No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 557 



been ascribed to the bad effects of tuberculin, chief among them 

 being the shrinkage of the product in milk and the occurrences 

 of abortion, with its attending evils. That tuberculin is, prob- 

 ably, not properly chargeable with these unfortunate happen- 

 ings, is well shown by the replies and letters received from the 

 great majority of these correspondents themselves, to be found 

 among those that are classed here as not unfavorable. 



Among - these latter it will be noticed that there are thirty- 

 eight replies that are non-committal as to the opinion of the 

 writers upon the value of the tuberculin test; thirty-two of 

 them come from cases in which no tuberculosis was found in the 

 examined herds, twenty-eight being from the systematic work 

 in the Cape district, where, as is shown in another part of this 

 report, an exceedingly small amount of tuberculosis exists 

 among the neat stock. 



[Copy of Circular Letter.*] 



52 Village Street, Boston, Oct. 28, 1895. 

 Dear Sir : — We are desirous of learning as fully and accurately as 

 possible as to the general health and thrift of your cattle which were 

 tested with tuberculin. I would therefore consider it a favor if you 

 would write me concerning the following points : — 



1. When was your herd tested? 



2. Of how many animals did it then consist? 



3. How many were condemned as tuberculous? 



4. How many of them were milch cows? 



5. What was the comparative milk product before and after test? 



6. What has been their general health since? 



7. How many animals have you lost since the test? 



8. What disease caused their death? 



9. How many animals had you lost in the same length of time 

 prior to the use of tuberculin ? 



10. What is your opinion of tuberculin from your experience with 

 it in your own herd ? 



An early reply will oblige yours very truly, 



Frederick H. Osgood, Chairman. 



FREDERICK H. OSGOOD, Chairman, 

 CHARLES P. LYMAN, Secretary, 

 MAURICE O'CONNELL, 

 LKANDER F. HERRICK, 

 CHARLES A. DENNEN, 



Board of Call Ic Commissioners. 



* On account of lack of space it has been thought best to omit the replies to this cir- 

 cular letter, which occupy some forty-three printed pages of the report. 



