BUEEAU OF AXIMAL INDUSTRY. 133 



adopted by the bureau December 3, 1919, permitting the use of prac- 

 ticing veterinarians in mailing the tests under certain conditions. 



ERADICATION OF TUBERCULOSIS FROM AREAS. 



Work for the eradication of animal tuberculosis from circum- 

 scribed areas has been developed as a result of the active interest of 

 organized conmiunities. Some counties in a number of the States 

 either have established agencies by which such counties may be 

 entirely freed from the disease or are making plans of this nature. 

 It is fully realized that the total eradication of tuberculosis can never 

 be accomplished until the work is taken up on the area plan. To 

 this end every community where sufficient evidence of interest has 

 been displayed is being urged to lay plans for the employment of 

 county veterinarians who will work in cooperation witli the bureau 

 and State officials. It is also deemed advisable wherever possible 

 to obtain the assistance of cou^jties in the payment of indemnities 

 for tuberculous cattle. During the year Clay County, Miss., made 

 a complete test of all the cattle within its area, with very satisfac- 

 tory results. This was the first county to demonstrate tlie feasibility 

 of such work. A complete test was also made in Island County, 

 Wash., and Clatsop County, Oreg., by the bureau and State authori- 

 ties, and further worlc of this nature is in progress in other Oregon 

 counties. 



ERADICATION OF TUBERCULOSIS FROM SWINE. 



Steps were taken to develop a plan for tracing the origin of hogs 

 found to be tuberculous when slaughtered under the Federal meat 

 inspection, so that the original owner may be notified and have the 

 stock on his premises tested wdth a view to eradicating the disease. 

 The cooperation of commission men and other agencies at livestock 

 centers is being asked. Efforts have been made also to demonstrate 

 the practicability of tattooing all hogs shipped to inspected slaughter- 

 ing establishments in order that tuberculous animals may be traced 

 to their former owners. This lias been successfully carried out at 

 Waterloo, Iowa; Sioux Falls, S. Dak.; and Reno, Nev., and gives 

 promise of developing into a work which will materially assist in 

 the control of the disease. So far this method has been applied only 

 to small lots received at paclnng centers by truck or wagon. After 

 the source of tuberculous hogs has been located, the measures for 

 eradication of tuberculosis consist of tuberculin testing of cattle on 

 the farm and disposing of reactors and in some cases testing the re- 

 maining hogs. The sterilization of skim milk and other by-products 

 of creameries when they are to be fed to swine is advised. 



INSPECTION AND TESTING FOR INTERSTATE MOVEMENT. 



Realizing the utter impossibility of controlling the tuberculin 

 testing of cattle intended for interstate shipment with the relatively 

 small force of regularly employed inspectors, the bureau developed a 

 plan of utilizing authorized practicing veterinarians in this work. A 

 regulation providing for this became effective July 1, 1919, and was 

 later revised. A practitioner to be eligible for this service must first 

 be recommended by the proper livestock sanitary official of the State 



