DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
SPECIAL REPORT—No. 31. 
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
THIRD REPORT 
UV i 
CHARLES P. LYMAN, E. R. C. Y. S. 
WASHI^T/TON: 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
1881. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
SPECIAL REPORT—No. 31. 
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA 
THIRD REPORT 
OF 
CHARLES P. LYMAN, F. R. C. Y. S. 
WASHIXGTOX: 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
1881. CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
Sir : Although my recent examination of American cattle, as landed 
and slaughtered in England, had for its chief object the detection of the 
contagious pleuro pneumonia so frequently reported by the English 
governmental authorities as existing among them, and the subsequent 
location, as nearly as possible, in the United States, of the herds from 
which these animals had been taken, I made my last report to you upon 
this subject before having had sufficient opportunity to examine as thor- 
oughly as seemed to me desirable, the details connected with this direct 
investigation, because I considered that, incidentally, matters of the 
greatest importance connected with our cattle export trade had come 
to my knowledge, and that under the circumstances it was very impor- 
tant that these facts should come to the knowledge of Congress early 
in the session, so that, if they deemed them of as much importance as 
they seemed to me, they might have time to take such action as they 
deemed necessary. 
Therefore the second report was made, and I was obliged to content 
myself, at that time, with the statement that if pleuro pneumonia ex- 
isted in the West, or if there were diseased cattle in or about the points 
through which the animals passed on their journey eastward, the infor- 
mation already possessed would, after a little further time, insure its 
location. That time I have now had, and in this report I intend to dis- 
miss simply the facts bearing upon these two points of the inquiry. 
First, by tracing back the condemned animals, so far as 1 have been 
able, from England to the States wherein they were raised, and to show 
what likelihood there is that contagious pleuro pneumonia exists in any 
of these States. Second, by submitting to you the report of Dr. W. F* 
Whitney, the microscopist, whose services were engaged for the special 
purpose of examining the diseased portions of lung brought home by 
me from Liverpool; and, third, by discussing, in addition to this, which 
may be called the direct testimony in the case, the circumstances con- 
nected with the marketing, transporting by rail, aud shipping of cattle 
through our uninfected districts and ports to England, i. e., that part of 
the matter which may be called the indirect testimony, or in reality a 
putting together of facts connected with this shipping business, and 
drawing from them what seems to me to be reasonable deductions. 
The lungs condemned in my presence were six in number, and were 
from animals coming from Boston to Liverpool in the following named 
steamers, and in the numbers given : Iberian, one; Victoria, two ; Bra- 4 
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
zilian, two; and from New York to Liverpool in tlie steamer Aleppo, 
one. 
The history of these animals, as 1 have been able to learn, is as fol- 
lows : Mr. Smith, butcher, bought of Mr. George Roddick, cattle sales- 
man at Liverpool, 194 bullocks from the cargo of the steamer Brazilian, 
landed at Birkenhead July 7, 1880. These animals were consigned to 
the salesman by Messrs. J. & C. Coughlin, of London, Ontario, Canada, 
who bought them in Boston, to which place they had been shipped di- 
rect from the Chicago maiket via. the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada 
to Buffalo, thence via. the New York Central to Albany, thence via. the 
Boston and Albany to Boston. The lot consisted of steers from the 
States of Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois. 
Mr. Alfred Dawson, butcher, bought of Mr. George Roddick, cattle 
salesman at Liverpool, several bullocks from the cargo of the steamer 
Victoria, landed at Birkenhead July 15. These animals were consigned 
to the salesman by Mr. Timothy Coughlin, London, Canada, who bought 
them in Boston, to which place they had been shipped direct from the 
Chicago market via. the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada to Buffalo, 
thence via. the New York Central to Albany, thence via. the Boston and 
Albany to Boston. This lot, as in the last case, consisted of steers from 
Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois. 
Since leaving Liverpool I am advised that up to the 21st of Novem- 
ber seven more animals were condemned, as follows: On September 5, 
from the cargo of the steamer Palestine, three animals. These were 
from a lot consigned to Messrs. Utley and Sons, of Liverpool, by Messrs. 
T. & F. Utley, of Boston; 44 of them were Missouri, and 100 Iowa ani- 
mals. They were bought in the Chicago market and came to Boston 
via. Buffalo and Albany over the Grand Trunk, New York Central, and 
Fitchburg Railroads. 
On November 9, from the cargo of the steamer Victoria, one auiinaL 
This was from a lot consigned to Mr. Ramsden, cattle salesman, Liver- 
pool, by Messrs. Wales & McLeavitt, of Boston, all of them being Illi- 
nois steers, bought in Chicago market and shipped to Boston over the 
Michigan Central, Grand Trunk, Vermont Central, and Fitchburg Rail- 
roads. 
On November 18, from the cargo of the steamer Bohemian, one animal. 
This was from a lot consigned to Mr. Hewlett, cattle salesman, Liver- 
pool, by Mr. William Hawksworth, Brighton, Mass. They were Illinois 
steers, one-half purchased in Albany, coming to Boston via. Boston and 
Albany Railroad. They had been brought to Albany from Chicago over 
the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern route. The other half were 
bought in Brighton market, Boston, and had been brought from Chicago- 
via. Grand Trunk, New York Central, and Fitchburg Railroads. 
On November 18, from the cargo of the steamer Brazilian, one animal. 
This was from a lot consigned to Mr. William Carroll, Liverpool, by 
Messrs. Hathaway & Jackson, of Boston, and were all Ohio cattle, bought CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
5 
especially for this shipment in that State, and were shipped via. Buffalo, 
and from there over the New York Central to Albany, thence over the 
Fitchburg Railroad to Boston. 
On November 21, from the cargo of the steamer Iowa, one animal. 
This was from a lot consigned to Messrs. Utley & Sons, Liverpool, by 
Messrs. T. & F. Utley, of Boston. Fifteen or twenty of them were Oh io 
cattle, and came direct from London, Ohio, by way of Buffalo, Albany, 
and Fitchburg, to Boston. The remainder were Missouri and Illinois 
steers, and came from Chicago by Grand Trunk Road. 
With one exception this traces, I believe, all the condemned animals 
that have arrived at Liverpool from Boston from July 7 to November 
21,1880. (The one not traced was from the cargo of the steamer Iberian, 
landed July 14; the reason for this will be described further on in this 
report.) From it will be seen that the native States of the condemned 
animals are Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio; that the only markets 
through which they have passed are Chicago, Buffalo, Albany, and 
Boston ; that the lines of rail that have been used are the Lake Shore 
and Michigan Southern, Michigan Central, Grand Trunk line of Canada, 
New York Central, Yermont Central, Boston and Albany, and the 
Fitchburg, or, as it is sometimes called, the Hoosac Tunnel route. 
