214 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



reactor was released on a second test and 16 were released on 

 subsequent tests. Fourteen reactors were killed, of which 2 

 showed no lesions of disease on autopsy and were paid for 

 by the State on a valuation of $100 each. 



The interesting feature of the case was that the proprietor 

 of the show wished to leave the State toward the end of 

 September with the animals that remained apparently 

 healthy, and after writing to the Bureau of Animal Industry 

 at Washington about the case a reply was received saying 

 that animals that reacted to mallein could not be shipped out 

 of Massachusetts. As a number were still reacting, this 

 left the Chief of the Cattle Bureau with the choice of re- 

 leasing them from quarantine, or killing them and having 

 the Commonwealth reimburse the owner for the value of the 

 animals in which no lesions could be found. The Chief of the 

 Cattle Bureau could not allow them to be disposed of and 

 undertake to keep track of these animals after the show 

 broke up, as he occupied the peculiar position of a State 

 official without authority over the whole State. After careful 

 deliberation the following letter was written : — 



[U-71.] 



Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 



Cattle Bureau of the State Board of Agriculture, 



State House, Boston, Aug. 25, 1908. 



Dr. A. D. Melvin, Chief United States Bureau Animal Industry, 

 Washington, D. C. 



Sir : — Your letter of August 21 duly received, relative to the 

 horses and ponies in the Wild West Show at Wonderland, Revere. 



I find I wrote you promptly May 29 last relative to the outbreak 

 of glanders in the stock at Wonderland. I have had the animals 

 that have shown physical evidence of disease killed, and have kept 

 the others under obsen'ation in quarantine since then, with the 

 exception of half a dozen Shetland ponies which he has disposed of, 

 only one of which ever reacted to mallein, and these were disposed 

 of through a misunderstanding. 



Inasmuch as these animals came from Oklahoma, and seem to be 

 only in transit through the State as a part of an itinerant show, 

 and inasmuch as the owner is not a resident of Massachusetts, but 

 is simply here with his exhibition, it seems to me a case where the 

 United States Bureau of Animal Industry ought to step in and take 

 charge of the matter. The reacting animals and those that have not 



