NINTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IX 387 
OUR RELATION TO. KINDRED DEPARTMENTS OF OTHER STATES. 
The Department of the State Veterinary Surgeon of Iowa, has, during 
the past three years, affiliated closely with similar department of other 
states. Reports of all contagious and infectious diseases existing among 
live stock, have been forwarded to this office from time to time, promptly, 
as such diseases originated. We have, therefore, kept in close touch with 
existing conditions in other localities. 
WTiile there have been few infectious diseases transmitted to the State 
of Iowa through shipping stock, we believe that the precautions here 
stated, have prevented any such movement on the part of owners of such 
animals, and it is a well known fact that Iowa is not a dumping ground 
for undesirable live stock. 
In accordance with section 5028-j, chapter 14. we have caused to be 
issued to purchasers of stock residing with the State of Iowa a certificate 
proving that all stock imported into this state, are free from infectious 
diseases. This is commonly known as a health certificate and permit for 
the shipment of cattle for dairy or breeding purposes, and applies only 
to registered cattle or cattle eligible to registration. There have been a 
large number of such certificates received by this department. 
In this connection, we find but one draw-back to the plan of receiving 
such certificates. There have been some cases under suspicion where 
tuberculosis is at issue, and we believe that stock have had the tuberculin 
test one or more times, and finally oecome immune to the test, so that 
when passing before the inspector ready for shipment, the tuberculin test 
dees not develop the actual conditions of such animals. In such cases, 
we have made tests which have developed tuberculosis in such cattle 
passing inspection, and they have been slaughtered, and the fact that 
these cattle were registered and were high priced stock, has been a heavy 
burden of loss to such purchaser, and for this reason, the certificate des- 
cribed above, has become a matter of utmost importance as a protective 
measure to breeders of high grade stock. On the other hand, the depart- 
ment issues a certificate upon the same plan. These certificates, and so 
far as our knowledge extends, prove of the utmost value to shippers of 
live stock to Iowa; and they have been subjected to the closest scrutiny of 
the officials examining them at the point of delivery. 
The expense of this inspection and issuance of this certificate is borne 
by the shipper. 
REPORTS FROM PACKING HOUSES. 
In each of the larger packing houses located within the State of Iowa, 
the gcvernment maintains an inspector whose duty it is to pass upon the 
condition of stock received for slaughter after post mortem. These in- 
spectors in turn, send to this department a memorandum of final post 
mortem examinations, showing the nature and condition of disease, if 
any, of live stock so slaughtered; also giving the location from w^hich 
such stock is received. Through this means as applied to inter-state ship- 
ments of cattle, we have been in close touch with the conditions existing 
among practically ail the live stock offered for sale to the packing house. 
