120 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



tested. This herd numbered considerably over one hundred 

 head. Among - the young - cattle we found only one to con- 

 demn. The cows were nearly three-fourths diseased. The 

 Commission arranged with the owners to quarantine the herd 

 and sell the product out of the state — to the same parties to 

 whom it had been sold for several years — killing many of the 

 most pronounced cases. Some have been slaughtered on a 

 second visit and the wor>[ will be continued until all the dis- 

 eased ones are stamped out, which will be before many 

 months. 



Meanwhile these cows are on a farm by themselves awaj r 

 from all healthy cattle. This arrangement was made by the 

 Commission upon condition that the state pay no indemnity 

 for slaughtered cattle. 



Many instances could be cited where the cattle owner 

 thought to do better than to use the tuberculin test, but in 

 every case sooner or later, the fates are against him and in 

 some quiet spot on the farm the graves can be counted in num- 

 bers which shows the herd did not increase even by raising 

 all the calves. The income of the average farmer will not 

 long allow him to continue the business of dairying unless he 

 avails himself of the privileges the state offers him. 



The per cent of diseased cattle is greater this year than 

 former years. This is occasioned by testing only where 

 there was a suspicion of disease and more particularly men- 

 tioned herds. 



The tuberculin test may be relied upon only in experienc- 

 ed hands. Some badlv diseased animals will not show a re- 

 action by the injection of so small an amount of tuberculin 

 but the experienced eye will almost always detect other symp- 

 toms after the injection. 



The Commission require the Veterinaries that are em- 

 ployed by the state to inform them of any private tests made 

 that the sale of diseased cattle may be hindered. 



Where a test of this kind had been made, eighteen head 

 showed a reaction. The owners were called upon by the Com- 

 mission who offered to take them and slaughter in behalf of 

 the state, but were declined the owners themselves, pre- 

 ferring to dispose of them. After several weeks of delay the 

 cattle were driven to an adjoining town, said to have been 

 sold and were going out of the state. The Commission 

 quarantined them and slaughtered without paying any in- 

 demnity. 



Permits to bring cattle in to pasture without a test and 

 usually without examination have been given to parties in 

 New York, New Hampshire and on the borders of Massachus- 

 etts. But cows coming from the market in Massachusetts for 



