Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-03-17
THE CATTLE MURRAIN OF MASSACHU-
SETlS


in North Brookfeld and its neighborhood, is a
matter of great interest to cattle breeders and |
farmers generally, and it has assumed partic |
ular interest to all our citizens since recon-
mendation has been made that all cattle when
seized with the disease, which are fit TO be
slaughtered, should be sent to the shambes at
once. This disease, which is raging among the
cattle on the farms of BrookGeld, seems tu be |
the murrain of Europe, where it is considered
such scourgc that no moro significant curse
can be pronounced upon person in the agri-
cultural districts than to say to him. ga muir
rain upon ye" The origin of this disease in
Massachusetts is given in the Boston AdcetiSer,
and we copy the main portion of the statement
of its reporter below:
The calf which doubtless introduced the con-
tagion in this neighborhood was of foreign ex-
traction, and was purchased with two others, by
Mr. Curtis Stoddard, I'd, young farmer of this
town from Mr. w. w. Cheney, of Boston, who
keeps choice herd of imported stock at his
"Highland Stock Farm in the new town of
Belmont. Mr. Cheney has from time to time
imported several valuable animals from Hol-
land, and about year ago, wishing to surpass
all his former eNDlOitS he instructed his nuputS
TO procure the four hest COWS in all Uoiond
and. having obtained the certificate of yctcri.
nary surge0ns ne N .bo;r sourdpess 20 serd
them TO this country. Tho cows were selected
accordingly and duly Skinned but on their orri-
val at BOSTON two of them were ser;ously AFFECT.
ed with some strange d;sordor Ono was GOV
cred with ulcerous. rotten sores which emitted
an uncomfortable stencil, and as she could not
stand, 1t was necessary to employ cart to car
Dr. Dadd hut his only advice was, slaughter.
and the advice was taken. The other COW in
terested tbe doctor I'm, be soon convinced him
self that the disease wos ;ncnrahlc and she
went the way of her comnon;on, Now wc can
establish the fact that the disease is contagious.
for il sprcad among Mr. Cbeney's other cattle
and within n vcor has carried oir ahont twenty.
five head
The RrookGeld f,rmcrs are nc keeplv ol;vea.
their bretbren in other norts of the state 70 tho
value of ;mnrovinp their stock and Mr. S,od-
dord. AIMING IN he n n;onecr in The Good couse
visited Mr. Chonoy's farm in Juno last, and nnr
chased three Young calves of foreign parentagc.
At that time some of Mr. Cheneys cattle were
ill, but it was not then thought contagious
Bringing home his new purchases, Mr. Stoddard
kept them for a while by themselves and after
wards allowed them to run with his other cattle.
One rainy day last August one of the calves, an
interesting heifer. BETRAYED SYMPTOMS of illness m
curling herself up as if suffering from cold.-
He, owner at once took her TO the harm for
shelter. but she grew no better. and seemed to
breathe with difcultv moking n grunting noise
while drawing her brnatb'
Mr. Stoddard's father. Mr. Leonard Stoddard
thinking he mirbt do something for her If he
had her under his eve. took her to his own farm
and kent her for few dovs in n horse harm and
then She wer home uncnred and in n few dovs
died. II is somewhat sincul,r that none of Nr
Curtis Stoddord's other cettlc with which the
vonng beiGer bod associated on terms of Great
intimacy hive been effected but tho d;scase
next manifested itself among his fathers herd.
No other CATTLE were kent in the horse harm Of
Mr. Leonard Stoddard Int tbe Latter gentleman
thinks il nrohable tbougb bc ;s bv no means
certain. that on some of The be;fcr's excursions
for water She NAV have stravcd to his large
harm in which a woke of work;nr oxen were
confined Certoin i ;s that ohonf two weeL 9
oS,er her, visit was over one Of these oven wns
taken with the d;stemnerl aftcr a Sor,n;ght ,hc
Other one in three dars more n ,b;rd ox and