Cattle from the United States, upon being landed in Liverpool or at 
Birkenhead, are driven into stables erected for the purpose upon the 
wharves upon which they are landed, and are tied up in rows facing each 
other between which there is a passage way. After they have remained 
here, resting and feeding for at least twelve hours, they are examined 
by the veterinary inspector of the port, and, after they have passed this 
examination the salesman to whom they are consigned is at liberty to 
sell them, and the butcher who buys them, to drive them into the sham- 
bles, also situated upon the same wharf, where they are killed under the 
restriction that all lungs must be laid aside until they have been ex- 
amined by the inspector, when those not condemned may be disposed 
of in any way that the owner sees lit. This examination is made by 
clasping, one at a time, the lungs between both hands, and in this posi- 
tion passing them over their entire surface, when, if anything peculiar 
is felt, it is cut down upon and examined. In this way the slightest varia- 
tion from the normal becomes at once apparent; in fact, it is surprising 
how quickly the smallest change in them may be located. In this con- 
nection I also wish to have the fact borne in mind that in no one of these 
cases condemned in my presence did the inspector discover the disease 
before the animal was killed, although every animal was closely inspected 
in the way described, and in no one case was there any appearance about 
any one of these condemned animals that caused the slightest question 
to be raised as to his healthfulness, notwithstanding he had but very 
recently passed the scrutiny both of the port inspector and the butcher 
who had bought him; nor was there oue of them that M as not fully up 
to the average of his fellows in flesh. 6 
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PMEUMONIA. 
The microscopic appearances of these six lungs in their fresh state 
were as follows: 
Brazilian No. 1.—This lung contained, in about its center, a large, 
hardened object that could be both seen and felt, and would measure, 
perhaps, about six inches through its largest diameter. This, upon being 
cut into, appeared to be an abscess containing nothing but a pure, rather 
thick, creamy pus, and, although any portion of dead tissue that might 
be contained within this cavity was thoroughly searched for, nothing of 
the sort could be found. The cavity was surrounded by what seemed 
to be a rather thick cartilaginous wall, this again by a considerable 
amount of “marbled” tissue in which the parenchyma; was of an even 
pinkish color, with the interlobular thickening well marked, white, hard, 
and firm. This, in its turn, passed almost imperceptibly, the parenchyma 
becoming gradually more and more areable, and the interlobular thick- 
ening growing narrower and narrower iuto the healthy lung tissue sur- 
rounding the whole. 
Brazilian No. 2.—This lung, with its fellow, upon its surface pre- 
sented to the eye no indication of disease, but upon being handled in 
the way described above, several small nodules within its substance at 
once became apparent; these, upon being cut down upon, in the one 
lung disclosed the unmistakable lesions of tuberculosis, and in the 
other, where these indurations felt were much fewer and smaller, the 
nodules showed the peculiar lesions upon which it was condemned. 
There were several small nodules situated in the periphery of the extreme 
posterior portion of the huge lobe of the right lung, the larger of which 
was about one-half inch in diameter: in its center there appeared to be 
a cheesy deposit; this was surrounded by a very thin layer of a thin 
grayish-colored pus; outside this a very thin membrane; outside this 
again, a very limited amount of marbled tissue which, near the center, 
was well marked, but more indistinct toward its outer margin. Of 
these nodules there were some four or five perfectly isolated from one 
another, but all being, to the unaided eye, of the same description. 
Victoria lungs.—There were two pairs of these, condemned from 
the same lot at the same examination. One lung showed one and the 
other three indurated spots upon which the lungs were condemned. The 
largest of these “spots” was about the size of an English walnut, and 
was situated exactly at the root of the lung ; the remaining three were 
situated in various isolated positions in the substance of the lung. 
Upon being cut down upon they all exhibited the same general appear- 
ance as those of the Brazilian No. 2 lung already described, except that 
in the case of the largest specimen there was a fair amount of sub-plural 
thickening, although there had been no adhesion between these surfaces. 
Of this portion of lung Dr. Whitney says : “ The size and appearance 
of the diseased portion after a clean cut had been made through it is 
represented on Plate IV. The disease involves about one-half dozen 
lobules, representing about 50 to 75 cubic centimeters in bulk (Plate IV Plate VII 
(’()NTA(HOUS PlEURC) -PnEI TM( )NIA ()F CATTLE 
Portion (Jvntnrxil size) of confirmncd lung firm, 1mrneon 
Hull oil slaughtered in Liverpool,England 
A. HomA Co.Lithocaiistir.Baltimore. CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
7 
a). These are quite homogeneous iu appearance, and within them are 
seen one or two small irregularly rounded cavities containing a cheesy 
material. The interlobular tissue between them and the more healthy 
portion of the lung (Plate IV int. tis.) is very thick and dense.” In its 
fresh state this cheesy deposit was surrounded by a thin layer of what 
appeared to be a thin, grayish pus; this again by a thin membraneous 
wall, this by the “ marbled” tissue, limited in extent, and surrounded 
on three sides by healthy tissue. 
Aleppo lung.—The lung from which this specimen was taken was from 
a bullock, killed in Liverpool, July 23, and which the inspector said he 
considered a tine specimen of contagious pleuro pneumonia, and, as will 
be seen by reference to Plate VII, which is copied from a painting made 
by a leading firm of photographers in Liverpool from the lung itself, on 
the same day upon which it was taken from the animal, and is a most 
perfect representation of its appearance, has very much the look of that 
disease ; indeed so close is its resemblance that no one would be war- 
ranted in saying that it was not it until a most thorough examination 
had been made of the specimen. 
Plate Vila represents the point at which adhesion had taken place 
between the two pleural surfaces, and at which, upon being broken 
down by the fingers, there was left a small rounded eminence of loosely 
formed connective tissue b, the diseased nodule showing the discolored 
lobules and the greatly thickened interlobular tissue; c, c, healthy lung 
tissue. 
After getting this portion of lung to Boston, another cut was made 
into the nodule parallel to the first, and at a point directly through the 
center at a. The surface thus exposed had a very different appearance. 
At about the center of the nodule was a small, irregularly shaped cavity 
surrounded by a mass of material having a grayish cheesy look; in 
fact giving precisely the appearance noticed in all of the specimens ex- 
cept the Brazilian Xo. 1. 
Iberian.—This specimen was not retained by me, nor were any inqui- 
ries made about it that would enable me afterwards to trace the animal 
in the United States, because at the time it was discovered by Mr. 
Moore, the inspector, and shown to me, I did not think that there was 
the slightest indication of pleuro-pneumonia about it, and so told Mr. 
