arrangements for testing by letter or telephone. The laboratory is not in a position 

 to ren<ler efficient service when ample notification is not given when testing is 

 desired. All flock owners have been notified that the laboratory will follow the 

 policy of processing the applications in the order received. It should be emphasized 

 that flock owners must recognize that the testing load has to be distributed over 

 several months instead of two or three months because it is practically impossible 

 to employ personnel for only a few months. Also all breeding flocks should be 

 tested as soon as the birds are five months of age, if the laboratory is in a position 

 to do so. The following summary gives the distribution of tests by months: 



Months Number of Tests Months Number of Tests 



April, 1955 39,646 November, 1955 1.52,360 



May - 36,890 December 136,659 



June 37,405 January, 1956 149,773 



July 73,307 February 82,924 



August 99,204 March 52,832 



September 149,671 April 4,839 



October 162,657 — 



Total 1,178,167 



Expansion in Efforts Toward Pullorum Disease Eradication: The testing 

 data presented in this bulletin clearly reveal that pullorum disease is amenable to 

 eradication from our poultry flocks. Commencing July 1, 1956 an experimental 

 program for the complete eradication of the disease in Massachusetts will be under- 

 taken. Every known focus of infection will be investigated and necessary steps 

 will be taken to eliminate the same as quickly as possible. The general plan of 

 the program will be built around the following recommendations which have been 

 approved by the Massachusetts Federation of Poultry Associations. 



I. Handling of flocks with acute outbreaks: 



A. Affected chicks should be destroyed or reared for broilers. If early 

 liquidation is not possible, then infection should be eliminated through 

 short interval retesting. 



B. In adult flocks special precautionary measures should be instituted 

 to prevent the disease from spreading within the flock or to other flocks. 



1. Flocks in the acute stage of the disease should not be sold. 



2. Affected pens should be isolated if possible. 



3. Medication should be given under the supervision of competent 

 persons. 



4. After the disease has subsided the flock should either be sold or 

 tested at short intervals. 



C. The use of drugs in an acute outbreak should be exercised only upon 

 recommendation by competent persons. 



II. Handling of infected tested breeding flocks: 



A. Flock owners desiring official recognition are compelled to eradicate 

 the disease from their flocks. 



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