ENZOOTIC ABORTION IN COWS. 125 



changes, etc. ? To this end several cows would have to be 

 killed the moment abortive symptoms were visible. 



11th. Every form of available statistics on open questions 

 must be sceptically collected. 



12th. The State will have to supply a farm and the means 

 to buy cattle, feed and take care of them, as well as other 

 necessary expenses. 



One thing which should not be lost sight of is, that if such 

 work as this is well organized and thoroughly carried out, it 

 would be easily possible to gather the most complete statis- 

 tical record of the health of our food-producing animals in 

 Massachusetts, that has ever appeared in the country. 



Tuberculosis in cattle should certainly not be forgotten. 



The entire veterinary profession should be obliged to con- 

 tribute their mite, especially the country practitioners. 



I must most emphatically enter a protest against a ' ' cattle 

 commission " for any such work. 



The best and most ultra-scientific veterinarian the State 

 can procure should have the charge of the work, but should 

 do it under the auspices and control of the State Board of 

 Agriculture. 



Mixed commissions of one or two ordinary technical men 

 and several civilians are of no value for scientific work. 



To get a good result the work must be first well planned 

 and the entire forces working must be stimulated with one 

 purpose and controlled by one power ; the State is more 

 liable to do herself credit by adopting the above plan than 

 by any other. 



The Chairman. We will now hear a few words from 

 Mr. Bowditch. I shall not then invite discussion, for the 

 reason that there is no man in this hall who knows anything 

 about it, and a general discussion might be interminable and 

 might not elicit any information. I will say, however, that 

 there is already in existence a commission appointed by the 

 Governor, of which Professor Stockbridge and Dr. Thayer 

 of Newton are members. Those gentlemen are seeking in- 

 formation on the subject, and if there is any one here who 

 knows anything about it or has had any experience in it, the 

 commission would be very glad to hear from him, and would 