Moore, who, I thought, agreed with me at the time, and so the lung was 
not retained. Two days afterwards, however, I found, much to my sur- 
prise, that it had been condefnned and reported to the London authori- 
ties as having been a case of pleuro-pneumonia. My recollection of its 
appearance is that it contained seven or eight nodules isolated from one 
another, consisting of a small cheesy deposit no larger than a pea, sur- 
rounded by a thin membrane, and showed no marbled tissue whatever. 
In addition to this description I may say that every specimen de- 
scribed in this report was seen and examined by Inspector Professor 
Duguid, of the London office, and pronounced by him to be undoubtedly 8 
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
pleuro-pneumonia. Also that each and every one of them were shown 
in August last to Professor Williams, who declared that, in his opinion, 
none of them were pleuro pneumonia unless it was the Aleppo specimen, 
upon which he would give no opinion without a chance tor a more 
minute examination of it. 
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION. 
All of tlie specimens of lungs which I have endeavored to describe 
were given by me to Dr. W. F. Whitney, of Boston, Mass., curator of 
the Warren Anatomical Museum, and assistant in pathological anatomy 
in the medical department of Harvard University, who made a most 
thorough microscopical examination of them, and whose report upon 
the subject I have the honor to herewith submit:' 
Boston, Mass., December 30, 1880. 
Chas. P. Lyman, F. B. C. V. S., 
Veterinary Surgeon Department of Agriculture : 
Dear Sir: At your request I have examined the portions of lungs 
coming from American cattle killed in Liverpool, said to be affected with 
contagious pleuro-pneumonia. 
From a careful study of those specimens in comparison with others 
obtained from an unquestionable case of that disease, and from the de- 
scription of its characteristics as given by Williams, Yeo. ltoy, and 
others, it appears that the changes seen in those specimens are caused 
by chronic inflammatory processes, especially of the interstitial tissue, in 
some cases combined with miliary tuberculosis, which, reasoning from analo- 
gous processes found in the human lung, are not contagious. 
In proof of the above statement I send you herewith the preparations 
upon which it is based, with drawings, and in explanation of them wrill 
call your attention, first, to the relations of the healthy lung, then to 
the changes seen in a lung affected w ith contagious pleuro-pneumonia, 
and, finally, to the manner in w hich the changes seen in the specimens 
sent for examination differ from those of that disease. 
The lungs of cattle differ from those of man, in that each lobe is dis- 
tinctly subdivided into numerous lobules (each occupying the space of 
from 10 to 30 cubic centimeters) joined to each other by fine bands of 
connective tissue, which also forms the walls of extensive lymph spaces, 
connecting on the one hand with those lying in the pleura, and on the 
other with the lymph canals, which nearly surround the blood-vessels 
accompanying the bronchus into the lung tissue. These relations are- 
shown in the preparation marked u normal lung of bullock, lymph spaces 
injected w ith blue,” and from w hich Plate I has been drawn. Fig. 1 rep- 
resents a section through the w hole of one and part of an adjoining lobule 
with the uniting bands of connective tissue inclosing lymph spaces. The 
extreme thinness of this band is especially to be noticed. The walls of 
the alveoli, which form the lung tissue proper (Fig. 1, lung tis.), are fine, 
and have a slightly wavy crinkled outline, and in them are a few’ scat- 
tered lymph and epithelioid cells. One or more small bronchi are usu- 
ally to be found in each lobule. A more highly magnified view of one 
of these is represented in Fig. 2. In this can be distinguished three 
coats, a mucous or inner coat, a muscular or middle coat, and an external 
coat. The mucous coat (Fig. 2, muc. ct.) is formed by a layer of colum- 
nar epithelium, its inner surface resting upon a narrow zone of con- Plate I 
Contagious Pieuro-Pneumonia 
VHoen& Co.Iithocaustic Baltimore PlateD. 
Fig.l. 
Fi6.2. 
(Contagious Pleuro -Pneumonia 
A.Horn & Co. Iolhocaustic. Baltimore. CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
9 
nective tissue (submucous coat) which is thrown into folds when the 
bronchus is contracted. The muscular coat (Fig. 2, mus. ct.) is com- 
posed of unstripped fibers arranged concentrically. Outside of this is 
the external coat, composed, for the greater part, of a collection of round 
cells, probably of a lymphoid character, separating it from the accom- 
panying artery and vein (Fig. 2, art. and v.), which are almost surrounded 
(in some places entirely so) by the lymph canals (Fig. 2, lym. sp. c.). 
In the diseased lungs the changes occurring in the connective tissue, 
including the lymph spaces, in the alveoli with their walls, and in the 
bronchi, will be considered and compared with each other. 
CONTACtIOUS pleuro-pneumonia. 
Contagious pleuro-pneumonia presents three stages (designated as 
A, B, and C), dependent upon the degree to which these tissues are 
affected. 
In the earliest or stage A (see preparation marked contagious pleuro- 
pneumonia, stage A, from which Plate II has been drawn) the most 
marked changes are in the lymph spaces. Those in the pleura are in a 
great measure obliterated by the growing together of its two layers, and 
such as remain (Plate II, lym. sp. A) are tilled with young round cells, 
leaving only a narrow passage close to the wall. The interlobular spaces 
(Plate II, lym. sp. B) are tilled with a semi-gelatinous fluid, which in 
hardened specimens becomes coarsely librilated and in which are a few 
scattered round (lymphoid) cells. The bands of connective tissue form- 
ing the walls of the lymph spaces are but slightly thickened. In the 
lymph canals about the vessels are a few clumps of lymph cells, The 
opening of the canal is in general free (Plate II, Figs. 1 and 2 lym. 
sp. c.). 
The walls of the alveoli have no longer a crinkly outline but a slightly 
stiff appearance, giving the alveoli a much rounder look. This is partly 
due to an engorgement of the vessels and partly to an increase of lymph 
and epithelioid cells in and upon the walls (Plate II, Fig. 1, lung. tis.). 
In the small bronchi the changes are confined to the mucous coat 
(Plate II, muc. ct.), which is thickened from a proliferation of the epi- 
thelium, the cells next the free surface having a tendency to degenera- 
tion as shown by a slight detritus. 
In the seeond stage (see preparation contagious pleuro-pneumonia, 
stage B) the exudation in the interlobular lymph spaces is firmer and 
there are a greater number of cells. The walls of the spaces are but 
little changed from the preceding stage. The canals about the vessels 
are more extensively filled with cells, and here and there a vessel is 
plugged. 
