No. 4.] WORK OF CATTLE COMMISSION. 233 



filthy ; we are not so utterly regardless of hygienic prin- 

 ci[)les, that all these diseases generate in Massachusetts. 

 This is not a home of disease. The animals as a general 

 rule are in pretty good condition. Hygienic principles are 

 as much regarded in Massachusetts as they are anywhere 

 else. The diseases that have plagued us have been imported 

 to us rather than o-enerated here. Where did contagious 

 plcuro-pneumonia come from? It came to us from Holland. 

 Where did the Texas or Spanish fever come from? It 

 came to us from Texas. Where did the hog cholera come 

 from? It came to us from Chicao-o. Where did the foot 

 and mouth disease come from? It came to us from Canada. 

 W^e met these diseases as soon as we could find them. 

 Massachusetts was prompt in her })re})aration, and we have 

 protected ourselves against those diseases, stamped out most 

 of them ; and the rest of the Union and the United States 

 government, just following in our track, have done the same 

 thing. 



Tul^erculosis never was stamped out, and w^e never shall 

 stamp it out. As long as it exists in tlie human fimiily it 

 will exist in our bovines ; and if Massachusetts was to-day 

 to kill every bovine and clean the whole State up with 

 copious supplies of all the disinfectants we know, the very 

 first time we undertook to fill our barns with stock from 

 anyw^here w^e should undoubtedly bring in tuberculosis with 

 the stock. It is in Maine, it is in New Hampshire, it is in 

 Vermont, it is in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Con- 

 necticut ; and I know^ of my own absolute knowledge, hav- 

 ing seen it there this year, it is in the West. There are 

 certain places wdiere it is more rife than others ; and all the 

 Cattle Commissioners can do and all you can do is simply to 

 eliminate it, lessen it, so as to purify our herds, and as far 

 as possible to prevent the sale of milk that shall come from 

 a herd where one single animal is infected by it, and prevent 

 the sale of carcasses of animals for beef when found by post 

 mortem examination to be affected, and to see that such 

 carcasses are destroyed 



The question might be asked, Is it very dangerous to eat 

 this beef ? No, do not be concerned if you should find that 

 vou have eaten a little tuberculous beef : do not be con- 



