120 Twenty-Second Annual Report of the 



REPORT OF BUREAU OF VETERINARY SERVICE 



By Dr. J. G. Wills, Chief Veterinarian and Dr. Charles Linch, 



First Assistant Veterinarian 



The Bureau of Veterinary Service, created by Act of Legisla- 

 ture in 1909, is charged with the control of infectious diseases of 

 domestic animals and the sale for food purposes of calves or car- 

 cases of the same. When first established, this Bureau was a 

 minor division of the Department of Agriculture and its activities 

 were limited. Its growth has been rapid, and, by the addition of 

 some amendments to the basic statute, the duties coming under its 

 control have been much increased. Among the causes for this en- 

 largement in scope might be mentioned a better understanding on 

 the part of veterinarians and others as to the causes and control 

 of infectious diseases, an increased interest on the part of the 

 owners of animals to obtain the maximum service from animals 

 which they own, which is possible only by proper attention to the 

 physical health of individuals and a desire on the part of live stock 

 owners to protect their flocks and 'herds from preventable diseases 

 in every way possible. 



The year 1914-15 was important from the animal disease view- 

 point because of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, the most 

 serious animal plague that has ever visited the American conti- 

 nent. This epidemic, extending over twenty-two States, involved 

 the expenditure of millions of dollars by State and Xational gov- 

 ernments and caused untold losses to the live stock industry. 



In a general way the routine work of this bureau has not 

 materially differed from that of the past few years. Because of 

 many quarantine restrictions necessitated by the outbreak of foot- 

 and-mouth disease, the movement of live stock, particularly cattle, 

 sheep, and swine, was naturally much affected. Inter- and intra- 

 state shipments of live stock were much restricted by quarantine 

 regulations, and all live stock activities were interfered with. This 