Most of the alveoli are filled with an exudation, in places resembling 
that in the interlobular lymph spaces in stage A, and similar to that 
found in croupous pneumonia of the human lung, in places consisting 
entirely of lymph and epithelioid cells. The contents of certain of the 
alveoli takecoloring matter badly, showing that a degeneration has taken 
place in the cells. 
The mucous membrane of the bronchus is much thickened, and in the 
opening of the tube is to be seen detritus of exfoliated and degenerated 
epithelium. 
In the third stage (see preparation marked contagious pleuro-pneu- 
monia, stage C, and from which Plate II has been drawn) the inter- 
lobular exudation is a little firmer and more tibrillated, the original walls 
of the lymph spaces are still to be distinguished as moderately thick- 10 
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
ened bands (see Plate III, Fig. 1, lym. sp. B). The canals about the 
vessels (Fig. 1, lym. sp. C) are completely filled with lymphoid cell, the 
vessels are usually plugged, and a more or less extensive hemorrhage 
may take place into the surrounding tissue (see Fig. 1, art). 
The alveoli are filled with lymph and epithelioid cells, in many cases 
degenerated and retracted from the walls into little granular clumps. 
The w alls themselves are much thickened in some places from an hyper- 
trophy of the fibers of unstripped muscular tissue, w hich is normally 
present in small amount, especially at the place wdiere the bronchus 
passes into the alveoli (see Fig. 2, mus. hyp.) 
The bronchi in this stage are only distinguished with difficulty, and 
the explanation lies in the fact that the mucous membrane has become 
entirely degenerated and cast off from the walls (see Fig. 1, br. nine, ct.), 
the cells reduced to a detritus which, together with lymph and blood 
cells, completely occlude the opening, leaving no characteristics by which 
to distinguish it from any other plugged vessel. 
Upon grouping together the appearances as presented in the different 
stages, it is manifest that the lymph spaces are at first filled with a 
coagulable material, and the increased density of this in the later stages 
of the disease are due to an increase in the number of cell elements and 
not to a material increase in the thickness of the walls of the spaces. 
With the increasing firmness of this exudation the alveoli are filled with 
cells and exuded material, as are also the lymph canals about the ves- 
sels; and when this has reached a marked degree, the mucous coat of 
the bronchus, which in the earlier stages of the disease has taken part 
by a proliferation of its epithelium, is cast off and the tube is filled with 
its detritus and an exudation similar to that in the neighboring lymph 
canals. The muscular coat of the bronchus resists longer and can be 
clearly distinguished after the mucous coat is destroyed. With this 
filling of the lymph canals the vessels are occluded and hemorrhage may 
take place into the surrounding tissue. 
DISEASED LUNGS FROM LIVERPOOL. 
The one first examined was marked u Steamer Victoria, from Boston, 
Jnly 19, 1880, Liverpool,” and will be referred to as the Victoria lung. 
The size and appearance of the diseased portion after a clean cut had 
been made through it, is represented in Plate IV. The disease involves 
about one-lialf a dozen lobules, representing about 50-75 C. C. in bulk 
(Plate IV, A). These are quite homogeneous in appearance, and within 
them are seen one or two small, irregularly rounded cavities, containing 
a cheesy material. The interlobular tissue between them and the more 
healthy portion of the lung (Plate IV, B) is very thick and dense (Plate 
IV, int. tis.). 
The whole has a resemblance to contagious pleuro pneumonia in that 
the lobules and interlobular tissue are involved, but differs in the small 
amount of tissue implicated when considered in relation to the degree to 
ichich the interlobular tissue is affected. What the cause of these changes 
is, will be understood from the preparation marked S. S. Victoria, &c., 
and from which Plate V has been made. 
Looking first at the interlobular spaces it will be seen that there is no 
longer any trace of the lymph spaces, but that the lobes are joined by a 
firm band of connective tissue, rich in young cells. (Plate V int. tis.) 
The earlier stages of this are seen in that part of the preparation which 
show’s no changes to the unaided eye (this is not show n in the drawing), 
and there it appears that this tissue results from a thickening of the Plate in 
Fifi.l. 
Fl<s. 2. 
(i)NTAGIOIJS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA 
A.Hoen* Co.IafliocMiatK.Baltimow I’latp TV. 
Cc)NTAGIOUS PlEURO -PnEIJMONIA 
A.Hoeii & Co-Iithocaustir Baltimore. Plate V. 
CONTAGIOUS PlEURO -PNEUMONIA 
A.HoenJr Colariiocaustic Baltimore. Plate VL 
Contagious Pleuro -Pneumonia 
A.Hoen.4? Co.Iithocaustic.Baltimore CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
11 
walls of the lymph spaces. Later, when this has become deuse, an ac- 
cumulation of cells takes place in the contracted spaces and the whole 
becomes fused into the firm mass shown in the drawing. 
From the action of this connective tissue the alveoli are compressed 
and the walls are slightly thickened from the presence in them of large 
numbers of young cells. There is but little tendency, however, to exuda- 
tion or accumulation of cells within the alveoli. 
The greatest changes within the lobules are seen about the bronchi 
and their accompanying vessels. It will be remembered that there i& 
normally a narrow zone of connective tissue, rich in cells surrounding 
the bronchus and separating it from the ad jacent vessels. These cells 
have proliferated to such an extent as to form a wide band about the 
bronchus, involving the blood-vessels, which are, however, still pervious, 
but compressing the lymph canals to such an extent that their presence 
is with difficulty made out. The coats of the bronchi are also affected, 
but in the reverse order from what they are in contagious pleuro-pneu- 
monia, viz: The muscular coat has almost disappeared (see Plate V, mus. 
ct.), while the mucous coat (see Pate V, lime, ct.) remains quite distinct, 
and the opening of the bronchus (contrary to the case in pleuro-pneu- 
monia, when the cellular exudation is as extensive as here) is patent and 
even slightly dilated (condition known as bronchiectasis). This proli- 
feration about the bronchi (known under the name of peribronchitis) 
may become degenerated finally and thus give rise to the small cavities 
filled with cheesy detritus noted in the description of the specimen 
(Plate IV, A). 
The commencement of such a degeneration may account for the appear- 
ance seen in the middle lobule of the preparation (see also Plate V, tbl.), 
or it may be due to a secondary tuberculosis. 
The whole process can be classified as one of chronic interstitial pneu- 
monia, with peribronchitis and bronchiectasis with the formation of 
cavities. 
STEAMSHIP BRAZILIAN, FROM BOSTON. 
The ne,xt two specimens examined were both marked S. S. Brazilian, 
from Boston, and will be described as Brazilian lung No. 1 and No. 2. 
