Commissioner of Agriculture 131 



be reached by the test method. If it were possible thus to supple- 

 ment the test by means of such a general physical examination, the 

 beneficial effects would at once be apparent. We desire to empha- 

 size the fact that this Department does not wish it to be inferred 

 that the tuberculin test is to be disregarded or discarded. The phy- 

 sical examination method is to be used as an adjunct to the tuber- 

 culin test and is intended to reach all herds, thus to some extent 

 eliminating the objection to the test and reaching cases which the 

 test does not reach at the present time. The economic problem pre- 

 sented, even were it possible to apply the test to all cattle, is so 

 great as to render it impossible under present conditions. 



The Tuberculosis Commission recommended that all skim milk 

 used in the feeding of animals should be pasteurized, and thi3 

 Bureau most emphatically endorses such recommendation. The 

 adoption and enforcement of such a requirement would do much 

 to reduce the opportunity for the spread of this disease to calves 

 and hogs, and by raising these young animals so fed, without ex- 

 posure to diseased adults, tuberculosis would eventually be con- 

 trolled and eliminated. There seems to be no satisfactory reason 

 why such legislation should not be enacted. 



The Tuberculosis Commission likewise recommended that tuber- 

 culin be used without reports of such use being made to the Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture. Many states, however, are adopting 

 legislation providing for the reporting of such tests, and others 

 are attempting to secure such statutes. Therefore, the advisability 

 of repealing the present State law which requires such reports is 

 decidedly questionable. As the breeding industry of Xew York 

 State is dependent to some extent upon buyers of dairy breeding 

 cattle from elsewhere, and as the movement of cattle under tuber- 

 culin test is recognized as a standard by State and Federal authori- 

 ties, disorganizing the present system in any way will work to the 

 detriment of the cattle industry of this State. 



The Commission recommended the establishment of a system 

 of district inspection to be in charge of so-called district veterinari- 

 ans. This proposal, we believe, has much merit and it is un- 

 doubtedly a movement whereby closer relations would be estab- 

 lished between the individual cattle owner and the State, and, if 

 properly organized, would be of great educational value. 



