PART XI 



EXTRACTS FROM 



STATE VETERINARY SURGEON'S 

 REPORT OF 1912 



EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT 



J. I. GIBSON, State Veterinary Surgeon 



INTRODUCTION. 



The object of this department has been to aid in the develop- 

 ment of the live stock industry of the state by preventing, as 

 far as possible, the introduction of contagious or infectious dis- 

 eases, enforcing measures to control, suppress and eradicate dis- 

 eases that are already prevalent within the state and to investi- 

 gate the cause and nature of any disease which appears to be a 

 menace to the live stock industry or pulilie health. 



The establishment by the legislature of a commission of ani- 

 mal health has been an important step in the handling and pre- 

 vention of diseases in live stock. While this commission may 

 make such rules and regulations as they may deem necessary 

 for the proper control of diseases they have absolutely no power 

 to inflict penalty for violation of rules nor dispose of an animal 

 known to be affected with an infectious or contagious disease. 

 The lack of proper power on the part of the department to dis- 

 pose of such diseased animals is a source of considerable annoy- 

 ance and criticism. While the statute provides for the appraisal 

 of diseased animals there is no fund set aside for payment of 

 such claims nor could diseased animals be appraised and dis- 

 l)Osed of under the section referred to except by gaining the eon- 

 sent of the owner of such diseased stock. The rules drawn up 

 by the Animal Health Commission have been a means of barring 

 diseased animals from the state and numbers of animals shipped 