Brazilian lung Xo. 1 consisted of several pieces forming part of the 
wall of a large abscess. The side of the specimen which lay next to the 
cavity of the abscess was quite smooth, and the tissue immediately 
adjoining was firm, dense, and quite homogeneous, so that the outline 
of the lobules could only be made out with difficulty. This very dense 
portion extended for about l-2cm, when the tissue began to assume more 
the appearance of normal lung; only that between the lobules were lirin 
bands connecting directly with the dense tissue near the edge. 
Two preparations were made from this, one from the dense portion 
and the other from the .more healthy looking part. 
Upon examining the former (see preparation marked S. S. Brazilian 
No. 1, near abscess wall, and from which Plate VI has been drawn) it 
will be seen that the great increase in density is principally due to an 
increased thickening of the interlobular tissue (see Plate VI, int. tis.), 
and upon comparing this with the preparation made from the more 
healthy portion (see preparation marked S. S. Brazilian, recent disease) 
it will be found that this increase is due, as in the case of the Victoria 
lung, to a thickening of the walls of the lymph spaces rather than to an 
organization of a material tilling the lymph spaces. 
In the thick bands of connective tissue traces of small vessels are 
seen, showing that the process has been of long duration. The bronchi 12 
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
lying in their midst are still open and to be distinguished by their epi- 
thelial lining, but their muscular coat has almost disappeared. 
In the recent preparation the alveoli show simply the results of com- 
pression, with an increase of round cells in their walls. Near the ab- 
scess wall the lobule is quite solidified, but this is due not to an exuda- 
tion into the alveoli, but to the etfects of the compression of the connective 
tissue and to a thickening of the walls by a round cell infiltration. 
Scattered throughout the alveoli lobules, replacing one or two alveoli, 
in the walls of the smaller bronchi and in the bands of new formed con- 
nective tissue are small circular collections of round cells, having a ten- 
dency to degeneration with a sharp line between them and the surround- 
ing tissue (see Plate VI, tbl.); these are probably minute points of 
chronic purulent inflammation, but may belong to the class of tubercles, 
although only about half the size of those bodies and lacking in giant 
cells and stroma. 
The changes found in this lung are those of chronic induration, which 
are entirely explained by the proximity to the large suppurating cavity, 
and have nothing in them indicative of what may have been the cause 
of it. 
Brazilian lung No. 2.—In the second specimen from the Brazilian 
there were two nodules from different parts of the lung, showing differ- 
ent stages of disease, the one more advanced than the other. 
In both of these nodules there were only a few lobules which pre- 
sented any changes from the normal, and in the more recent specimen 
it was only in a single lobule that these changes reached a marked 
degree. 
In this the lobule, which was the center of the disease, was quite homo- 
geneous, except in the middle, where a portion of the tissue was separ- 
ated from the rest by a distinct line of irregularly indented outline. In 
this portion were numerous small losses of substance, giving to the 
w hole a slightly necrosed look. This central lobule was separated from 
the adjoining ones by a firm, broad band of tissue, while in the more 
remote interlobular spaces the walls of the lymph spaces w ere seen to 
be thickened and lying in the spaces thus reduced in diameter by this 
thickening of the walls, were firm, fibrous-looking masses, which were 
only slightly adherent to the walls, and could in consequence be with- 
drawn intact. In contagious pleuro pneumonia, it will be remembered, 
the substance filling the interlobular spaces is perfectly continuous from 
side to side, and cannot thus be withdrawn. 
Prom this specimen three preparations were made, two from the recent 
nodule and one from the more advanced. 
The first of these (see preparation marked S. S. Brazilian No. 2 (A), 
recent disease) was taken from the recent nodule in the tissue from 
the neighborhood of the central diseased lobule, and presented to the 
eye only a thickening of the interlobular tissue with masses in the lymph 
spaces. Under the microscope it w as found that the walls of the lymph 
spaces were thickened in the same way as in the previous cases, and 
that the masses lying in the spaces were composed entirely of cells, hav- 
ing none of that peculiar loose, meshed, rtbrillated network character- 
istic of contagious pleuro pneumonia. About the small bronchus, w ith 
its accompanying vessels, a dense cellular infiltration is seen. The 
muscular coat is quite degenerated, while in one portioirof the w all of 
the bronchus the cells have assumed an indistinctly circular outline 
about a centrally degenerated point (tubercle?). The changes in the 
alveoli w ith their walls are very slight, consisting only in an increase of 
cells. CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
13 
The second preparation was made through the central lobule, in which, 
as described above, was a circumscribed necrosis. 
The thickening between the lobules (see preparation marked S. 8. 
Brazilian, No. 2 (B), recent disease) is due, as in the previous cases, to 
a thickening of the walls of the lymph spaces, with here and there nar- 
rowed lymph spaces filled with cells more or less adherent to the walls. 
In the preparation colored by lnematoxylon the necrosed portion is 
brought sharply out by a deep blue line, lying just within its border, 
and due to the presence of a large number of cells and nuclei. Within 
this line the alveoli are filled with yellow, finely granular detritus, in 
which lie scattered nuclei and cells in the process of degeneration. 
Very few nuclei or cells are seen in the alveolar walls, and the whole 
looks dead. Within the center of this necrosed portion are seen the 
blood vessels still pervious, surrounding which is a zone of cell infiltra- 
tion as shown by the deep color. The bronchus lies between the ves- 
sels, but can only be distinguished with difficulty, since the external 
and middle coats are almost obliterated, the mucous coat destroyed, 
only one or two projections of the submucous coat remaining to mark 
its character, and the opening of the tube tilled with round cells and 
nuclei. 
The walls of the alveoli of the tissue bordering this necrosed portion 
are very much compressed, and, together with the new cells, which 
have been inflated, form a sort of wall. The remaining alveoli are com- 
paratively free, although a few are tilled with the same yellow finely 
granular detritus as are those within the necrosed portion. 
Within the nodule or more advanced disease was a cavity £ to 1 cen- 
timeter in diameter, surrounded by a thick wall, and the lobule con- 
taining it was separated from its neighbors by thick bands of tissue, 
which could be followed for some distance among the more healthy 
lobules. 
Under the microscope (see preparation marked S. S. Brazilian, No. 2, 
advanced disease) it appears that the interlobular tissue is composed of 
the same connective tissue, only rather firmer than marks the prepara- 
tions already examined, and has apparently been formed in the same 
way. The wall about the cavity is also composed of a similar fibrous 
tissue rich in cells, and passes insensibly into the walls of the alveoli 
which are compressed and slightly thickened, but otherwise compara- 
tively open. Surrounding the bronchi and vessels are an accumulation 
of cells which have infiltrated the bronchus from without inwards, 
leaving still a remnant of the epitheleal lining. 
