468 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Twelve head of young stock used for experimental pur- 

 poses were sold at auction for $179.25 ; the sales of hides 

 and carcasses of condemned animals during the year amounted 

 to $784.03, — a total of $963.28, which has been paid to 

 the State Treasurer from time to time as received. 



By chapter 391, Acts of 1901, entitled " An act relative 

 to the inspection and branding of the carcasses of animals 

 slaughtered for human food," the Board of Cattle Commis- 

 sioners is required to design and furnish to the board of 

 health of any city or town requiring the same the stamps or 

 brands necessary for carrying out the provisions of the act. 

 After consulting with the United States Bureau of Animal 

 Industry, and the examination and comparison of several 

 styles, a simple and eifective design was adopted ; and 282 

 branding stamps have been furnished to the boards of health 

 of 222 cities and towns 



Tuberculosis. 



The principal item of expense in conducting the opera- 

 tions of the Cattle Commission is that incurred in dealing 

 with bovine tuberculosis, because a greater number of 

 animals are examined for this disease than any other. 

 Animals that are condemned and killed are paid for ; and it 

 is necessary to keep up a quarantine against cattle coming 

 from other States, in order to enforce regulations requiring 

 all neat stock brought in for dairy or breeding purposes to 

 be tested with tuberculin, to be sure that they are free from 

 disease. 



The management of bovine tuberculosis, as in previous 

 years, may be divided under three general heads : — 



First. — The maintenance of quarantine regulations 

 against other States, requiring that all cattle imported into 

 Massachusetts for dairy or breeding purposes shall be free 

 from tuberculosis, the condition of health being based upon 

 their being able to pass a tuberculin test. 



Second. — That portion comprised in the work of the 

 inspectors of animals, in their annual examination of herds 

 and premises, reporting upon their condition, quarantining 

 animals that show manifest symptoms of disease, which are 



