The Somerset reporter., 1888-01-18

The State cattle commits toner's had ar
ranged for IA meeting Of the full board in
AAugusta. last week for the purpose Of
presenting their report TO Gov. Marble
and rendering their final account for the
year. But Mr.. f. o. Bcal OF Bangor,
president OF the board, was prevented
from being present on account of illness
in his family, and Dr. Geo. II. Bailey,
veterinary officer of the board, was called
TO Damariscotta ON professional business,
consequently Mr. w W Harris of Cum
berland, secretary of the board, was the
only member present, and the only MEM
Der whose name is appended to the report.
The report of the commissioners is a
lengthy document and gives in the
closest detail record of all the acts and
doings of the board for the year. This
report is proceeded by an account of the
organization Of the board, May 3. 1887,
with the rules and regulations adopted
for its government. The date of the
first case to which the commissioners
gave attention, is not stated, but the
second is recorded as May 4th. From
that time to the date of the last official
inspection, Dec. 9th, the commissioners
report in full the nature of the 90 cases
10 which they were summoned. In Of
fetal answering these calls, the commits
sioners went from York to Aroostook
counties, visiting in the discharge of
their duty As herds Of cattle, and sixteen
stables and lumber camps. Eight infect
ed centres of tuberculosis having been
developed, and thirteen head of cattle
condemned and ordered killed at an ex-
penses of S309,75 The commissioners
were called in nine cases of CHAMBERS in
4 oil hn
demned and destroyed at an expense of
1926. 50. The commissioners say that
owing to the prevalence of CHAMBERS in
neighboring States. and TO the highly
dangerous liability of its communication
to animals and mankind, rendering it q
constant menace to human life, the pro
vi ions of the law regarding it, will in
the future, be strictly enforced. In many
cases to which the commissioners were
called, they found no real or contagious
diseases present, and in some cases none
at all. They believe that no case of con
tagious pleuro-pneumonia now exists IL
| the State.
The total amount appropriated By thu
last legislature to carry out the desigl
of the commission was 5000, of whicl
but So 800 would be available for TIN
work of 1867. But when the presen
board came into power they found 81 lon
of this sum charged up against the OLE
commission, which existed by virtue of
previous law, so that in reality the boart
has had but 81 400 with which to do TIN
work of the year This has put the mem
bers to some Inconvenience, and in som,
cases has been detriment to ther com
plete work, about which they make
mild complaint. This should certainl,
be remedied in the future.
In closing their report the commission
ers say: "When we come to conside
that the valuation of live stock in thi.
State is rising Sl6,500, 900, and that bu
thirteen head valued at but S309.75 have
been found affected with contagious dis
eases, and that among our raidly increas
ing stock of horses but four cases oil
CHAMBERS, valued at $lS9.25, have been dis
covered, outside of one lumber camp
where several horses prove to have al
been noculated from d single case. taker
together with the fact that but single
notice remained in the hands of any oil
the commissioners on Jan |. 1888. l.
proof positive that Maine is justly entitled
to clean bill of health for the tocks
and herds, such as can be claimed by NJ
other State in the Union"
The commissioners recommend that tn,
new cattle bill be amended in several i'm
portant particulars In order that 1t may
better meet all reasonable demands of the
people and better protect our domestic
animals against contagious diseases, and
maintain that high standard of healll
which they now enjoy.
At his hearing before the Council Wed
nesday, Mr.. Harris rendered the entir,
bills of the commission for the year
which were examined and approved. IL,
returned to Portland on the afternoon
train. Dr. Bailey was expected ii
the evening, from Damariscotta, but die
not arrive.