The general outline of the cavity is such as to indicate that it had 
been formed by a necrosis of a circumscribed portion of the lung, as in 
the more recent specimen. This necrosed portion has been gotten rid 
of, and the slight wall of separation seen in the recent specimen lias 
been thickened and condensed. 
The whole process is one of chronic interstitial pneumonia with peri- 
bronchitis and necrosis of the lung tissue. 
STEAMSHIP ALEPPO, FROM NEW YORK. 
The specimen was a portion of lung about half the size of the palm 
of the hand, in which was a firm wedge-shaped nodule, the base of 
which measured 2 x 2.5cm, and was at right angles to the pleural surface, 
which was slightly thickened all over the portion of lung. The nodule 
was quite homogeneous in appearance, with broad bands of tissue sep- 
arating the lobules. In one of the lobules there were small losses of 14 
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
substance, giving to that part a honeycombed look, and in anot her lobule 
there was a small cavity. 
The bands of interlobular tissue (see preparations marked S.S. Aleppo 
from New York, from diseased nodule, and S. S. Aleppo, &c., section of 
entire nodule) are composed, as in the previous cases, of firm connective 
tissue quite well vascularized, showing here and there the presence of 
masses of cells in the narrowed lymph spaces. 
The lung tissue is compressed and the alveolar walls are thickly stud- 
ded with round cells and nuclei. In the honeycombed tissue mentioned 
above (see preparation marked from diseased nodule) these cells are col- 
lected together in little round groups, which were often degenerated in 
the centers, causing the little losses of substance referred to. The alve- 
oli themselves were filled with exuded masses, detritus, and cells. 
The section through the lobule containing the cavity (see preparation 
marked section of entire nodule) shows that the cavity is surrounded by 
a thick wall having a slightly reticulated appearance and here and 
there giving the outline of a circular body. In the remaining paren- 
chyma of the lung are two or three round bodies of a similar size with 
a rather broad meshed stroma, in which lie round cells (miliary tuber- 
cles). 
The bronchi and vessels are surrounded by accumulated cells. 
Many of the alveoli of the lobules bordering upon the diseased nodule 
are filled with blood corpuscles, which, however, lie freely within them, 
and have not uniformly infiltrated all the tissue as is the case in the 
hemorrhagic infarction of the contagious pleuro pneumonia. 
The whole process can be classified as one of chronic interstitial pneu- 
monia, combined with tuberculosis and the formation of cavities. 
CONCLUSION. 
Looking at the cases as a whole, it will be seen that they are the re- 
sults of inflammations of different parts of the constituents of the lungs, 
there also being indications in all the specimens that tuberculosis may 
take part in producing some of the changes. 
The antecedence of one process over the other cannot be exactly de- 
termined, but judging from the thickness of the interlobular connective 
tissue, and the fact that it can be distinctly traced among the appar- 
ently unaffected lobules, it is probably implicated among the first,and 
from the fact of the thickness of this tissue as compared with the small 
amount of lung involved, the processes must be placed among the 
chronic ones, which require weeks or months rather than days for their 
accomplishment, and as such are probably not contagious. 
Yours, trulv, 
W. T. WHITNEY. 
Therefore, if we may place any value upon facts as evidenced by 
the microscope—and who will say that we cannot 1—the absolute fact is 
well shown that not only were the lungs condemned in my presence as 
being affected with pleuro pneumonia contagiosa not affected with that 
disease, but that the changes noticed in them, in all but one case, were 
due to a chronic interstitial pneumonia with peribronchitis, with necro- 
sis and the formation of small cavities at and within the lung tissue 
proper; and further, there are evidences amounting to a certainty, in CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
15 
one case at least, that the disease known as tuberculosis, probably, plays 
a more or less prominent part in the etiology of these changes. The 
other lung (Brazilian No. 1) that cannot be included in this class of 
cases, was, however, very distinctive, in that the lung contained the 
large abscess, already described, and the microscope shows the changes 
in the lung tissues, upon which the condemnation was made, to have 
been chronic induration of these tissues, caused by the pressure upon 
them of the large abscess found to exist in their immediate neighbor- 
hood ; in fact just the condition that under the circumstances we would 
expect to find. T think that, without pursuing the history of the beasts 
from which these lungs came, it may be safely stated that they were 
not affected with contagious pleuro pneumonia. The next thing, there- 
fore, will be to consider these cases that have been reported as being- 
diseased with contagious pleuro pneumonia since the time I left Liver- 
pool, and up to the 21st of November last, of which there were seven, 
as has been already stated. As the lungs, or diseased portions of them, 
were not obtainable for examination, it will be possible only to show by 
negative evidence what the probabilities are respecting them. As you 
will remember they came to Liverpool by various steamships from Bos- 
ton ; to Boston they came from Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio, and 
none of them were at any time in any of the cattle markets except those 
of Chicago, Buffalo, Albany, and Boston ; and the only lines of rail over 
which any of these passed were the Grand Trunk of Canada, New York 
Central, Fitchburg, Michigan Central, Vermont Central, Boston and 
Albany, Lake Shore and Michigan Southern. 
It will be shown further on that there cannot be any disease in Chi- 
cago or Buffalo, and the same argument will be as true regarding Albany 
as Buffalo. In the case of Boston I may say that ever since the “ stamp- 
ing out” of pleuro pneumonia from Massachusetts in 18(57 there has al- 
ways existed, and does to-day, in this State a most efficient board of 
State cattle commissioners, composed, amongst others, of the same vet- 
erinarian (Dr. E. F. Thayer) under whose administration the disease was 
“ stamped out,” and that although this board has, during all these years, 
kept a most lively lookout for any cases of the disease within their State, 
and although thousands of animals have been examined in Brighton 
market, alive and dead, by Dr. Thayer, not one single case of pleuro- 
pneumonia has been discovered within that State within the last 14 
years. 
Begarding the native States of these cattle, it may be said that in 
Missouri this department has 104, in Iowa 84, in Illinois 8G, in Ohio 83 
correspondents, whose particular duty it is to inform themselves as to 
the nature of any disease that may at any time show itself among the 
animals within their district, and that these correspondents have not at 
any time reported the existence of any disease the symptoms of which 
at all similated those of contagious pleuro-pneumonia, although every 16 
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONI A. 
special effort possible has been made to discover it, should it exist there. 
