108 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



inaccessible regions. On the whole, the officials of the State con- 

 cerned and the horsemen in the affected areas have cooperated with 

 the bureau in a satisfactory manner. The bureau continued the 



Eractice of paying one-half of the appraised valuation of infected 

 orses destroyed, such share not to exceed $100 in any case, The 

 number of animals tested and the results of the tests are reported by 

 the Pathological Division. The percentage of reactions was 2.23, as 

 compared with 2.47 for the preceding year. A very large proportion 

 of the diseased animals continue to be found among horses belonging 

 to Indians living on reservations under a tribal form of government. 



INSPECTIONS OF ANIMALS FOR INDIAN AGENCIES. 



In cooperation with the Office of Indian Affairs of the Department 

 of the Interior, 43 horses and mules and 842 cattle were inspected 

 and passed for allotment to the several Indian agencies. 



CONTROL OF INFLUENZA, ANTHRAX, AND BLACKLEG. 



In connection with the war emergency campaign to stimulate the 

 production and conservation of live stock, work was conducted look- 

 ing to the control of influenza, anthrax, and blackleg and to a reduc- 

 tion of the losses from these diseases. 



In the work against influenza of horses and mules 70 bureau 

 employees were assigned to work in cooperation with State officials 

 and the War Department. Activities covered practically all large 

 markets and assembling points in the country and included super- 

 vising the cleaning and disinfection of cars, stockyards, barns, and 

 other premises used in the handling of horses and mules, the inspection 

 of such animals at market centers, and the supervision of the segre- 

 gation and treatment of those found to be diseased. The measures 

 taken gave good results in effecting a material reduction in the losses 

 of horses and mules from the disease. 



Cooperation was extended to the State officials of 15 States in the 

 control and reduction of anthrax. Several bureau employees were 

 regularly assigned to this work, and others were detailed as occasion 

 required to assist owners and local officials in carrying out measures 

 necessary to combat the disease and prevent its spread. These 

 employees supervised the disinfection of infected premises and the 

 proper disposal of carcasses of animals which died from anthrax, 

 and whenever necessary assisted the owners of infected or exposed 

 herds in the vaccination of all susceptible animals on the premises. 

 Good results were obtained in the reduction of losses caused by the 

 disease. 



On the request of stockmen or other interested persons bureau 

 employees were detailed to investigate outbreaks of blackleg in 

 young cattle, to advise owners as to proper treatment, and, if neces- 

 sary, to assist in the vaccination of animals in affected herds or 



TICK ERADICATION DIVISION. 



Greater progress than in any previous year was made in the work 

 of exterminating the ticks which transmit Texas or tick fever of cattle, 

 conducted through the Tick Eradication Division under the 'direction 

 of R. A. Ramsay, chief, in cooperation with the authorities of the 

 Southern States affected. 



