No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 101 



inai'ian has certain duties as an officer of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture in assisting in the development of animal husbandry, and he 

 has other duties as a member of the State Livestock Sanitary Board 

 in regard to the suppression of infectious diseases and in the per- 

 formance of other duties specifically prescribed by law. 



It is difficult, in some cases, to define the line of demarcation be- 

 tween these two classes of duties, and no effort has been made on 

 my part to sei)arate them. The duties of the State Veterinarian 

 as an officer of the Department of Agriculture and as a member of 

 the State Livestock Sanitary Board have been attended to as they 

 have arisen in the day's work, with no effort to classify the task. 



My only reason for referring to these subjects at this time is that 

 the work that falls to me in these two capacities has increased so 

 very much during the last few years that it is no longer possible 

 to conduct it without considerable additional help. If such assist- 

 ance is to be asked for, the question will at once arise 

 as to wether it should apply to the Department of Agri- 

 culture or to the State Livestock Sanitary Board. My idea 

 is that the increase should be in the office of the State 

 Veterinarian, that is to say, in the Department of Agri- 

 culture. The reason for this recommendation is that the 

 State Livestock Sanitary Board is already authorized by law "to 

 appoint and employ such assistants and agents" as may be neces- 

 sary in carrying out the provisions of the law under which the 

 Board is established. That is, the scope of authority of the State 

 Livestock Sanitary Board in this direction is similar to the author- 

 ity of the Department of Health as to the appointment and employ- 

 ment of such persons as it may be necessary to appoint and employ 

 to carry out the mandates of the law. I suggest that the legislature 

 be asked for authority to employ a clerk and a stenographer for 

 the office of the State Veterinarian. Each head of a division in 

 the Department, except the State Veterinarian, already has such 

 assistance. Technical assistants, inspectors, etc., are now employed 

 as required by the State Livestock Sanitary Board. There is need, 

 however, for additional help in the adminisration of the large vol- 

 ume of work that comes to my office. 



As to the growth of the work that is now conducted: The corres- 

 pondence of the office has doubled in less than four years. The 

 livestock owners, veterinarians and sanitarians are using the facili- 

 ties of the office and of the laboratory more freely than ever before. 

 The office is called upon for advice with regard to problems in all 

 branches of animal husbandry, dairying and the veterinary sciences. 

 Most of these communications can be answ^ered from the office, some, 

 however, are referred to appropriate experts. 



The principal work, as heretofore, has consisted in the control of 

 infectious diseases, which are reported upon separately below. It 

 will be observed that there has been a cousiiderable increase in the 

 amount of work that has been required in relation to rabies and 

 glanders. The distribution of these diseases is such that they 

 may occur in any part of the State, at any time, so that constant 

 watchfulness must be maintained. 



According to the last estimate of the United States Department 

 of Agriculture, the number and value of the domestic animals on 

 the farms of Pejinsylvania is as follows: 



