254 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The slaughter of cattle which had reacted to the tuberculin test 

 created an increased demand for dairy cows within the District, and 

 cattle dealers hastened to purchase cattle to suppl}^ this demand. 

 Such cattle entered the District after identification and upon a per- 

 mit, and were tested with tuberculin upon the premises of the dealer, 

 who bore the loss of any cattle which reacted, without reimbursement. 

 Thus cattle oAvners were enabled to replace promptly their diseased 

 animals with cattle known to be free from tuberculosis. 



After the finding of reactors upon any premises a satisfactory 

 appraisement was made and the cattle sold, subject to official post- 

 mortem inspection, to the butcher submitting the highest bid. Fol- 

 lowing the removal of reactors, premises previously occupied by them 

 were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected under supervision of em- 

 ployees of the Bureau, a strong force pump being supplied for use in 

 this coTinection. In all dairy barns bichlorid of mercury, in aqueous 

 solution, 1 to 800, was employed in disinfecting. 



Throughout the entire work the cattle owners and dealers cooperated 

 with the Bureau. 



The following is a summary of the results obtained within the 

 District in the primary application of the test : The total number of 

 cattle tested in the District of Columbia was 1,T01, of which 1,380 

 passed, and the remaining 321. or 18.87 per cent, were regarded as 

 tuberculous and were slaughtered. Of these reactors, 305 were ap- 

 praised before slaughter, and for the remaining IG reimbursement was 

 not claimed, as they M^ere in government-owned herds. The post- 

 mortem inspections of these carcasses verified the correctness of the 

 tuberculin reaction in 98.3G per cent of the number. Excluding this 

 1.64 per cent of possible error, 234 carcasses, or 76.72 per cent, showed 

 localized lesions of tuberculosis, which permitted their use for food 

 purposes. The remaining 66, or 21,64 per cent, showed lesions of 

 generalized tuberculosis, the entire carcasses being condemned and 

 converted into fertilizer and other inedible products. 



The appraised value of 305 reacting cattle was $13,851.10, being an 

 average of $45.41. The proceeds of sales to butchers were $5,757.08, 

 or an average of $18.88 per carcass. Reimbursement was made to 

 owners on a percentage basis, the reimbursement from available funds 

 of the Department of Agriculture being $4,264.02, an average per cow 

 of $13.97. Owners thus received a total average of $32.85 per cow, or 

 $12.56 less than the average appraised value. 



A systematic retesting of all cattle upon premises which had shown 

 infection at the time of the original test was started June 1, 1910, and 

 will be continued during the coming fiscal year. 



BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS UPON INDIAN RESERVATIONS. 



Upon request of the Office of Indian Affairs of the Department of 

 the Interior, the Bureau applied the tuberculin test to cattle at 31 

 Indian schools and reservations during the fiscal year. In compli- 

 ance with a further request from the Department of the Interior, a 

 systematic inspection and the tuberculin testing of cattle at all Indian 

 schools and reservations will be conducted during the coming year. 

 Tuberculous cattle will be disposed of under the supervision of this 

 Bureau, and general improvement in the construction of buildings 

 and in sanitation, equipment, and methods of handling milk will 

 receive attention. 



