EEPOET OF THE SECEETAEY OF AGEICULTUEE. 23 



(2) Provide by law for — 



(a) The establishment and maintenance of a " Government test 

 station " for serum. The purpose of this station would be to receive 

 official samples of all serum produced by licensed plants and to test 

 them for purity and potency. Upon completion of the test the 

 official in charge immediately would make known the results to the 

 inspector at the plant from which the sample was derived, and the 

 material, if found potent and pure, then would be released with proper 

 markings or seals to show that it had been tested. 



(b) The prohibition of the interstate shipment of any product a 

 sample of which had not been tested and found pure and potent. 



(c) The imposition of a tax upon all serum, samples of which 

 have been tested, with adequate provision for the affixing of tax 

 stamps and marks prior to sale or shipment. 



The available methods for determining purity and potency are not 

 scientifically exact. Tests, however, are a necessary and most impor- 

 tant part of any system of control. They are now made by the com- 

 mercial establishments themselves on animals procured by them and 

 at all times under their care. It is impracticable for the Government 

 to make them within privately owned and operated plants. Further- 

 more, so long as the plants conduct the tests, it is manifest that the 

 Government can not select and know the complete history of the 

 animals. In the preparation of the serum, the inspectors can see that 

 the steps necessary to produce a good article are carried out. In this 

 particular the inspection is adequate and effective. It appears, there- 

 fore, that the weak point at present is the inspection of the tests, and 

 the department believes that these should be under Government con- 

 trol. At the same time, not being absolute, they should be supple- 

 mented. Supervision at the producing plants of the methods of 

 preparation and handling should be continued. 



It is probable that an adequate test station could be provided for 

 about $50,000. If several were found to be desirable, a suitable ap- 

 propriation for each would have to be made. The cost of maintain- 

 ing a station capable of testing the entire output of commercial 

 serum in the United States probably would not exceed $150,000 

 annually. 



The suggestion is made that a tax sufficient to cover the cost of 

 maintaining the station should be imposed. This tax should not 

 operate to increase the cost of serum to the farmer, because manuf ac- 



