42 



DEPAETMENTAL KE PORTS 



In Canada tlie veterinarians of this Department tested with tuber- 

 culin 382 cattle, of which 355 passed and 27 reacted, as follows: 



A VENEREAL DISEASE OF HORSES. 



Tlie work which the Bureau has been carrying on for the purpose 

 of eradicating an infectious venereal disease of horses, which work 

 has been continued throughout the year, has not given those results 

 that it was hoped would be secured. The seniiwild condition of much 

 of the country over which the disease had spread, as comprised in 

 the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian reservations. South Dakota, and 

 other parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wj^oming, together with 

 the i^rejudices and the lack of cooperation and aid that should have 

 been given by the owners and others whose interests were to be 

 served, proved serious hindrances. 



Another obstacle consists in the methods of certain horse traders, 

 who commence at the norl hwestern corner of the State of Nebraska with 

 a mixed lot of horses, many of which are very inferior, and trade all 

 the Avay across the State to the IMissouri River, frequently giving two 

 horses for one, thus leaving behind such animals as inigiit have shown 

 indications of disease or of being unsound, so that they would reacli 

 the Missouri River with a greatly improved band of horses, and pos- 

 sibly scatter a number that were diseased along the route, as they 

 aim to gf^t rid of all suspicious animals before reaching the eastern 

 border of the State. 



Three diseased mares and one stallion have been shipped in from 

 the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to the experiment station of the 

 Bureau, located at Bethesda, Md., for the i)urpose of giving oppor- 

 tunity for a closer clinical study of the disease and for procuring f i-esh 

 material for laboratoiy investigation. The work in tliis connection 

 has been of an encouraging character, but, owing to the fact that the 

 stallion's condition rendered him valueless except for ]30st-niortein 

 work, this specimen of the disease was unsatisfactory. However, 

 valuable progress has been made and work in these lines is beiug con- 

 tinued, and it is hoped that both the investigation as to the causative 

 agent and its life history, as well as the attempt of the Bureau to 

 stamp out the disease, will, as a result of broader and more aggressive 

 operations, which are in contemplation for the early fall, soon meet 

 with success. 



During the year 10 diseased stallions were purchased and slaugh- 

 tered at an average cost of $25 each, or $250; 29 diseased stallions were 

 castrated, and 76 diseased mares were purchased and slaughtered at an 

 average cost of about $18.35, or $1,395, makinga total of $1,645. Seven 

 diseased mares were slaughtered, owners unknown, for which nothing 

 was paid. At the close of the fiscal year, 15 diseased mares are held 

 in quarantine to be disposed of. 



