No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 475 



lasting from year to year. I think that my town and district will 

 make a good showing as to freedom from tuberculosis or other 

 contagious disease. 



Respectfully, Calvin Pratt, 



Insijector. 



Pepperell, Ma»s., Nov. 18, 1899. 

 Dr. Austin Peters, Chairman of the Cattle Commission. 



Dear Sir : — I send you in another cover my report of the in- 

 spection for this year, and wish to say I never saw the cattle in 

 this town looking so well and iu so healthy a condition as they are 

 now. There has been a steady improvement in the condition of 

 the stables, as well as the health of the animals, each year since 

 the inspection began. The farmers and cattle owners are trying 

 to carry out the rules and regulations laid down by your Board. 



The first year of the inspection, when the State paid only for 

 such animals as were killed and found healthy, there were 46 put 

 in quarantine, and all of them were condemned and killed by the 

 Cattle Commission, and all were found diseased but 1 , for which 

 the State paid $12. This year, after six or seven years' experi- 

 ence, only 4 suspicious cattle were quarantined. One of them 

 was released on physical examination, 1 was released on the 

 tuberculin test, and 2 were killed and found diseased and were 

 paid for by the State at 610 and $18. We think there has been a 

 great improvement in six years. 



Yours respectfully, S. P. Bancroft. 



North Brookfield, Mass., Nov. 14, 1899. 

 To the Honorable State Board of Cattle Commissioners. 



Dear Sirs : — I have this day finished the general inspection 

 of cattle, sheep and swine in my territory. I have quarantined 

 only 4 cows out of over 800 cattle. I find considerable improve- 

 ment in the cleanliness of the barns and stables and the facility 

 for watering stock, and the water given is much improved since 

 my last inspection. 



I send you this day the returns of inspection, hoping my work 

 for the last four years may meet with your approval. 



I am your obedient servant, B. F. Barnes, 



Inspector. 



Sunderland, Mass., Nov. 16. 1899. 

 State Board of Cattle Commissioners. 



Gentlemen : — I enclose the final reports of inspections of ani- 

 mals and barns. I have found no more cases of animals that 

 could be condemned as tuberculous on physical examination. 



