CATTLE COMMISSIONERS REPORT. 255 



Avere continually asking the question, "How can we keep clean 

 after we have cleaned up our herds, when we are obliged to 

 buy others to replenish ? " 



This is an important question for consideration. It is a fact 

 that where milk producers lose cows that are diseased and go 

 out to buy they are liable to buy diseased cows unconsciously, 

 not being able to detect any symptoms of disease at the time 

 of buying, and possibly in infected sections they have bought 

 a diseased cow, which they would not have bought had they 

 known that the cow would not have stood the tuberculin test. 

 This seemed to be the only complaint made by the farmers 

 against the test in the Portland investigation. There is not 

 a farmer in the State of Maine that wants a tubercular cow in 

 bis herd. Yet under the present law he has no protection ; he 

 can say to the seller in making the trade, " If you will warrant 

 this cow to stand the tuberculin test I will buy her." This 

 generally ends the trade, for only occasionally will the seller 

 agree to such a proposition. Hence the buyer has to take his 

 chances, and the chances are in some sections of the State that 

 be has bought a tuberculous cow. Now there are two ways 

 to get out of this difficulty ; one is for the buyer after he has 

 bad his herd cleaned up, to have all animals bought tested ; 

 the other is to have a general test by the State, and this would 

 require a change in the law, or an amendment. While we do 

 not at the present advocate a general test, yet we believe that the 

 time is not far distant when every animal, whether it be pure 

 blood or grade, will be sold under a certificate, certifying that 

 the animal is free from tuberculosis. 



The Commissioners are aware that they have expended a 

 large amount of money the last two years and are responsible 

 for many things, but they did not take the responsibility of 

 ■expending one dollar over the appropriation until after consult- 

 ing the Governor and Council pertaining to the business. And 

 while they are servants of the State, if they have performed 

 their duties honestly and faithfully and in accordance with the 

 law, treating all parties fairly, without fear or favor, then the 

 Commissioners are clear, and the responsibility falls upon the 

 people. And it is only fair and in the line of business principles, 

 so long as the people demand the work to be done, that they 

 should see to it through their representatives in the Legislature 



