44 



Division of Animal Industry 



Honolulu, February 23, 1917. 



Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry. 



Gentlemen : — I beg to submit herewith my report on the work 

 of the Division of Animal Industry for the month of January, 

 1917. 



Bovine Tuberculosis Work. 



With the approaching session of the territorial legislature 

 and possible action with regard to the work of this Division along 

 the lines of control and eradication of bovine tuberculosis, it 

 seems almost providential that the subject should have been 

 considered by the federal congress at its present session. 



In accordance with a correspondent to the Breeder's Gazette, 

 Representative Linthicum of Maryland recently advocated be- 

 fore the House of Representatives the destruction of alll cattle 

 having tuberculosis, the payment for them at determined rates, 

 the pasteurization of all dairy products, and the compulsory 

 tuberculin test of all dairy cattle. It is estimated that 10 per 

 cent, or 2,000,000, of the dairy cattle of the country are tuber- 

 cular while slaughterhouse records show 2^1 per cent of the beef 

 cattle and 9 per cent of the hogs to be similarly infected. Mr. 

 Linthicum would further compel the sanitary handling, storing 

 and marketing of meat and dairy products. The feasibility of 

 the project has been demonstrated in the District of Columbia 

 and the urgency of the situation is recognized by the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture as evidenced by its request of Congress for 

 an appropriation of $75,000 for testing pure bred cattle in co- 

 operation with the owners. 



The same correspondent goes on to say that the National 

 Grange at its meeting in Washington last November urged 

 breeders and handlers of all classes of dairy cattle to weed out 

 the reactors to the tuberculin test as a matter of protection to 

 their own financial interests. The Grange believes that reason- 

 able compensation should be allowed for all animals killed in 

 the eradication of tuberculosis. 



The above quotations show plainly that the eradication of 

 bovine tuberculosis is fast becoming a question of national im- 

 portance, and credit will undoubtedly redound upon the states, 

 counties and communities which have taken the lead and evolv- 

 ed the methods upon which nation-wide efforts must necessarily 

 be based. By the same token the relinquishment of years of 

 effort and expense at this time might easily assume an aspect 

 very undesirable and difficult to explain. 



