1891.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — Xo. 4. 405 



on which there is a shadow of suspicion as to health and vigor of 

 constitution. Whether tuberculosis be directly hereditary, or uot, 

 a weak constitution most surely is, and such animals have little 

 power to resist diseases if in any way they are exposed to them. 



Feed generously, but do not pamper, nor confine animals in too 

 close and ill-ventilated stables. The Commissioners find the most 

 disease where the stables are narrow and tightly boarded up in 

 front, so that the breath of any sick animal must be more or less 

 mingled with that of all the others over and over again, with no 

 sufficient inflow of fresh outside air. 



Keep a sharp lookout for the earliest signs of disease, and, if 

 possible, separate into a comfortable stall any animal that threatens 

 danger to the herd. If an occasional animal must be purchased 

 for breeding or other purposes, and its history is uncertain, keep 

 it apart till its character for health is reasonably assured. 



Allow no consumptive persons to have the care of herds of 

 cattle, remembering that the expectorations from a diseased per- 

 son, falling upon the food of animals, may become a boomerang 

 tbat will hit back to the source from which it started. 



By observing these rules constantly, the danger to the live stock 

 interests of the State from contagious diseases will be reduced to 

 the minimum, while the demand for healthful animal products will 

 be greatly increased to the advantage of all. 



A. W. Cheever, 



Secretary. 



Boston, Mav 12, 1890. 

 To Boards of Health of Cities and Towns. 



In accordance with the spirit and intent of the foregoing paper, 

 the undersigned issue the following regulation : In all cases of sus- 

 pected tuberculosis among cattle coming to your notice, you will 

 hereafter instruct owners to cause the separation of their suspected 

 animals from the remainder of the herd, and cause their isolation, 

 and allow the unsuspected animals to be managed in all respects 

 as if no disease had been present. 



Levi Stockbridge, 

 A. W. Cheever, 

 O. B. Had wen, 



Cattle Commissioners of Massachusetts. 



