1891.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 207 



and courage. It cannot be stamped out so readily as 

 pleuro-pneumonia. The losses in the gross are much 

 greater than in pleuro-pneumonia, as a very large but uncer- 

 tain number of animals are sufferino; from it. It is difficult 

 for the State to control or extirpate it. The farmer of him- 

 self never will do it. Suspected and thriftless animals will 

 often rather be sold than submitted to veterinary examina- 

 tion. When we know certainly what we believe as to the 

 dangerous character of this disease, and this knowledge 

 becomes common in the community, not only among farmers 

 but among all, — as consumers of beef and dairy products, — 

 then we shall have a careful inspection, oft repeated, by 

 competent veterinarians, of all neat stock, especially of 

 dairy herds furnishing milk for market. When the farmer 

 knows that the animal is valueless, even dangerous to the 

 health of his herd or family, he will welcome the visit of the 

 inspector, though he may be required to sacrifice an animal 

 that has cost him dear, and that he values highly. The 

 State cannot well provide remuneration. If one State alone 

 undertakes it, this State must establish and maintain a strict 

 quarantine against the introduction of any suspicious 

 animals, or it would soon become an asylum, into which 

 anything of an unthrifty nature would be crowded, with the 

 chance that the State would pay for it, if the case became 

 established tuberculosis. It would also remove from the 

 farmer the strongest incentive against breeding from tuber- 

 culous animals, or against neglect in allowing the disease to 

 spread in his herd. 



Bear in mind that this time will soon come. The more 

 intelligent farmers are awake to the situation. We hope 

 united action of neighboring States, or concurrent action of 

 the States with the United States bureau of animal industry, 

 may facilitate the work and lighten the burden. 



In legislation for agriculture, the question of taxation 

 comes in. Real estate, especially land, is the only property 

 that cannot escape taxation. The stock of the farmer is also 

 visible, and gets into the lists ; but how is it with the stock 

 of the manufacturer and the merchant? Personal property 

 has rare facilities for escaping taxation. Again, inherited and 

 accumulated wealth rarely pays its due share of the public 