So far as is known, and equally strenuous efforts have been made to dis- 
cover the facts, pleuro pneumonia does not exist in any region of coun- 
try through which the lines of rail over which these animals have been 
carried passes. This, then, leaves as the only possible source of con- 
tamination the cars in which the animals have been conveyed. That the 
disease may have been contracted in this way is possible, but not at all 
probable, and as bearing upon this point it maybe said that cattle going 
to Boston for local uses are conveyed in exactly the same way, and often- 
times in the same cars, as the animals going from thence to Great Brit- 
ain ; and that, although I myself have examined many hundreds of these, 
alive and dead, I have never yet found a single case of contagious pleuro- 
pneumonia ; and this is the fact, as I have before stated, regarding the 
very extensive examinations made of these same animals by the Massa- 
chusetts State board of cattle commissioners. 
In considering this question in all its phases, I am naturally led to a 
review of the circumstances attending the landing and examination of 
the cargo of animals ex steamship Ontario, which arrived at the port of 
Liverpool on the 20th of January, 1879, consisting of 195 cattle and 2 
carcasses; 87 head of cattle had been thrown overboard on the voyage, 
thus making the original shipment 284. These animals wqre shipped 
from Portland, Me., but of their origin Mr. Welsh, Minister of the United 
States at London, says: “ From reliable parties in Liverpool I learn that 
while a part of the cattle by the Ontario came from Chicago, and a part 
from Buffalo, at least 45 head of them came from Toronto, and were so 
mixed with the others that the Canadian and United States cattle could 
not be distinguished. It is also beyond dispute that those which came 
from the United States passed for several hundred miles over the Grand 
Trunk Road through the Dominion of Canada ; that all the cattle were 
exposed to weather of unusual severity; that they remained for a con- 
siderable time in Portland without food or water, and that they had 
undergone an exceptional amount of hardship and bad usage before 
entering upon a voyage which was made at an inclement season and 
during excessively rough weather.” In a memorandum on the subject, 
Professor Brown, of the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council, 
says: “On examining one of the carcasses, the inspector at Liverpool 
found evidence of pleuro pneumonia, and forwarded portions of the lung 
to the Veterinary Department. This specimen was found to represent 
the characteristic indications of the contagious pleuro pneumonia of 
cattle so well known in this country. B3' direction of the Lord President, 
I immediately instructed Mr. Duguid, one of the inspectors of this depart- 
ment, to proceed to Liverpool and report as to the condition of the animals 
which had been detained there. Mr. Duguid remained at Liverpool and 
superintended the slaughter of the cattle, and in the course of the post- 
mortem examination he detected thirteen cases of pleuro-pneumonia in CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
17 
various stages.” Now take the statement of Professor AValley, made 
to me in Edinburgh, in July, 1880, iu regard to this matter. He says: 
“I was called to Liverpool and there shown animals together in a 
building which, I was told, came per steamship Ontario from America; 
a few of them were coughing, I should judge giving the pathognomonic 
cough of contagious pleuro pneumonia. I examined them ; they gave no 
elevation of temperature that amounted to anything as a sign ; they varied 
a little; some would be a degree higher than others, but nothing re- 
markable in any. While this .examination was going on, and before we 
had finished to my entire satisfaction, a man came to say that we were 
wanted in the slaughter-house, where we went at once, and found two 
animals that we were told had been taken haphazard from this cargo of 
the Ontario, hanging partially dressed, and from these I saw lungs taken 
that exhibited to me, without any doubt, the well known lesions of conta- 
gious pleuro pneumonia. I was not at the place for more than an hour.” 
In answer to questions, he further said : 
“The animals were in as good condition as any of the others; that 
there were several diseased spots in their lungs; that the diseased por- 
tions were ‘ marbled,’ and the parenchyma varied in color from deep red 
to pink, but it was mostly of a pinkish shade; that there was no at- 
tempt towards the formation of a cyst-wall around any of the diseased 
portions, because the disease had not been of sufficient standing.” 
I have made these extracts because they seem to me to embrace the 
entire evidence tending to show that the disease on the Ontario was 
contagious pleuro pneumonia; and I think it worth while to put in con- 
trast with them here what may be called the circumstantial evidence 
tending to show that there may have been some mistake. 
The fact seems to be beyond dispute that so far as the animals came 
from the United States they came from Chicago and Buffalo via Cana- 
dian Grand Trunk Road to Portland. Since 1877 the Department of 
Agriculture has had, all through the West, regular correspondents, 
whose duty it is to collect and forward evidence relating to any disease, 
contagious or otherwise, that may prevail to any extent in the different 
localities in which they are located. In this way uearly every disease 
that animal flesh is heir to has received some sort of mention, but in no 
case has any description been received that could in any way be con- 
strued into a description of contagious pleuro-pneumonia of cattle* 
Besides this, the department kept Veterinary Surgeon II. J. Detmers 
at the Chicago live-stock yards, examining cattle with the single view 
of ascertaining whether any trace of this disease could be discovered in 
that great depot for western cattle. This examination, which was made 
in 1879 and continued for some time, showed that it was unknown there. 
The market of Buffalo is in the State of New York, and therefore came 
directly under the examination of Prof. James Law, Veterinarian-in-Chief 
to the State of New York, whose particular business, under a special 
law, was to find and get rid of, so far as any means at his command 
would allow of its being done, this very disease—pleuro pneumonia of 
cattle—and with the splendid system of detecting its existence in any 18 
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
cattle within the State, and with the great facility which he had for 
tracing any diseased animals that were found to their starting point, he 
was never able, in any way, to locate the disease in Buffalo or at any 
point in the State within 400 miles, or thereabout, of that market 
Neither has this department, although every means at its command has 
been tried, ever been able to find that it had any existence at any time 
nearer to Buffalo than the points indicated by Professor Law. Now we 
have in evidence that these animals passed for several hundred miles 
over the Grand Trunk Road. To do this and get to Portland after leav- 
ing Buffalo, they would not again enter the States until they had reached 
Vermont, where they cross a small portion of the extreme northeasterly 
corner of the State; thence across the extreme northerly portion of New 
Hampshire; thence for a short distance across the southerly portion of 
Maine to Portland; and at no time would they be nearer than Portland 
to the infected district, the nearest point of which is something over 300 
miles away. It may be stated to a certainty that contagious pleuro- 
pneumonia of cattle does not exist in either Vermont, New Hampshire, 
or Maine. How, theneo uld these animals have become infected ! So 
far as the territory through which they traveled on their way to the sea- 
port lies within the United States, it can safely be said that no pleuro- 
pneumonia exists along, or anywhere near, their line of route. The 
cars in which they traveled could scarcely have been previously con- 
taminated, for presumably they were those of this great northern trunk 
line, and would never be sent down into the neighborhood of New York, 
Philadelphia, or Baltimore for the conveyance of local cattle freight. 
