No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 539 



•within the tuberculous body, aud which briug about all the diseased 

 processes iu such bod} T . The diagnostic value of tuberculin depends 

 upon the fact that, when injected into the body of a tuberculous ani- 

 mal, it increases the activity of the disease process in the tubercular 

 tissues and thus affects the whole body, producing a reaction or rise 

 of temperature in a marked degree. When injected into a healthy 

 animal no reaction occurs, no decided rise of temperature results, 

 and no effect is produced upon the health of the animal, either imme- 

 diately or subsequently, although with tuberculous animals it in 

 many cases accelerates the progress of the disease. The tuberculin 

 test has been applied in many thousand cases, and the more exten- 

 sively it has been used the more thoroughly it is appreciated for its 

 diagnostic value and for the reliability of its indications when intelli- 

 gently applied by skilful veterinarians. 



The results of the use of tuberculin as a test in dairy herds in and 

 about Minneapolis have been such as to demonstrate its existence in 

 such a proportion of cattle examined as to justify the continuance of 

 such investigation in a thorough manner, with a view to the eradica- 

 tion of the disease. 



In pursuance of this recommendation, an ordinance was 

 passed by the Board of Health of the city of Minneapolis, 

 under the provisions of the State law, forbidding the offering 

 for sale of milk except from herds that are certified by an in- 

 spector to be free from disease. This ordinance provides : — 



It shall be the duty of the commissioner of health to cause to be 

 made by the veterinarian of the department of health, or under his 

 direction and supervision, such an examination of each and every 

 animal producing milk for sale or consumption within the city of 

 Minneapolis, and belonging to or controlled by such applicant, for 

 the presence or absence of tuberculosis and other contagious and in- 

 fectious diseases as shall be prescribed by the department of health ; 

 and the branding or tagging of each and eveiy animal thus examined 

 in such a manner as ma} 7 be directed by the department of health, — 



and the department of health requires that such inspection shall 

 be based upon the tuberculin test, being the only reliable test. 

 On September 12 the United States Veterinary Medical Asso- 

 ciation, assembled at Des Moines, la., passed the following 

 resolutions, which were adopted by a unanimous vote : — 



Whereas, Tuberculosis is an infectious disease, dangerous alike to 



