No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 693 



which this malady exists among our bovine population, but I think 

 I can show that it is of sufficient frequency to be of very great im- 

 portance from a sanitary and economic standpoint. Fleming, in his 

 Manual of Veterinary Sanitary Science and Police, in speaking of 

 the geographical distribution of this disease among animals, says: 



"Tubercular phthisis, or tuberculosis probably prevails among the 

 domesticated animals over the entire globe though its frequency will 

 depend upon the various external influences, as well as the consti- 

 tutional tendencies of different species and breeds. In some coun- 

 tries it is enzootic and very destructive. Such is the case in densely 

 populated districts and in unhealthy climates or in regions where 

 animals are improperly fed and housed. In Mexico for instance 

 it is very common and causes much loss, about 34 per cent, of the 

 animals slaughtered for food found effected. In Europe, particu- 

 larly in the cow-sheds of the large towns and cities, it is extensively 

 prevalent, and in this country (meaning England) it has long been 

 recognized as a common disorder among animals, but more especially 

 as affecting the bovine species." 



Walley's "Four Bovine Scourges" considers contagious pleuro- 

 pneumonia, rinderpest, foot and mouth disease and tuberculosis as 

 the four great cattle plagues of the world. 



In this country rinderpest is unknown, foot and mouth disease 

 does not exist at present, contagious pleuropneumonia has been 

 stamped out in every locality in the United States where it has ever 

 existed so that to-day we can safely say that the only one of the four 

 great bovine scourges staring us in the face and challenging us to 

 combat if we are not afraid to grapple with it, is tuberculosis. 



During the past four or five years many of the states, particularly 

 in the East, have been aroused to take steps to eradicate tuberculosis 

 from among their neat stock, chiefly by having the work attended to 

 by cattle commissioners, and while numbers of cattle have been ex- 

 amined, yet as a rule the work has not been done in a way to give 

 any idea of what relation the number of diseased cattle bear to the 

 number of healthy ones or what the ratio of herds where the malady 

 exists is to the herds where the creatures are all healthy. 



Sanitary science has made vast strides in the last twenty years, 

 yet our dairy farms are in practically the same condition they were 

 in fifty or one hundred years ago. In fact, no effort is made on the 

 average farm to conform to any sanitary laws or regulations what- 

 soever. The old barbarous practice of confining the cattle in stan- 

 chions is still in use, and the old barn and barn-yard with its strong, 

 odorous and slimy filth is still in existence. Sanitary science is ad- 

 vancing every year. Our cities are well drained, our drinking water 

 is carefully guarded, Rouses and schools must have sufficient light 

 and air, our young men and children must have exercise, but yet 

 our dairy cattle are expected to retain their health and strength 

 and to maintain their vitality, shut up for months in close barns, 

 without ventilation or fresh air and with little light. Compelled to 

 stand in their tracks unable to move, unable to turn round even to 

 lick their sides. 



It seems strange indeed that the entire question of the sanitary 

 improvements of our dairy farms should have escaped notice as it has 

 discovered that the principle predisposing causes of tuberculosis 

 are poor sanitary and hygienic conditions, and yet notwithstanding 



