No. 6. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 105 



has never been possible to make a census of the tuberculous cattle 

 of a state and ascertain the exact prevalence of this disease. Nor are 

 there available, as a basis for such an estimate, slaughter house sta- 

 tistics showing the prevalence of tuberculosis among cattle killed 

 for food. These statistics are not available because there is abso- 

 lutely no systematic inspection of cattle entering the food supply, 

 excepting the inspection by the federal government in two or three 

 slaughter houses in Pittsburg and Philadelphia, and this inspection 

 covers western steers chiefly, so that it furnishes little evidence 

 as to the prevalence of tuberculosis among cattle in the different 

 parts of Pennsylvania. There are, however, in a number of the 

 larger cities of the State, municipal meat inspectors, who are en- 

 gaged in the inspection of animals killed for food. These inspectors 

 report a diminished prevalence of tuberculosis. They are finding 

 notably less tuberculous cattle among those killed for food than was 

 the case a few years ago. Experienced veterinarians in agricultural 

 districts report less tuberculosis, less tuberculous infection among 

 dairy cattle than was formerly the case. Similar reports are made 

 by live stock dealers and by butchers. More accurate information 

 is obtained by the test of herds with tuberculin. Such tests show 

 a diminished prevalence of tuberculosis each year. All of the evi- 

 dence agrees to the effect that tuberculosis is becoming steadily 

 less prevalent. This speaks for the efficacy of the plan for con- 

 trolling tuberculosis that is in operation in this State, the essential 

 parts of which have been described in detail in previous reports. 



As there are some recent modifications, however, it may be well to 

 summarize the leading points. Briefly, the work that is directed 

 against tuberculosis of cattle in Pennsylvania is composed of these 

 parts: 



(1) Cattle suffering with advanced or generalized tuberculosis or 

 with tuberculosis of the udder, and known to practitioners of veteri- 

 nary medicine, must immediately be reported to the secretary of 

 the State Livestock Sanitary Board. Such animals are at once 

 quarantined and are held in quarantine until they are destroyed. 



(2) No animal afflicted with advanced or with generalized tubercu- 

 losis, or with tuberculosis of the udder shall be concealed or shall 

 attempt be made to conceal such diseased animal, or knowledge 

 of such diseased animal, from a member or agent of the State Live- 

 stock Sanitary Board. Furthermore, it is required that animals 

 so afflicted may not be moved upon or 'across any public highway 

 excepting upon a specific permit from a member or agent of the 

 State Livestock Sanitary Board, and then only to be moved to 

 some safe place of quarantine or to a place of slaughter. 



(3) Dairy cows and cattle for breeding purposes brought into 

 Pennsylvania from other states shall be tested with tuberculin and 

 proven to be free from tuberculosis before they may be released from 

 quarantine in this State. 



(4) Animals killed for beef and found after slaughter to be af- 

 flicted with tuberculosis to such an extent that their flesh may not 

 safely be used for food, must be condemned. The carcass may be 

 appraised and may be paid for by the State Livestock Sanitary 

 Board at a price not to exceed five cents per pound (for the dressed 

 meat) or |25 for the entire carcass, provided it can be shown that 



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