Excerpt from Fourth and Fifth Annual Reports of the Bureau of Animal Industry for the Years 1887 and 1888

Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith the Fourth and Fifth Annual Reports of the Bureau of Animal Industry, covering the work of the years 1887 and 1888, which have been combined for pub lication in one volume. An account is given therein of the opera tions of the Bureau for the suppression of the contagious pleuro pneumonia of cattle, of the investigations of various diseases of our domestic animals in different parts of the United States, and of in formation obtained bearing upon the present condition of the animal industry of the country.

The period included in these reports embraces all of the work for the eradication of pleuro-pneumonia which has been done Since eu thority was given for applying such measures as are essential for the success of the work. Thus, during the first six months of the out break at Chicago, Ill. There was no authority to purchase and slaugh ter exposed animals, and an insufficient sum was available for the destruction of those actually diseased. The appropriation act for the year 1887 gave additional authority, however, and from the time it went into effect the work has gone on successfully.

Before the close of the year 1887 this dangerous disease had been eradicated from Illinois, and as soon as this was accomplished the affected districts in the eastern section of the United States were placed in quarantine and a rigid supervision of the cattle traflic was estab lished. Although, as compared with the results of similar work in other countries, the time has been Short to demonstrate the effects Of the system here adopted, the progress has nevertheless been such as to give the greatest encouragement. The Western States, and all of the interior districts of the Eastern States, have been freed from the contagion. The disease no longer exists in Virginia or Pennsylvania. In Maryland it is confined to Baltimore; in New Jersey it is confined to Hudson County; in New York it is confined to New York City and to Brooklyn and its suburbs. In all of these places infected herds are slaughtered as soon as discovered, and the premises where they have been are thoroughly disinfected. N 0 other States are infected.

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