The only way, then, would seem to be that the disease was contracted 
on board ship during the voyage. But ships that have carried cattle 
are, on their return to Liverpool, required by law to be thoroughly dis- 
infected, so that unless the Ontario, on her out voyage, brought to this 
country from England cattle affected with contagious pleuro-pneumo- 
nia, she could scarcely convey it to other and hearty beasts on the re- 
turn trip. 
That pleuro pneumonia did exist among these cattle we have the evi- 
dence of, first, Mr. Moore, the inspector, who discovered it; second, that 
of Professor Duguid, who was sent down from London for the express 
purpose of inspecting this cargo; third, that of Professor Walley, who 
came from Edinburgh for the same purpose, all of them gentlemen who 
are particularly well qualified to judge of the matter, and give a valuable 
opinion regarding it. But it certainly does seem that Professor Duguid 
and Mr. Moore were undoubtedly mistaken as to the lungs condemned 
by them in my presence last July and August. May it not be that pleuro- 
pneumonia contagiosa is, after all, not so distinctive in its appearance 
as has always been supposed, or rather that changes are produced by 
certain other diseases, the lesions of which resemble so closely those of 
contagious pleuro pneumonia that in the absence of any history of the 
animal would require a much more careful examination to detect its 
difference than veterinarians have heretofore supposed to be necessary CONTAGIOUS PL EURO-PNEUMONIA. 
19 
The other gentleman, Professor Walley, says that he should judge 
that these animals were giving the pathognomonic cough of pleuro-pneu- 
monia, but that he examined them, and even with the thermometer (a 
most delicate aid in these cases) he could get no indication that amounted 
to a sign that they were diseased; but still, before he had finished his 
examination to his entire satisfaction, he was called away to the slaughter- 
house, where he saw lungs removed from two beasts that to him pre- 
sented “ without any doubt the well-known lesions of pleuro pneumonia.” 
These lungs were marbled, ami the parenchyma varied in color from deep 
red to pink, but it was mostly of a pinkish shade; that the largest dis- 
eased spot was as large as the crown of a derby hat; that there was no 
attempt at the formation of a cyst wall, because the disease had not 
been of sufficient standing; that the animals were in as good condition 
as any of the others, and that they had been selected haphazard from 
among the cargo in question. Is it not remarkable that although so 
large a portion of lung was affected there was no sign or symptom by 
which the animal could be selected out from among the others, which 
on the testimony of this gentleman showed no sign that “ amounted to 
anything” of their being diseased, and that the only way of finding its 
presence was by a critical examination of.tlie lung itself after the animal 
had been killed ? Was ever such a case of acute contagious pleuro-pueu- 
monia with this amount of lung implicated heard of before ? I think 
not; and still this gentleman, who has had great experience with this 
disease, who knows that in Edinburgh the existence of u pleuro” is gen- 
erally discovered by an examination made of the live animals in the 
byre, and not of the dead ones made in the abattoirs, and before he has 
had sufficient time to finish his examination to his own entire satisfac- 
tion, says that without a doubt these animals were affected with conta- 
gious pleuro pneumonia! Now, I submit, are there not in this evidences 
of a hurried examination ? Has it not obviously been taken for granted 
that the detection of contagious pleuro-pneumonia,po.st mortem, was a 
thing requiring a knowledge only of a most superficial sort ? And I ask 
the authorities in this case if, in view of all the facts, it is not possible, nay, 
even probable, that a disease of not a sufficiently pronounced character 
to interfere with the well-doing of these animals may exist that shall 
give to the naked eye, upon examination of the lung post mortem, the 
exact appearances of contagious pleuro pneumonia, but which is not that 
disease, but the result of some chronic process, the nature of which, in th e 
absenceof all history of the animal, may require a most careful and minute 
examination to detect its real differences ? 
The only gentleman engaged in the affair who seems at that time to 
have been of my present opinion and to have realized its importance is 
Professor Williams, of Edinburgh, who was called to Liverpool in pre- 
cisely the same manner as was Professor Walley. This gentleman, who 
spent more time in the examination, who has had at least as large an 
experience as have any of the others, said, when he had finished the ex- 20 
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
amination in Liverpool and was asked for his opinion, “I have as yet no 
opinion to give, and shall have none until I have been able to make a 
more thorough examination of the lung.” For this purpose he took with 
him to Edinburgh portions of the lung, and he received from Mr. Wellsby, 
a veterinary surgeon in the employ of Messrs. Warren & Co., the steam- 
ship owners, for the next six mouths, portions of the diseased lungs 
which were condemned by the inspector at Liverpool, all of which 
received a most careful examination by himself and Dr. Hamilton, 
pathologist to the Royal Infirmary, and demonstrator of morbid anatomy 
in the University of Edinburgh, and after all this he declares that he has 
“not the slightest hesitation in saying that in no case has he found them 
to exhibit the characteristic lesions of contagious pleuro-pneumonia.” 
Therefore it seems to me that there is, at least, fair reason to doubt 
whether the disease noticed among this cargo of the Ontario was really 
contagious pleuro-pneumonia. I have not gone into the discussion of 
this question in any captious spirit of criticism, neither do I mean for a 
moment to call into question the professional ability of any of those 
gentlemen, which I believe to be of the highest quality, and I most 
thoroughly believe that their decisions were given in accordance with 
their honest convictions; but. if these convictions were arrived at too 
hastily, and before proper, and, in view of the gravity of the question, 
sufficiently exhaustive examinations of the facts were made, it is cer- 
tainly my privilege to comment upon them, and show, if possible, that 
it was so. And if any statement or argument that I have advauced 
seems to be of sufficient consequence to really throw a doubt upon the 
decision of the authorities of Great Britain in this matter, I would most 
respectfully suggest that in fairness to the great interests of the United 
States, which are by this decision very severely prejudiced, that the 
judgment should at least be reconsidered. 
My own opinion, arrived at after a most thorough and careful inves- 
tigation and consideration of the facts, is that the lungs which were 
condemned by the Inspector of the Privy Council at Liverpool during my 
stay there in parts of July and August last, as being affected with con- 
tagious pleuro-pneumonia, were in reality not affected with that disease. 
And further, I do not believe that a single case of contagious pleuro-pneu- 
monia has ever existed in the West or has been landed in England from 
our ports of Boston or Portland, unless, indeed, it may have been com- 
municated to the animals after they were placed on board the ocean 
steamer, from previous contamination of the vessel, by transportation 
in it of diseased animals from Great Britain to America, an event which 
I .must say that in the case of pleuro-pneumonia I think to be very 
unlikely. 
Respectfully submitted. 
CHARLES P. LYMAY, F. R. C. Y. S. 
Hon. Wn. G. Le Due, 
Commissioner of Agriculture.