Cows in this county are generally bred here, and very few are bought in Baltimore. I am confident that there is not at this time, nor has there been for the past year, a case of pleuro-pneumonia in Harford County.

In several herds, however, I found cases of tuberculosis. In every case but one the owners promised to immediately slaughter those I pointed out as infected, and I believe they have done so. In the one case, however, the owner could not be made to believe his cow (a registered Jersey) was diseased, as he said she was giving more milk than any other cow in his herd. As our laws take no cognizance of this disease, I could do no more than give advice. I am convinced there is considerable of this disease in the county. In several stables abortion prevails to a considerable extent, and this disease is thought by most cattle raisers infectious.

Mr. William Davidson, near Bel Air, had pleuro-pneumonia on his farm in August, 1885; all his cattle were killed by order of Dr. Ward, State veterinarian. Mr. Davidson disinfected his stables and allowed no cattle on his farm for one year.

He now has 14 cows and 15 steers, all in perfect health. Stables and yards in best condition. Mr. Quinby, a near neighbor, had disease at same time, and the cattle was killed by same officer. Kept no cattle for over a year. Now has 4 head, all in good condition. I believe these farms to be entirely free from infection now.

The people of Harford County are deeply interested in the cattle industry, and are anxious for national legislation for the eradication of contagious diseases.

Swine plague has prevailed here more or less for several years. In the years 1884-'85 the southern half of the county lost heavily-from 25 to 50 per cent. loss each year- but in 1886 but few hogs were lost. In the northern half, however, the disease prevailed in 1886. From careful inquiry I estimated the loss for the northern half at about 25 per cent. for 1886, and on many farms I found hogs still dying. This northern half embraces more than half the population. The registered vote of the county is 6,977. One-half of this, say, is 3,488. Counting three hogs to a voter, this would make 10,464 hogs at $5-$52,320, total value of usual hog crop. Twenty-five per cent. loss makes $13,080, the probable loss for 1886. This is counting no loss for the southern half of the county; but as the loss in this part in 1886 has been from 3 to 5 per cent., it would make a total for the county of over $15,500. Generally the same carelessness prevails here as in other counties as regards the care of the infected and disposal of the dead animals.

My investigations were greatly facilitated by Mr. Alexander, of Bel Air, president of the live stock sanitary board, and Mr. Fulford. Among the most interesting visits made was the one to his splendid Berkshire breeding farm, where I found the sanitary arrangements good and stock in perfect health.

KENT COUNTY.

With Chestertown for a base, I visited every portion of Kent County. This is the greatest peach-growing county of the State. All the energies of the farmers seem to be centered on this industry. As a consequence, cattle raising has been neglected. Generally the cattle are badly cared for, and of inferior grade. A few good herds are found of Shorthorns. Herefords, and Jerseys. I found no pleuro

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pneumonia, and no indication that it had ever been here.

Some few cases of tuberculosis were found. In a few stables abortion prevails to quite an alarming extent.

The horses of this county are of good stock and have excellent care. The only disease found among them was distemper, which now prevails extensively in some sections.

In consequence of the immense peach crops raised here, the farmers keep great numbers of hogs, probably far more in proportion to the population than any other county in the State. Many farmers keep from 50 to 75 head, while quite frequently more than 100 were to be found on a farm before the swine plague got among them. This disease has prevailed more or less for some years. In 1885 a half district, along the Chester River and Chesapeake Bay, lost nearly its whole hog crop. In 1886 not more than 20 per cent died. But during the past year the other parts of the county have lost heavily. The disease was worse during the fall of last year, but I found some farms where hogs were still dying. I give below, in tabulated form, the losses by districts for 1886. I estimate the number of hogs owned by each voter here at 5 instead of 3, as in other counties. This is considered entirely within bounds by all with whom I have talked.

It will be seen from the above table that the total loss for Kent County in 1886 was $59,385.75.

This is greater than any county I have inspected. I saw several farms where from 90 to 100 hogs were lost last year. Kent is one of the wealthiest in the State, but the swine plague is one of the most serious troubles ever experienced here.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.

