ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 489 



fifty-five head constituting the herd, nineteen reacted. 



These diseased animals were sold to eleven different farmers in 

 [owa for the purpose of building up their herds, and had it not been 

 for the intervention of this department, the disease would have 

 been spread broadcast, infecting the herds of the unsuspecting pur- 

 chasers. 



In this case, our present laws covering the importation of regis- 

 tered cattle, or cattle eligible to registry, enabled us to protect our- 

 selves from infection, while many similar shipments of grade cattle 

 coming into this state are allowed to enter without inspection, and 

 are undoubtedly as great a menace to the live stock interests of 

 this state as the herd above mentioned would have been had there 

 been no restriction against their importation. 



The campaign against tuberculosis has been waged with sus- 

 tained vigor. Owing to the activity of the department in bringing 

 to light a great number of cases of infection, the extent of the dis- 

 ease might appear to be increasing. However, it is safe to assume 

 that the disease was prevalent in a great many places from which 

 it had not been reported prior to the recent increased efforts to- 

 ward its eradication. 



The application of the tuberculin test has become general. This 

 subject is treated somewhat exhaustively in another portion of this 

 report. 



Our efforts toward the eradication of tuberculosis has met with 

 much opposition among those whose support we would naturally 

 expect. Many of the prominent stock raisers and public officials 

 have placed their own immediate personal interests in opposition 

 to the public welfare. Consent has been withheld against the ap- 

 plication of the tubtreulin test to herds from which diseased animals 

 have knowingly been sold to unsuspecting and innocent purchasers. 

 Such recognition as we have finally been able to obtain, has been 

 secured only by the greatest persistence and persuasion. We are 

 pleased to be able to report, however, that this opposition is dimin- 

 ishing, and we are gaining a readier access to suspected herds 

 throughout the state. 



There is a matter to which I desire to call your attention which 

 demands consideration in order that the work of this department 

 may be fully effective. The law of the state provides for rejn- 

 bursement to owners on account of stock condemned because of 

 being infected with contagious diseases in an amount not exceeding 

 $25 per head for cattle, based on their appraised value. No appro- 



