No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' KEPORT. 475 



animals. Of these, 306 were examined with tuberculin, 8 were 

 condemned and found diseased upon post-mortem examination, 

 and the balance were discharged from quarantine without ex- 

 amination, because of the absence of funds for continuing the 

 work ; although no compensation was paid for any of these 

 animals that might prove to be tuberculous, as they had not 

 been within the State six months prior to being destroyed. 



Under this system the tuberculin test proved to be reliable, 

 although the animals had come from substantially the same 

 localities as those in the markets of Brighton, Watertown and 

 Somerville ; and the tests were made with the same tuberculin, 

 derived from the same source, applied in the same manner and 

 by the same persons, again demonstrating the importance of 

 the question of environment. 



While the scientific results were reasonably satisfactory, this 

 system was found to be unsatisfactory because of its very con- 

 siderable cost. These animals came to points widely scattered 

 throughout the Commonwealth, requiring the attendance of an 

 agent for an isolated examination ; and in such cases the State 

 was obliged to bear the travelling expenses to and from the 

 point, and at the same time the expense of the entire time of 

 the agent was chargeable in most cases to the examination of 

 but few animals. 



With the adoption of the system of examinations without the 

 limits of the Commonwealth, as applied to the cattle coming to 

 Brighton, Watertown and Somerville, it was decided to apply 

 the same general rule to animals coming in at other points. 



Upon July 8, 1895, the commission issued General Order 

 No. ( j, covering the entire matter of cattle coming into the 

 Commonwealth from without its limits, a copy of which, 

 together with an explanatory letter, is as follows : — 



COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Board of Cattle Commissioners, 



52 Village Street, Boston, July 8, 1895. 



To All Persons whom it may concern. 



"We, the Board of Cattle Commissioners for the Commonwealth of 

 Massachusetts, by virtue of the power and authority in us vested by 

 law, and especially under the provisions of chapter 41)1 of the Acts 

 of the year 1894 and chapter 496 of the Acts of the year 1895, 



