Report of State Veterinarian. 61 



This alone demonstrates the necessity of legislation governing 

 the importation of live stock into this State. We would most 

 heartily recommend a statute requiring that all live stock for entry 

 into this State be properly inspected by official inspectors of the 

 state of origin before being allowed to enter. We can never hope 

 to entirely eradicate contagious diseases if we continue to be made 

 the dumping ground for other states. 



We firmly believe that all contagious and infectious diseases 

 can and should be controlled, but owing to the condition of our 

 funds for the past year it has been impossible for us to look after 

 many calls that deserved an investigation. This is necessarily a 

 serious drawback to our sanitary control work. It is all-important 

 that we be prepared to promptly take charge of an outbreak of any 

 contagious disease when it first makes its appearance. 



The work of this office has steadily increased until we were 

 compelled to keep a stenographer constantly employed. Mr. W. B. 

 Kirtley was employed on July 10th at a salary of $50 per month and 

 has rendered the State good and faithful service. 



A tabulated report of investigations of contagious diseases will 

 appear elsewhere in your annual report. I herewith give a brief 

 summary covering contagious diseases with which we have had to 

 deal in the past year. 



ANTHRAX. 



We received only one official report of anthrax for the past 

 year within the State. This outbreak was promptly placed under 

 strict quarantine and was confined to the farm where it originated. 

 All other exposed animals were vaccinated against the disease and 

 the premises disinfected, with the result that the loss was very 

 light. 



CEREBRITIS. 



During the months of January and February and the first half 

 of March the State suffered considerable loss from cerebritis, com- 

 monly called ''cornstalk disease, "blind staggers," etc. This dis- 

 ease is caused by the stock eating moldy or wormy corn and corn 

 fodder. Treatment is practically useless after the animal once 

 develops the disease. Fortunately, it is easily prevented when the 

 cause is pointed out and directions followed as to feeding. Horses 

 are the most susceptible to the disease. A change to good, clean, 

 wholesome food is all that is necessary. 



