The Portland daily press., 1889-01-03
THE STATES FLOCKS AND HERDS.
Annual Report OF the Maine Cattle
Commissioners.
Domestic Animals Generally Free
From Disease.
Chambers the Enemy which is Now
Most to be Feared.

AUGUSTA, Jan. 2.-The State Cattle Com
missioners have made a detailed report Of
their dOings during the past year summar-
izing the accomplishments Of the year. they
say;
In closing this last inspection Of .Ithe year,
we are able to report that all the expenses Of
the Commission. including the amount paid
for horses and cattle, for the years 1887 and
1888, have been kept well within the appro-
priation. A summary Of the whole number
Of cases reported to the commissioners In
1888, will be found TO number 80, embracing
cities and towns distributed from the sea-
board at Portland, TO the backwoods Of
Maine. Eighteen herds Of cattle were in
spected, and 50 stables and lumber camps"
Two head Of cattle we're condemned and de-
stroyed at an expense Of 1854, and 10 hors-
es were also condemned and destroyed at an
expense Of S1,3OO.5O, making a total Of
S138634; as compared with ,s48 herds 4
cattle were inspected, and 10 head of cattle
were destroyed at an expense Of S3O075
while II horses were destroyed, (seven OF
them being traced 10 one lumber camp
at an expense Of S626.5O, making a total Of
1t will be observed that the number Of cat
tie destroyed has materially decreased
from last season, tnat but three cases Of tub
erculosis have developed during the year out
Of the whole number Inspected. while among
horses the number affected with glanders
has increased from II head in 1887, 10 10 head
In 1888. In tracing the history Of this unusu-
al number Of cases Of glanders and farcy In
this State. the most significant fact has de
velOped, that but two OF these horses were
bred In Maine, while i've Of them were brOn-
eos, three came from Canada. one from the
Provinces, one from New Hampshire and
seven Of them came to us from Massschu-
setts. This showing conclusively proves
that glanders does not prevail among horses
10 this State, together with a strong pr0ba-
bility that what cases do develop among
them are caused by inoculatlon from horses
brought into Maine, that had been previous
ly exposed, If they had not actually de
velOped the disease when brought here,
although we have been unable 10 verify this
fact but In a single instance.
The recently improved condition Of our
"focks and herds over that Of previous
years, showing, as II does, an almost abso-
lutte absence Of any contagious disease
among our cattle, may well be deemed suiii-
eient warrant for the opinion that tubereulO-
while 1t would be, perhaps, unreasonable to
expect that Isolated cases may not again
make their appearance In the future history
of our State. Compared, however, with 9th
"Glanders and faIcy'' have taken such a
leading position among the contagious dis
eases OF animals In Maine, as TO require spe-
eial legislation, not only TO extermlnate
whatever cause may occur within the limits
of our State, but also to prevent its intr0duc-
tion from other States where the disease Is
well known TO exist. The State OF Mass1-
chusetts suffered extensively from the preva-
lence Of this malady last season. and the re-
port Of their cattle commissioners for 1881
gives the details Of their examinations, by
which we learn that ''glanders" was found
to exist In all the various stables OF the
South Boston and Cambridge horse railroad
companies.
Several carloads Of horses from these
horse car stables. have been brought into
this State this season and sold and distri-
buted throughout the very heart Of the agri-
cultural districts Of Maine, as our Board be-
lieves to the serious detriment, loss and de-
probation of our own stock, and 20 stop the
recurrence Of which some suitable remedy
should be devised.
In view Of the fact that neither Canada,
the Provinces or Massachusetts remunerate
the owners of horses condemned under their
laws when affected with glanders, II becomes
a serious question whether the liberal pro-
vision Of our present law do not act as pre-
MUM or bounty to unscrupulOus dealers 20
bring horses into this State for sale, where II
they prove diseased they can recover three
tourths Of their appraised value under our
law.
CHAMBERS and farcy Is am Malignant and IA
tai disease, and finds its origin In contagi-
Gus principle, special micr0-Organism, and
is transmissible 70 all domestic animals, ex-
eept to cattle. Sheep are also especially sus.
ceptible to infection. In man the most com
mon mode Of its propagation Is inn0eulatiOn
by the virus gaining access 70 the blood BY
coming in contact with an abrasion OF the
skin or wound Of the mucous membrane.