Doanc herd six months ago, is existence ias hut recently been discovered. The rate of pro ercss appears to depend upon tho natr;ai consti- tution of the animal and also upon tha condition of the barn in which 1t is ko,t. h ipit barn the disease develops mrre rapidly. In an epen harn, where the air crttaths more freely. the disease remains latsnt 8 much longer time, and the closest observer may he unalie to detect its existence until it exhibits itself in an advanced stage. The symptoms in some respects acam to le quite alaig0us to those of conSunptit n. The active form of the disease sometimes diSn,,- pears, and a complete cure seems to have taken nlace but this condition is almost immediately succeeded by relapse, or a breaking out of the disease in another portion of the lungs,
 The second case examined in the herd of Mir Doane was that of a COW apparently wei i'll ev cry respect except so far as the rcv'rse was in- dicatcd by sounding the chest. which in all cases of the disease gives. forth q dull, heavy sound. produced by the enlarged lungs coming in con fact with the ribs Yesterday morning this COW gave six quarts of milk The examination of her uncs. however, showed the usual thickcnine of the external tissue and a general progressive state of the disease. The next case WAS that of a heifer which week ago was pronounced per fectiy sound. Yesterday tie sounding test showed her to be disc&sed, and the subsequent examlnation revealed enlargement and dlac0lora- tion. The last herd visited yesterday was thai Roland Doane. where a condemned COW and an
 II. .-1,, # 4In .IIL slauohtered This completed the examinations for the day.
 At half:past seven o'clock there was meeting at the Town Hall of citizens and visitors. The meeting was called to order hy Mr. Freeman Walker. Rev. C. C. Sewall, member of the Board of Agriculture. was chosen to preside, and upon taking tie chair addressed the meeting up on the alarming character of the disease. He vas informed that large portion of the cattle of North ErookfelI we're doomed, and that it was extending beyond the town limits. The inffu euce of the warm weather was found to be inten sifying the disease, and the only remedy was in the death of every exposed animal. The char man then reminded the meeting that thls disease might extend throughout the United States, ana that farmers in the West were already alarmed. In Europe within the last century, about l0O,- GOO GOO of cattle had been destroyed by the dls- ease, and it was only kept in cheek by the aid oi government.
 Mir Peters. of the Board of Agriculture, ex- pressed his horror at the extent and nature of inc disease. He said the Commissioners had to make bricks without straw They had only S10,- OGO when they should have had $l00,060 The 1 disease seemed to be more malignant than in Flu rope. lie alluded to the affecting condition of the farmers of North Brookfieid, and said it op pressed him with sadness to see the destruction of so many fine cattle and the consequent stag nation of dusiness. The foreign population Oi the West were already alarmed at the apl lranc3 of the dreadful scourge in this country, and would already sell their herds for small sum-
 Dr. Burnett of Southboro' thought it very feature that every case of the dis ease which had manifested itself thus far had b. en traced to one source. He said the change of weather had changed the appearance of the disease. Increased respiration had made the dis ease more infammatory than hitherto, and the lungs had become enlarged and distended S. far as tie present is concerned, it seemel to be mlder type, but he thought the large tumors would soon appear in natural course.
 The whole number of cattle condemned by the Comm ssioners is about 58O, and the number slaughtered about AGO. It is believed tIa' nre '- fourths all the stock in North Brookh q nave b zen exposed to the contagion Tine Infected district is contained wi hin rad us or only about three miles, but includes most of the prIn cinal stock farms of the town. This region pre- sents sad and desolate appearance lncee Scarcely an animal is to be seen in the fields or nastures and the consequence IS general stag nation of farming operations. To highten the melancholy appearance of the.e farms, almost