Comparatively few cattle are kept in this county, the farmers mostly devoting their attention to the raising of vegetables and fruits for market. Stables, as a rule, are very poor, and but little attention is given to cattle, which are of poor quality and badly fed. In and around the city of Annapolis quite a number of cows are kept for dairy purposes.

In the city, Horn Point-a suburb-and Camp Parole, about three miles out, are the only places where any disease was found. A detailed report of the cases found here, the number that died, number killed, and the number in quarantine, has been furnished your Department by Dr. William H. Wray, under whose direction the first investigations were made.

There are now in quarantine at Horn Point five stables, in Annapolis City one herd, and one herd at Camp Parole. I have been unable to

find any other infected herds, though as warm weather comes on other cases may develop.

This disease (pleuro-pneumonia) was evidently introduced here in July, 1886, by a Jew cow dealer named Joseph Stern, from Baltimore, who brought a few cows from Baltimore to this place by boat for sale and exchange. Every case of this disease here has been traced to this lot of cattle. The first one attacked was an animal sold to Mr. Joseph Beardmore, of Horn Point. Seven head of Mr. Beardmore's herd died, and 6 more were killed by Dr. Wray. All the other herds infected were from contact with cattle from Stern's importation. Mr. Stern sold cattle to other parties in the city and country. I believe I have traced every animal sold by him, and have examined them and the herds into which they entered, but found no disease except in the cases already reported. It is quite evident that some of the cows brought here by Stern had been exposed to infection in Baltimore, which did not develop till some time after the lot was sold and separated; hence some of them escaped the disease and the herds into which they entered were saved.

As Anne Arundel County is separated from Baltimore only by the Patapsco River, it was supposed there might be found some disease in the northern part of the county. As Dr. Wray, chief inspector of the work in Baltimore, is making close inspections of every stable within 10 miles of that city, I made at his request a careful inspection of that part of Anne Arundel County commencing at Brooklyn and out the various roads from that place for 10 miles. A detailed report of these daily inspections have been made to Dr. Wray and will appear in his report to you. I will only here state that I found no signs of pleuro-pneumonia and but two cases of tuberculosis. From hearing the reports of so much disease in Baltimore the people have been very cautious in their purchases, and as yet the disease has not got among them.

I found no disease among the horses of this county.

Swine plague has prevailed here for some years. In 1885 and 1886 it was particularly severe. In the southern portion of the county it is estimated that at least 75 per cent. of the hogs died in 1886. In all other parts of the county 50 per cent. were lost. There are in the county 6,842 voters. In the eighth, or southern district, there are 887 voters. This, at 3 hogs to a voter, would give 2,661 hogs, and at $5 per head $13,305 as the value of the usual hog crop for this district. A loss of 75 per cent. would make $9,978.75.

The other districts contain 5,955 voters, x 3=17,865 hogs, at $5 per head, $89,325. A loss of 50 per cent. makes $44,662.50. This, with $9,978.75 in the eighth district, makes a total loss for the county in 1886 of $54,641.25.

The disease still prevails, and I saw many infected herds. Very many farmers told me they would not attempt to raise hogs while this disease was so prevalent; they are discouraged. Very few having made pork for their own use last year, and with low prices for other crops, they can ill afford to purchase meats.

CALVERT COUNTY.

I have found no infectious or contagious diseases among cattle in this county. Tobacco is the principal crop here, and very few cattle are kept, except as work oxen. They raise very little hay; the stables are very poor, and often no shelter is provided for cattle.

The general condition of the cattle of this county is worse than any I have seen. I have learned of many instances of actual starvation. I was called to visit several farms where sickness was said to prevail, and as was supposed, from infectious disease, for sometimes several in a herd were sick at the same time. In every instance I found the cattle nearly starved; they had been turned out into the fields and had eaten largely of the dried grasses and weeds, causing impaction of the stomach and bowels, and imflammation of these organs.

The number sick and the number that have died was a surprise to me. In these cases I could only give advice as to treatment and care of stock.

No disease among horses. The horse stock here is very poor in quality.

