EXTRACTS FROM CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 269 



"That native or unstabled cattle, scrub cattle, are nearly free 

 from infection." 



Dr. A. D. Alelvin, Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry at 

 \\'ashington, reported that "The annual loss from tuberculosis 

 among farm animals in this country, reaches the enormous total 

 of $14,000,000." 



In France, the method of controlling tuberculosis is practically 

 the same as in Maine. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIOXS. 



In New Hampshire, only cattle that show physical evidence 

 of the disease are destroyed, and yet they will not allow a ]^Iaine 

 cow to enter that state unless she is found sound by the tuber- 

 culin test. 



Massachusetts is a bviyer of cattle and ]\Iaine is a seller. 

 From 9,000 to ii.ooo cattle are yearly shipped to the Brighton 

 market and are tested by order of the chief of the cattle 

 bureau, but during the last two years only 130 cattle from 

 Maine were found diseased. 



In California, Dr. Ward reports as follows: "The idea that' 

 the close housing of cattle during the winter in illy ventilated 

 stables with restricted hours of exercise constitutes an impor- 

 tant factor in the spread of tuberculosis, is quite prevalent in the 

 colder portion of the United States. 



"There it is quite generally believed that the climatic condi- 

 tions prevailing in California discourage the spread of tubercu- 

 losis. This is based upon the assumption that the mild climate 

 permitting greater freedom for the cattle, constitutes a power- 

 ful factor in the repression of the disease. Eastern cattle spend 

 a large portion of the day in the winter in stanchions in the 

 stable. This raises the question of ventilation, to secure for the 

 cattle fresh air without the discomfort from drafts of air and 

 cold. California cattle are stabled during the time of milking — 

 say four hours a day — and then in structures built so cheaply 

 that the problems of ventilation do not need consideration. 

 Except during milking time, dairy cattle live a free life in the 

 open air." 



"We have tested 22 herds, containing 1,022 cows in all, of 

 which 326 or 32% reacted." 



