1130 New Yokk State Breeders' Association 



teudiug to the best results. These tests when properly made at 

 the right time ou all of the auimals of the herd or stable are most 

 vahuible, but the siugliug out of iudividuals, at irregular times 

 aud often, at short intervals aud subjecting them to such an 

 examination without considering the history or physical condi- 

 tion of the associated animals, is not of so much assistance as 

 many suppose. These infectious are to be dealt with according 

 to their various natures. The garden cannot be pronounced 

 weed-free, so long as it is not protected against seed-producing, 

 noxious plants that are thriving in the immediate vicinity. Like- 

 wise, the individual animal that has been or is exposed cannot be 

 pronounced free from infection. The dairy, the stud, the flock, 

 are to be dealt with as units. It is in bringing about this condi- 

 tion that the veterinarian has a wonderful opportunity for 

 service. 



Wifth certain maladies, there are at present no means of de- 

 tecting infection in an individual until symptoms appear. Rabies 

 may be cited as the best illustration of this class. Objectionable 

 as it is to a community, quarantine is the sheer anchor of pro- 

 tection here. Although isolation and quarantine are the most 

 effective measures for preventing the spread of this group of 

 diseases, many communities seriously oppose them. Veteri- 

 narians and physicians have not always assisted in this important 

 work as much as they should. In my own state the enforcement 

 of quarantine has often been obstructed by professional men who 

 with sophistry seek to expound the nature of the disease and to 

 point out how unnecessary it is to quarantine. Again grievous 

 errors have been made by including too small a territory and in 

 raising the quarantine too soon. The question here seems to be 

 the education of the people in tlie nature of infections. There 

 is still too much faith in the magic power of the " medicine 

 man " aud too much mystery about the disease. The factor here 

 is education and the veterinarian is the teacher. The warning 

 that was sounded by the great leaders that man's opinion is of no 

 value unless founded on the truth of the laws of nature should 

 ever be heeded. 



There is perhaps no other phase of this subject so open to 

 controversy as that of immunization and vaccination. These 



