Commissioner of Agriculture 147 



ease did not cause even greater losses, when we consider the enor- 

 mous live-stock population and the fact that traffic continued to a 

 more or less extent, even in the infected localities, while the move- 

 ment of slaughter animals in interstate traffic as across New York 

 was but little reduced. 



It is also well to call attention here to the assistance rendered 

 by the Federal Government, by local veterinarians, and by health 

 officials in securing the confidence and assistance of cattle owners 

 and others in their respective localities. 



The recent developments in other states have shown the posi- 

 tion in which sanitary authorities may be placed where they have 

 not the necessary cooperation of those most interested. New York 

 should feel proud of the attitude of stock owners on this question. 

 Their willingness to abide by the judgment of those experienced 

 in former outbreaks allowed the immediate destruction and conse- 

 quent prompt cleaning and disinfecting of premises where exposed 

 or infected animals had been kept. While the regulations promul- 

 gated by this Department with the object of eradicating and con- 

 trolling the outbreak of necessity hampered live-stock and allied 

 activities, there was a general disposition on the part of all to 

 assist and aid the Department in every way. The foot-and-mouth 

 outbreak forcibly showed the necessity of organized methods for 

 combating this and similar epidemics. It seems proper here to 

 call attention to the defenseless position in which those in charge 

 of live-stock matters are placed under the methods of veterinary 

 supervision now in vogue in most states. At the beginning of the 

 recent outbreak, the representatives of this Department whose en- 

 tire time was available to aid in the control or eradication of the 

 disease were very limited. The number of men who had experi- 

 ence and who were available for State service was totally inade- 

 quate to make headway against the epidemic. Had it not been for 

 the assistance rendered by the Federal Government through their 

 efficient organization in the Bureau of Animal Industry, this, as 

 well as other states, would have been in a very serious predica- 

 ment. 



Every state should establish a system of veterinary sanitation 

 modeled after those of European countries or the Federal Govern- 

 ment, to be available when an efficient sanitary force is needed un- 



