60 Missouri Agricultural Bepprt. 



LEGISLATION. 



As stated under the discussion of tuberculosis in tliis report, a law 

 was passed providing for the prompt disposition of cattle diseased with 

 tuberculosis. This law has been in force since August 16th, and is 

 working satisfactorily to all concerned. It protects the owner, whose 

 herd has unfortunately become diseased • wjth tuberculosis, from exces- 

 sive losses, and makes it possible for him to dispose of any diseased stuff 

 promptly, and thereby rid his herd of tuberculosis. The State is pro- 

 tected from undue loss through the indemnity granted by the specifi- 

 cations of the law. This law requires that any animal for which indem- 

 nity is claimed should become diseased accidentally, and not through any 

 human or gross or wilful neglect, or scheming on the part of the pro- 

 prietor; that it was not already diseased when it came into the posses- 

 sion of the proprietor; that it did not come already affected with said 

 disease from another State, or from any territory, or from any other 

 county, and that it had not been exposed to disease outside of Mis- 

 souri inside of three months prior to its importation into this State. 

 These conditions thoroughly protect the State in the matter of allowing 

 indemnity. 



No attempt was made to secure the passage of a law authorizing 

 the Board of Agriculture to put an inspector at each of the public stock 

 yards in this State with authority to prevent the removal therefrom 

 of diseased animals for slaughter, or addition to dairy herds. The ne- 

 cessity for the law conferring this authority on the Board of Agriculture 

 is, in my opinion, very great. 



Respectfully submitted, 



D. F. Ltjckey, 



State Veterinarian. 



