STATE DAIRY ASSOCIATION. 359 



If a breeder would give a false certificate of the tuberculin test in order 

 to sell a diseased animal, I am satisfied that he would he willing to 

 furnish a false pedigree, so the question of dishonesty is in no manner 

 a legitimate argument against the use of the tuberculin test, 



DANGER OF GENERAL SPREAD FORESEEN. 



Coming down to the most important part of the question, I wish 

 to explain that the State Board of Agriculture, foreseeing the danger of 

 the general spread of tuberculosis among the cattle of this State, has 

 decided to do everything in its power to prevent it. The veterinary 

 service of the State is offered free to the breeders of registered beef 

 cattle and to the dairymen, regardless of the breed of cattle in making 

 the tuberculin test and veterinary examination of their herds. Without 

 any expense whatever to the owner, it is proposed, upon the request 

 of the owners,^ to make the test of any permanent herd in the State. 

 This test is the only safeguard against the introduction of tuberculosis 

 in our herds, and the matter is left with the owners of cattle whether 

 or not they will avail themselves of the opportunity to know exactly 

 what they are doing. It is not intended to force the test upon anyone. 

 I simply explain the tuberculin test to the dairymen and the offer the 

 State Board of Agriculture has made and trust to the common sense 

 and good intentions of those engaged in any line of the cattle business to 

 protect themselves. 



BETTER LEGISLATION NEEDED. 



An important question in this connection is as to what disposition 

 to make of the animals that are found to be diseased. Under the present 

 law it is impossible for the owner of a diseased animal to get any re- 

 muneration from the State, and there is no very satisfactory way at 

 present of disposing of the diseased cattle. The statutes of the State, 

 which provide for the killing of horses affected with glanders and pay- 

 ing the owner something for them, could easily be amended by adding 

 the word tuberculosis, so that cattle found to be diseased could be con- 

 demned and the owner granted indemnity according to the value for 

 as much as $30. It may at some future time be necessary to have some 

 legislation in regard to the tuberculin test. As far as I am concerned, 

 these matters will be left entirely with the breeders of beef and dairy 

 cattle, and I will give my support to the passage of only such laws as 

 seem satisfactory to them. It will, therefore, be necessary for the cattle- 

 men to study their part of this question and take an interest in formu- 

 lating such legislation as they may need for their own protection. 