The swine plague has caused severe losses. In 1886 the losses were very heavy. I am satisfied the percentage of deaths in the county reached at least 50 per cent., though in some sections it reached 75 per cent. There are in the county 2,395 voters; at 3 hogs per voter makes 7,185 hogs, and at $5 per head makes $35,925, value of usual hog crop; 50 per cent. loss gives us $17,962.50. This, I am sure, is a fair estimate of the losses sustained by this county for 1886.

SAINT MARY'S COUNTY.

The condition of stock in Saint Mary's is better than in Calvert County, but still is in rather poor condition. Tobacco and corn are the main crops here, but generally the land is stronger and more grass is grown and rather better care and attention is given to live stock, though I found some in very poor condition.

I found no contagious diseases among cattle. Very few cattle having been brought into this county of late, they have escaped the infection of pleuro-pneumonia.

The horses are healthy. On the farm of Dr. John M. Broome, and in the vicinity of his place (Saint Mary's City), for some years glanders prevailed. The disease was brought in from Baltimore. The losses sustained amounted to several hundred dollars. The killing of every infected animal some time since has finally put an end to the contagion. Had this course been resorted to at first many horses and a large amount of money might have been saved.

As in all the other counties, the swine plague has caused great loss. During the past year it has prevailed in all parts of the county; less severely, probably, in Chaptico district than in the other districts. I am satisfied the loss for the whole county for 1886 will reach 75 per cent. Estimating, as in other counties, this would make a total loss of $43,515.

I found that Dr. John M. Broome had reported on April 1 to your Department that the losses by swine plague last year amounted to over 50 per cent., but he authorized me to say that upon further investigation he was satisfied that he had made too low an estimate, and he believed it was really 75 per cent.

Upon investigation I found that the pork and bacon brought into the town of Leonardtown by boat, to supply the demand for the district, say of 10 miles around, amounts yearly to about $44,000. This has been a necessity lately, because of the great loss of hogs by dis

ease.

The money thus expended has been taken from the sale of other products, and this amount represents but a small part of the county. The real loss to the people is really more than double my estimate.

CHARLES COUNTY.

The farmers of this county, like most other counties of southern Maryland, have given very little attention to the improvement of cattle, keeping comparatively few of any kind. Very few cattle have been brought into the county, and fortunately they have escaped pleuro-pneumonia. I find no contagious disease among this class of animals, with the exception of a few cases of tuberculosis. Cattle here are usually badly cared for, both as to food and shelter. The horse stock is of better blood and well cared for, and in a healthy condition.

I visited every district and section of the county, making inquiries as to the condition of hogs. I find the swine plague has prevailed here for several years. In the years of 1885 and 1886 the losses were heavier than ever before.

So generally has this disease prevailed that many of the best farmers told me they had now entirely given up the attempt to keep hogs, and others are keeping as few as possible. Fearing the ravages of the disease this year, very few hogs are to be found in the county.

In some neighborhoods few hogs died last year, but in most cases these same sections lost heavily in 1885. In most districts the losses for 1886 amounted to over 75 per cent. Considering the small losses in some neighborhoods this percentage will be somewhat reduced. After careful investigation, I am of the opinion that the loss for last year for the whole county will amount to at least 66 per cent. In the county there are 3,898 voters. Estimating 3 hogs to a voter gives a total of 11,694. At $5 per head makes $58,470 as the value of the hog crop. Sixty-six per cent. makes the total loss $38,590.20 for 1886.

I feel sure this estimate is below the actual loss. Inquiry instituted among the merchants shows that the pork and bacon brought into the county to supply the wants of the people far exceeds my estimated loss.

With the very low prices realized from their staple crop-tobacco-they can ill afford to buy meats to supply their actual wants. Among the poorer classes much suffering and want is the result of this disease among swine.

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

Tobacco, wheat, and corn are the great crops raised here, and comparatively few cattle are kept, except near the District of Columbia and along the railroads leading into Washington, where large numbers are kept for dairy purposes.

In the southern and eastern parts of the county I found cattle healthy; no contagious disease except a few cases of tuberculosis, which is found here, as well as in every other section of the State, to a greater or less extent. The cattle usually kept in this county are of inferior quality.

After having examined the southern and central parts of the county from Upper Marlborough, the county seat, I changed my quarters to Bladensburgh, near the District line. In this section I expected