112 ANNUAL EKPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF ACFJCULTUKE. 



CONTROL OF INFLUENZA, ANTHRAX, AND OTHER DISEASES. 



In continuation of the war emergency campaign to stimulate the 

 production and conservation of live stock, Avork was carried on look- 

 ing to the control of anthrax, influenza, and other diseases and to a 

 reduction of the losses resulting therefrom. 



The assignment_ of 30 bureau emploj'ecs to service with the War 

 Department to assist in the eiforts being made to reduce losses among 

 Army horses and mules from influenza was continued until about 

 February 1. The activities of these employees were directed tovrard 

 bettering sanitary conditions at all poiiits where public animals Avere 

 handled, and great improvement was made, Avith the result that such 

 losses were very materially reduced. 



At the large markets of the country bureau employees were regu- 

 larly assigned to Avork for the control of influenza"^ inspecting all 

 liorses and mules received and isolating sick animals. At those 

 stations 507,559 such animals Avere inspected, of AA'hich 5,341 Avere 

 sent to the hospital. Of the latter number 622 died of influenza, 

 Avhich shoAvcd a great reduction beloAv the average losses of previous 

 years. In addition to the regular assignments, cooperation Avas ex- 

 tended to State officiahj and horsem.en at practically all bureau 

 stations. 



Cooperation was extended to the officials of various States, espe- 

 cially those along the Gulf coast, in tlie control of anthrax and the 

 reduction of losses from that disease. Bureau employees supervised 

 the disinfection of infected premises and the proper disposal of car- 

 casses of animals dead from anthrax, and whenever necessary as- 

 sisted the owners of infected herds in the vaccination of susceptible 

 animals. In southern Texas alone, Avhere the disease has existed 

 extensiA'ely in recent vears, bureau employees assisted in the vaccina- 

 tion of about 30,000 animals. Good results Avere obtained and the 

 value of prompt and vigorous control measures Avas fully demon- 

 strated. 



On the request of stockmen or other interested persons, bureau 

 employees Avere detailed to investigate outbreaks of blackleg, to ad- 

 vise owners as to the proper treatment, and, if necessary, to assist in 

 vaccination. 



Investigations of reported outbreaks of disease among domestic 

 animals were made in various parts of the country. In cooperation 

 Avith the State officials of South Dakota the bureau assisted in suc- 

 cessfully arresting a serious outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis 

 among horses. Cooperation Avas also extended to the National Park 

 service in determining the cause of the death of a number of buffaloes 

 in YelloAvstone Park. 



To guard against the recurrence of foot-and-mouth disease, careful 

 inspections of all ruminants and swine received at public stockyards 

 were made by experienced A-eterinarians specially assigned to that 

 work as in previous years. Prompt investigations Avere made of all 

 suspected outbreaks of the di&"ease reported to the bureau, Avith nega- 

 tive results in all instances. 



LIVE-STOCK SANITARY AVORK IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE. 



In the coiu^c of supervising the interstate transportation of live 

 stock to prevent the spread of animal diseases, bureau employees at 

 market centers inspected 22,594,320 cattle, of Avhich 10,897 w^ere 



