ON AGRICULTURE TO CANADA 67 



1. Quarantine 



There are eight quarantine stations in the maritime and eastern 

 provinces, three in Manitoba, four in Saskatchewan, three in Alberta, 

 nine in British Columbia, and one in the Yukon Territory. These 

 stations are equipped with the necessary facilities for the housing 

 and care of animals during the quarantine period. A permanent 

 stafE is in charge of each. In addition to the quarantine stations, 

 there are forty-one inspection stations, at which animals subject 

 to inspection only, and not to quarantine, are allowed to enter if 

 found free of disease. 



2. Field Work 



Field work consists in the control and eradication of contagious 

 diseases within the Dominion, and is carried on by a corps of thor- 

 oughly trained and experienced veterinary surgeons, the majority 

 of whom devote their undivided attention to this work. Some of 

 these officers are stationed at definite points, while others work from 

 Ottawa, or from the headquarters of the province in which they 

 are stationed. Whenever an outbreak of a contagious disease is 

 reported, an inspector is immediately despatched to make an 

 investigation, and, when necessary, to carry out the provisions 

 of the Animals Contagious Diseases Act, and the regulations made 

 thereunder. 



3. Pathological Work 

 This work is carried on by a staff of veterinary pathologists. 

 It consists of the examination for diagnostic purposes of specimens 

 forwarded from the inspectors of the branch and others. These 

 examinations often necessitate specially detailed pathological and 

 bacteriological investigations with animal inoculations. A. labora- 

 tory is maintained at headquarters for the preparation of biological 

 products as well as original research, and branch research laboratories 

 have been established at Lethbridge and Vancouver. The original 

 research work comprises the investigation of problems arising from 

 the examination of specimens sent in, the improvement of methods 

 in the preparation and standardisation of biological products, special 

 investigation of obscure outbreaks of disease, and of diseases peculiar 

 to certain localities, and the determining of the bactericidal value 

 and general efiiciency of antiseptic preparations. 



4. Meat Inspection 



Meat inspection was started on 3rd December 1907, under the 

 provisions of the Meat and Canned Foods Act. This Act brings 

 automatically under inspection all abattoirs which engage in pro- 

 vincial or export meat trade. The question of inspection within the 

 boundaries of a province comes within the jurisdiction of the pro- 

 vincial and municipal authorities. There are at present thirty 

 abattoirs in Canada under Federal inspection, necessitating the 

 employment of seventy-three meat inspectors, who, with the 

 exception of a few subordinates, are all specially trained veterinary 



