Xo. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' REPOET. 505 



and the demand has increased to the extent which has already 

 been shown. 



In a large percentage of the cases where the animals have 

 been condemned by tuberculin the owner or his representative 

 has been present at the post-mortem examinations, and the com- 

 mission has no knowledge of any instance in which the owner 

 has not been satisfied with the result as finally declared. 



Before leaving the subject of voluntary requests, the com- 

 mission feels that it should call the attention of your honorable 

 body to this class of work, as bearing upon the question of the 

 best method of procedure in the matter of the suppression of 

 tuberculosis among cattle. Under the law which is now in 

 force, the owner receives for every animal destroyed as tuber- 

 culous by order of the commission, provided the animal has 

 had the required residence in the State, the full value thereof 

 at the time of condemnation, not exceeding the sum of $60 for 

 any one animal. The average amount received by such owners 

 in compensation, under the provisions of this act, has been 

 about $35. Under the law of 1894, which provides for the 

 payment of one-half the sound value, the average price paid 

 for such animals up to the fifteenth day of December of last 

 year was $18.36. From the fifteenth day of December up to 

 the fourth day of June, also half value, the average price was 

 $21.* In addition to this, the State bears the expense of mak- 

 ing the examinations, so that, whether the work is done by 

 systematic examination or in response to voluntary requests, 

 the owner is given an opportunity, which, in the opinion of the 

 commission, is a very valuable one, to have ihe sources of the 

 disease removed from his herd without expense to himself, and 

 without loss growing out of the destruction of any animal, — 

 unless, of course, such animal has a fancy or pedigree value. 



In either class of work State animals only are tested, and 

 every diseased animal destroyed removes one more source of 

 contagion and menace to the public health through the sale of 

 the milk derived therefrom. In the case of the examinations 

 conducted on the systematic plan, the commission is working 

 by force of law, and to a greater or less extent without the 

 co-operation of the owners; whereas, in the case of examina- 



* Under the law of New York, which provides for the payment of half compensation, 

 similar to our law of 1894, the average price paid for animals destroyed has been $23.25. 



