164 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOKD. 



VETERINARY SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 



Laws of Massachusetts regarding contagious diseases among 

 domestic animals {pp. ^^7). — An act to codify and con.solidate the laws 

 relating? to contagious diseases among domestic animals was passed by 

 the legislature of Massachusetts and was approved June 20, 1894. 

 Under the new law towns and cities are -to appoint inspectors subject 

 to the local boards of health and to the State board of catile commis- 

 sioners. These inspectors are required to inspect regularly and thor- 

 oughly all neat cattle within their jurisdiction, and they are further 

 charged with the duty of inspecting all domestic animals which are sus- 

 pected of having been exposed to contagious diseases. They also have 

 the power of quarantine and make returns to the board of cattle com- 

 missioners. ITiider the authority of the local boards of health they 

 may inspect the carcasses of all slaughtered animals and all meat, frnit, 

 vegetables, or produce of any kind, which, if fouiul unfit for food, they 

 may seize and dispose of. Calves less than 1 month old are con- 

 demned as unfit for human food, and a fine or imprisonment, or both, is 

 provided for any one selling unwholesome food. The local boards of 

 health may publish the names of persons convicted of offering such food. 



Slaughter houses and kindred establishments must take out a town 

 or city license, under which the nature of the products which will be 

 sold, the estimated number of cattle to be slaughtered weekly, and the 

 days of the week on which slaughtering will be done must be given. 

 Inspectors shall be present on the days of slaughtering, and it is illegal 

 for slaughtering to be done on any other days than those named in the 

 license. 



Animals slaughtered on private premises nuist be inspected either at 

 the time of slaughter or in the preceding G months. 



The local boards of health may regulate the movement of cattle 

 within their jurisdiction. If quarantine is effected on the owner's 

 premises he shall defray the expense; if elsewhere, the city or town 

 shall bear the cost, of which, however, four fifths shall be refunded by 

 the State. The land and stables of an owner may be used for quaran- 

 tine purposes for the term of 1 year, the resulting damage to be paid 

 by the town or city, four fifths of which amount, however, will be reim- 

 bursed to the municipality by the State. 



The State board of cattle conmiissioners is authorized to make regu- 

 lations concerning the extirpation, prevention, and suppression of con- 

 tagious diseases, inspection of animals and animal |)roducts, and gov- 

 ernmg (piarantine and disinfection. 



The board of cattle commissioners or any of its members, after an 

 examination of a case of contagious disease among domestic animals, 

 may have the aninml quarantined at the expense of the owner, or may 



