544 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Rhode Island. 



Rhode Island has a commissioner in each county appointed by 

 the Board of Agriculture, whose duty it shall be to inquire into 

 the condition of any animal- in their county whenever there is any 

 reason to suspect tuberculosis. When an animal is thought to be 

 tuberculous by a commissioner he shall immediately quarantine, 

 and the State veterinarian will test the animal to determine the 

 existence of tuberculosis. Owners of animals condemned for 

 tuberculosis shall receive one-half compensation, at the rate of 

 not more than $50 for native, $75 for grades and $100 for 

 registered cattle. 



The law specially provides that all cattle going into the State 

 must be certified to be free from disease by physical examination 

 and tuberculin test. A bill was introduced last session of the 

 General Assembly to repeal this law. Hearings were held before 

 a legislative committee, but it has not yet reported. 



New York. 



In New York State tuberculosis in cattle is handled by a 

 tuberculosis committee of the State Board of Health. No ap- 

 propriation has been made by the Legislature for the use of this 

 committee, and no cattle have been ordered killed except where 

 the owners have waived all right to compensation. The com- 

 mittee, however, have received many requests from owners, ask- 

 ing to have their hei'ds tested. 



In referring to the destruction of tuberculous animals, the 

 report states : — 



It has been generally recognized that the State should in some 

 measure at least compensate owners for cattle destroyed, since, under 

 such conditions as now exist, the fault is not usually with the cattle 

 owner, and the gain in the suppression of tuberculosis is shared by all 

 alike. It would also seem just that the cost of ridding a herd of tuber- 

 culosis should be borne by the State only once, but that thereafter the 

 owner should keep it free by admitting no animals without the proof of 

 soundness which the tuberculin test affords. ... It is the purpose of 

 the State Board of Health of New York to urge upon the Legislature 

 such revision of the existing law upon this subject as shall insure cer- 

 tainty in the detection of the disease, free of cost to the owners of the 

 cattle, and such an appropriation as will secure for the owner a direct 

 and speedy payment by the State for all cattle destroyed, at a fair and 

 equitable rate. 



New York State is also complaining that there is no protection 

 there against cattle that are rejected by other States on account 



