379 



sired, however, is the effective disinfection of all infected prem- 

 ises, to accomplish which it will be necessary to obtain the 

 cooperation of the territorial Board of Health. This will un- 

 doubtedly be granted if application is made through the proper 

 channels. In the meantime it is not to be concluded that bovine 

 tuberculosis is eradicated or that there is so little left as to make 

 it a negligible quantity. The work must be continued for at least 

 two or three years more, if not longer, and no permit to sell milk 

 should be granted without an official guaranty that no untested 

 or reacting animals more than six months old, remain on the 

 dairy premises or their immediate surroundings. In this connec- 

 tion it should be borne in mind that the local milk producers have 

 voluntarily sacrificed more than 1100 head of dairy cattle, with- 

 out protest and without au}^ claim for indemnification, even 

 though the last legislature recognized the right of the owners of 

 banana plants to indemnification when the same were destroyed 

 for the good of the community. It would, therefore, seem un- 

 wise at the present time to make any change in the regulations 

 now in force and which assure the milk producers of the tuber- 

 culin testing of their cattle free of cost, while the health of all 

 dairy animals should be made a matter of official recognition and 

 supervision, not alone as regards tuberculosis but every other 

 disease or ailment which in any way might influence or reduce the 

 wholesomeness of the milk. This would mean granting the dairy- 

 men the right to call an official veterinarian whenever anything 

 was the matter with any of his milk producing cows, free of cost, 

 but on condition that he agrees to follow the veterinarian's in- 

 structions in regard to the disposition of the milk from the sick 

 animal. The dairyman should, in fact, be encouraged to watch 

 and promote the health of his animals instead of, as proposed, 

 making it a compulsory matter of expense to obtain professional 

 advice when told to do so by an unprofessional officer or inspec- 

 tor. In conclusion I beg again to call the Board's attention to the 

 recommendations of the Alilk Committee of 1910, to wit: "That 

 the control of milk be taken from the municipality and be given 

 to the territorial Board of Agriculture and Forestry in order to 

 secure protection for the entire Territory;" and that of the Sani- 

 tary Commission of 1911, to wit: "That a heavy fine be imposed 

 on any person convicted of selling milk from cows infected w^ith 

 tuberculosis." 



Very respectfully, 



\"lCTOR A. NORGAARD, 



Territorial Veterinarian. 



