Report of State Veterinarian. 59 



veterinarians to inspect the cattle. We have made a general 

 inspection of practically all of the dairy cattle, including single 

 cows from which butter was sold, around Hannibal, Warrens- 

 burg, Independence, Columbia, St. Joseph, Springfield and 

 Sedalia. In addition to this, we have kept up the annual retest- 

 ing of the dairy herds furnishing certified milk to the cities. We 

 have begun the tests of all Hereford herds of the State, but for 

 the lack of funds have not been able to carry this work forward. 

 We have begun an official test of the dairies around Joplin and 

 almost completed the test at Excelsior Springs. We still have 

 several hundred applications around these two places. 



One of the most gratifying features of this work is that a 

 retest of the dairy cattle around different cities has shown that 

 our work was thorough and effective. In our retest for Sedalia 

 ■we did not find a single tuberculous cow. A retest around 

 Hannibal, after a lapse of three years, revealed the presence of 

 one tuberculous cow. Retests around Columbia, wherever such 

 retest appeared necessary, showed no tuberculous cattle except 

 in one dairy, and the infection was reintroduced into this herd 

 since our last test. Retests around St. Joseph after a lapse of 

 two years, as far as they have gone, show practically no tuber- 

 culous cattle. These results are especially gratifying and are 

 largely contradictory of some of the results on similar work re- 

 ported in other states. 



At the close of the year 1913 we find that our funds are over- 

 drawn, and it appeared that all of this work would have to come 

 to a standstill. We find, however, that both the dairymen and 

 milk consumers in areas where we have worked are in favor of 

 regular retests as far as they are necessary. The people of St. 

 Joseph waited two years for a retest, and as it could not be sup- 

 plied by this department, demanded a retest at the expense of 

 the dairymen. The authorities of Kansas City have been work- 

 ing diligently for a complete and accurate test of all their dairy 

 cattle. Finding that this work has vastly outgrown our depart- 

 ment, we have attempted a new system which is a compromise 

 between all of this work being done by deputies and allowing it 

 to be done by veterinarians promiscuously, competent and in- 

 competent, honest and dishonest. Through the co-operation 

 of the officials of Kansas City and St. Joseph we have arranged 

 to furnish tags, tuberculin and blanks to all veterinarians in the 

 surrounding country who will be accurate, careful and honest in 

 making these inspections. One of our regular deputies will be 



