The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-06-22
REPORTS:

That we find the disease called Plcuro-
Pneumonia existing in some Of the herds OF
Massaehusetts-tha il was introduced thith-
or by means OF cattle imported from Holland
by Winthrop w. Chcnery, Esq, OF Bel.
mont, and which arrived on the 10Th day oil
May, 1859. Two Of the four animals thus
imported died soon after arrival; one was
noticed to be i'll about the Goth Of juno, and
died in nine days after; the fourth Is yet
living. Sometime in August another COW in
Mr.. C.'s herd became sick, and died in about
a fortnight; and in the course Of the two
subsequent months he lost about thirty head
of cattle by the disease. Veterinary surgeons
were called in frOm time 20 time and the
mortality was, at first. ascribcd to want OF
proper ventilation; which was, undoubtedly
a serious cause Of asgravation, but the true
nature Of the disease was not discovered IN
ill November. when DIR. +. +. Thayer, 4
skillful veterinary surgeon, on visiting the
herd, at once, and unhcsitatinsly pronounced
ito be the disease known in Europe as Pieu-
ro-Pneumonia and here we may remark
that this name appears to be an unfortunate
one, inas,ouch as Il conveys to those familiar
with the term, a false as well as true idea
'l uhVs th hhtt Ntth hAV hohhS
and pleura are diseased, and false. because
this disease differs essentially from pleuro-
pneumonia proper, as hitherto known both
here aud abroad, and in both men and in
brute animals, aid which is \ less fatal dis
ease. and is not contagious.
Mr.. Chencry's farm Is 50 situated that
very little communication has existed be-
tween his cattle and those Of others, but on
the 29th of June, the very day ON which the
COW died which Mr.. Chenery believes to be
the first victim Of the dis ase (; 1.-THE death oi
the first two he ascribcs TO injuries sustained
during the voyage y he sold three Dutch
calves TO Curtis Stojdar,l. a young farmer ol
North Brookiield. On their way thither in
ihe cars, one was noticed to falter; soon Il
became quite III, and Mr.. Leonard Stoddar,i,
father OF Curtis. took the calf home with
him to care for NJ, and placed IL in q barn in
which he kert forty head Of cattle. ltgrew
worse, and in q few days the s'n took 1t
back, and in about ten days it did. In
about fortnight the disease appeared in the
herd VI Leonard Stoddard. and one after an
other Of hs animals siekened and died. In
November, and for reasons independent OF
the disease, young Stoddard sold the larger
portion Of his herd, ro-srving nine Of the
most valuable animals. This sale scattered
eleven in various directions. which carried
the infection rhererer they cent, and one of
them is said TO hare injected more than two
hundred others.
A woke Of oxen from the herd Of LEONARD
Stoddard was employed in team OF twenty
three yokcs gathered from various quarters
to move building from Oakham to Nortt
Brookfe,d. One pair of those oxen has
since then, % changed owners that it has no
been traced. and nothing is known OF its late
bat IN erery other instance IS knoirn tina
tho animals took the disease.
Kishout dwelling upon numerous othel
cs1IBln which eontagion can be traced will
equal distinctnos. il Is sufficient 10 say, tina
no case is known 10 have occurred wher'
communication with diseased cattle canno
be traced /: and IL IL believed that nowher'
in Europe has there been an opportunity o
obtaining % convincing evidence OF its con
tagious nature % in Massachusetts,.
As with all other contagious Diseases, boil
among men and brutes. some individuals an
found 10 DO lcss susceptible to the contagioul
influence than Others, and some are not af
fectrd by IL at all and doubts have arisen
In the minds Of several European writers on
this point, the weight Of opinion being, how,
ever, strongly. in favor Of its contagious ma
ture but We submit that the facts in Mas
mchusetts are such as 10 yrore IL beyond q
vsasessbls dosA. We find the disease TO b,
not only contagious, but insidious and do
ceptive, malignant and fAtAl. Iasid'ess, in