EDITORIAL. 707 



and that it can be depended on only between wide limits for setting 

 definite bacterial standards until we have a means of determining 

 the germ content of milk with greater accuracy. We look to the 

 experiment stations for help in this problem." 



A factor of increasing importance to inspection work considered 

 at the meeting of the association is the medical inspection of dairy 

 employees. In reply to questions sent out by the Bureau of Animal 

 Industry to health officials of cities of populations of 5,000 or over, 

 it was found that cities generally have maintained a very incom- 

 plete supervision over the health of employees in places where dairy 

 products are handled. Less than one-half of the 560 cities replying 

 claimed to have laws concerning the control of communicable dis- 

 eases among employees of places where dairy products were pro- 

 duced, and only 10 per cent required reports from milk producers in 

 the event of the occurrence of disease among these families and em- 

 ployees. It was suggested by speakers at the meeting that if munici- 

 palities were to require certificates of inspection from the health 

 authorities of counties from which their milk supply came, and 

 regular reports of the health of all dairy employees, a powerful 

 impetus would be given toward the reduction of milk-borne diseases. 



An entire session of the meeting, as already stated, was very prop- 

 erly given to the question of diseases of dairy animals. Ever since 

 the discovery of the relation of human and bovine tuberculosis, this 

 subject, in particular, has been one to which much persistent study 

 has been devoted. It has escaped the consideration of neither the 

 inspector nor the health official, as well as the veterinarian and scien- 

 tific investigator. 



In 1907, the Bureau of Animal Industry began its first systematic 

 cooperation with cattle owners looking toward the eradication of 

 bovine tuberculosis by an educational campaign in and around the 

 District of Columbia. The tuberculin test was made compulsory in 

 the District of Columbia in 1909. At that time 18.87 per cent of 

 the cattle were found tuberculous; the following year 3.2 per cent; 

 and in January, 1915, 1.75 per cent. The results in connection with 

 tests conducted in 1913 revealed the interesting facts in that out of 

 203 herds of cattle in Virginia and Maryland, under continuous 

 supervision by the Bureau of Animal Industry, 69 formerly tubercu- 

 lous herds were free from the disease and that in 56 herds where 

 cooperation had been effective during the period of five years, no case 

 of tuberculosis had been found during that period. As outlined by 

 Dr. Melvin at the meeting of the association, it is now purposed to 

 establish a system of cooperation between the Bureau and breeders 

 of pure-bred cattle, state live-stock authorities, and breed-record 

 associations, it being the intention to maintain an official public 

 12146°— No. 8—15 2 



