368 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
and in what localities the disease exists, and should apply the tuberculin 
test generally and systematically to cattle in sections where this seems 
desirable. Reacting animals should be slaughtered under competent vet- 
erinary inspection, so that the loss may be minimized by passing car- 
casses for food where the infection is so slight that this can safely be- 
done; dangerous carcasses, of course, to be condemned. In the case of 
valuable breeding animals, where slaughter would involve great sacrifice, 
the Bang system may be used. A system of tagging all cows sent to 
market is advocated, so that when animals are found tuberculous in the 
meat inspection, they may be traced back to the place of origin, centers 
of infection located, and steps taken for eradication. As the eradication 
of tuberculosis is largely a public health measure, it is only reasonable 
that the persons whose cattle are slaughtered should be paid indemnity, 
at least in part. This is not only just, but is absolutely essential, if the 
co-operation of cattle owners is to be secured. Several states already have 
provisions of this character. 
The benefits to follow from the eradication of tuberculosis from farm 
animals are so great and so obvious, that the necessary expenditures, 
even though they must be heavy, may be regarded as a highly profitable 
investment." 
We see what a fearful risk is being taken by the use of the meat and 
milk of tuberculosis animals, even if it could be shown that such meat 
and milk are themselves free from the living bacillus. Such reckless 
consumption of the products of tuberculous animals can only be looked 
upon as a direct means of sealing the fate of that large proportion of the 
community which is already slightly attacked with tuberculosis. It is 
often the most thrifty and least suspected in the herd that have the dis- 
ease. Oftentimes there may be a large number of animals that are 
affected with tuberculosis, but which appear to be sound. Those, how- 
ever, in an advanced stage will show that they are affected with the dis- 
ease, so that a physical examination in advanced stages can usually 
be relied upon. When we take into consideration that this state of 
affairs exists, and that the consumers of most of the milk are invalids and 
children, what a responsibility rests upon us! 
Much information has been obtained of Bovine Tuberculosis by the 
co-operation of the municipal, state and sanitary oflicers, requiring that 
all owners of dairy herds supplying milk to any city or town be com- 
pelled to furnish a certificate showing that all such animals have been 
subjected to the tuberculin test and are free from tuberculosis. 
Realizing the importance of such a measure, at a meeting of the State 
Board in the summer of 1907, we suggested that the board recommend 
that all cities and towns adopt an ordinance to that effect. A copy of the 
suggested ordinance and the rules and regulations for the prevention and 
restriction of contagious diseases among domestic animals may be found 
in this report. Many cities and towns have adopted such an ordinance, 
with beneficial results. In many instances, in the inspection of such 
herds, a few animals have been found diseased and usually disposed of 
in the manner suggested by our department. 
