92 AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL, 1924. 



fection in proportion to the amount they now spend for drups and remedies of 

 various kinds and of doubtful value. 



Live-stock owners are urged to exeri-ise more care in preventing the intro- 

 duction of diseases into their herds; prevention is cheaper and better than 

 cure and eradicati(»n. 



The elimination of tuberculosis from our bovine population is being pushed 

 as rapidly as possible. The area niethod of eradication is the most rapid and 

 economical. There is need for increasing the veterinary Held force. Lwal 

 veterinary practitioners have shown themselves capable of participating in 

 tuberculosis eradication work under the accredited-herd plan, ami it seems 

 desirable as eradication is extended to turn more of this work over to them. 



The bureau advocates the eradication of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease 

 through the slaughter of all diseased and ex])osed susceptible animals, together 

 with the application of quarantine, cleaning and disinfection of infected prem- 

 ises, and compensating the owners for animals and other proiterty destroyed. 



In the prevention of hog cholera the simultaneous treatment presents ad- 

 vantages over the serum-alone treatment in conferring i>ennanent immunity 

 and is preferable when properly administered by skilled operators. 



The bureau is endeavoring to improve veterinary sen'ice by supervising the 

 work of veterinary colleges and accre<liting only those that maintain the 

 required standard. Since the bureau employs approximately 1.4(M) veterinarians, 

 it is able to exert some beneticial intluence in that field. 



The bureau aims to develop activities relating to the breeding, feeding, and 

 general care of live stock in addition to conducting the disease<'ontrol work. 



It is the policy to have persons working on the larger and more imi>ortant 

 practical agricultural prol)lems to familiarize themselves thoroughly with field 

 conditions by spending a considerable portion of their time in the field. 



Bureau employees are kept in touch with agricultural matters through agri- 

 cultural pui)lications and the weekly summary of editoi-ials which are circu- 

 lated through the bureau laboratories and offices. 



SOMK OF THE ISIPORTANT WOUK .4I.READY COMPLETED. 



A review of the history of the various scientific divisions is convincing that 

 the standards and policies maintained have resulted in success. The activities 

 wliicii have been carried to completion include : 



The discovery of the nature ot Texas fever: how it is conveytnl from infected 

 to susceptible bovines by an intermediate host, wiiich is a ti<'k; and the per- 

 fection of methods for exterminating the tick. 



The complete eradication of contagious pleuroitiieumonia from this country. 

 The I'nited States was the first of the large nations of the world up to that 

 time wliicli. having been once extensively infected with pleuropneumonia, was 

 able lo extiri)ate it. 



The discovery of the cause of hog cholera, the development of antihog-cholera 

 serum, thus placing at the disposal of swine growers a reliable agent for pre- 

 venting losses from that disease. 



The eradicaticm of tul)erculosis from live stock in the District of Columbia, 

 thus demonstrating the practicability of eradicating tui)en'ulosis from iletinite 

 areas. 



Improved methods of making tuberculin for diagnosing tuberculosis in cattle 

 and swine. 



Tile iirompf eradication of I'oot-and-Mionth (liseasi> from the United States 

 on six occasions. 



The impi'ovement through in.si»ection and supervision of metliods of handling 

 live stock in interstate and export trade. 



The exclusion from the United States through the enforcement of (luarair 

 tine regulations of the serious animal scourges iireseiit in foreign countries 

 with whiili we hav«' extensive <()niiuercial relations. 



The establishment of the most complete antl deiu-ndable national system of 

 meat inspection in the world. 



The development of effective ami economical apparatus and f<u-mulas for 

 home, laboratory, and factory tise. 



The deveJopMient of t>IT»'ctive niedicinal tri'atments for parasites. The carbon 

 tetrachloride ireatuicnt I'oV liooUwoiius is one of tlic most rei-cnt treatments 

 develojx'd by the hnreaii. 



I 



