No. 5. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 283 



last year in reference to eradicating or controlling the disease. 

 During the first part of the year there was no money obtainable for 

 paying indemnity on animals destroyed when they had been con- 

 demned as tuberculous. As soon as foot-and-mouth disease occurred 

 in the State practically all testing for tuberculosis was stopped, for 

 two reasons: It was thought that the disease might possibly be 

 spread by those making the tuberculin test; and the money avail- 

 able for controlling tuberculosis was much more needed in the eradi- 

 cation of foot-and-mouth disease. For these reasons there has been 

 very little testing for tuberculosis done since the middle of October, 

 1914. In the herds that were tested during the past year, the dis- 

 ease was not as extensive as in previous years. It is believed that 

 some changes might be made in reference to handling inter-state 

 cattle; the present law requires the tuberculin test on all animals 

 over six months of age that are brought into the State for any pur- 

 pose other than for immediate slaughter. 



During the past year the State tested a great many young cattle 

 in Lancaster and Pittsburgh. These animals came from Canada and 

 the West. The percentage of reactions in such animals was very 

 low, practically all the condemnations were from the dairy breeds. 

 Tuberculin tests are not urged or forced upon native herd owners 

 and in no case can they be paid an indemnity for reacting cattle 

 unless they are willing to comply with the requirements of the State 

 Livestock Sanitary Board. They are required to sign an agreement 

 before the test is applied that in case tuberculous animals are 

 found, they will have them properly isolated or destroyed promptly; 

 that the stable will be promptly and properly disinfected and that 

 they will purchase no new animals and place them in the herd until 

 they have been tested and examined by a person authorized by the 

 State. 



These restrictions make it impossible for dealers to obtain an in- 

 demnity from the State. Even with the restrictions as rigid as they 

 have been, the applications for tuberculin tests have been all that 

 the State was able to handle with the amount of money available. 

 Some have felt that the appraisements are not sufficiently high on 

 cattle that are condemned for tuberculosis. If the limit in price 

 for this purpose is to be raised, it will be necessary to obtain very 

 much more money from the State Government to be used in the work 

 of eradicating tuberculosis. Whether it is advisable to make this 

 move is a question. 



A physical diagnosis has been advocated by some and principally 

 by those who are opposed to tuberculin testing. Very little can be 

 accomplished in exterminating tuberculosis where the physical ex- 

 amination alone is depended upon. It is not possible for even the 

 best veterinarians to pick out 5% of the tuberculous cattle by a 

 physical examination alone, and very little headway "v\all be made in 

 exterminating the disease when 95% of the diseased animals are 

 allovv'ed to remain with healthy animals. In tuberculin we still have 

 the most positive method of detecting tuberculous animals. When 

 properly applied, it is accurate in more than 95% of cases. 



The State has experimented considerably during the last year 

 with ditTerent methods for applving tuberculin. The old subcutane- 

 ous form of application is still considered best, yet good results 

 have been obtained in many cases with what is known as the ocular 



