4 P.D. 123 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF LIVESTOCK DISEASE CONTROL 



The report of the work of this Division for the year ending November 30, 

 1939, is submitted herewith. 



On January 25 Mark H. Galusha of Williamstown was appointed to succeed 

 Charles F. Riordan as Director of the Division. 



No serious outbreak of disease over which this Division has control occurred 

 in animals during the year. 



The prevalence of tuberculosis in cattle, as revealed by the tuberculin test, 

 was further reduced from the low percentage of 1938 — namely, forty-nine 

 hundredths of one per cent — to forty hundredths of one per cent. 



There has been a marked reduction in the number of cases of rabies re- 

 ported — namely, 38 — the smallest number for any like period for the last 

 forty years. 



The anticipated reappearance of encephalomyelitis in horses, epidemic in 

 extent, did not materialize. 



BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS 



The work of tuberculin testing of all cattle in the Commonwealth regard- 

 less of age continued as in the past years. A total of 22,704 herd tests, 

 232,443 animal tests were made, as compared with 23,370 herd tests, 226,325 

 animal tests in 1938 — a decrease in the number of herd tests, but an increase 

 in the number of head tested. 



The finding of reactors in herds supposedly tuberculosis-free — so-called 

 "breaks" — continues to be a serious problem which requires careful attention 

 and study. Nine hundred twenty-eight (928) head of cattle reacted, as com- 

 pared with 1,122 in 1938— .4% of the total number tested, 232,443— the small- 

 est number of reactors and a lower percentage than at any time since 

 tuberculin testing under the accredited herd plan for the eradication of tuber- 

 culosis was started in the year 1922. Of the 928 reactors, 224, or 24.13%, 

 were reported at time of slaughter as showing no visible lesions of tuberculosis. 

 Seven (7) were condemned at time of slaughter as unfit for food, due to ex- 

 tensive lesions of tuberculosis. 



One thousand twenty-nine (1,029) herds and 3,236 head of the total of 

 22,704 herds and 232,443 head are recorded as first tests, indicating original 

 tests for the person or persons under whose name the tests were conducted. 



Testing, as in previous years, was conducted in cooperation with the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry. The following 

 tabulation is a summary of the work by veterinarians in tuberculin testing 

 for the year: 



Herds Head Reactors 



Veterinarians paid by the State on an annual 



salary basis 7,008 70,138 206 



Veterinarians paid by the State on a per diem 



basis 12,149 127,044 531 



Veterinarians paid by the owners ... 52 1,295 1 



Veterinarians paid by the Federal Government 3,495 33,966 190 



22,704 232,443 928 



