Xo. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 447 



CATTLE COMMISSIO]^EES' REPOET. 



To the honorable Senate and House of Representatives of 

 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the undersigned Cattle 

 Commissioners submit their annual report. The law of 

 1892, " To prevent the spread of tuberculosis," passed on 

 the 22d of April, largely increased the responsibility and 

 duty of our Board, and required trained experience and 

 technical knowledge to enforce its provisions with despatch 

 and equity to stock owners ; and, by request of his Excellency, 

 the gentlemen who at that time comprised it resigned their 

 positions, and Levi Stockbridge of Amherst, Charles P. 

 Lyman, F.R.C., V.S., professor of veterinary medicine in 

 Harvard University, and Maurice O'Connell, D.V.S., of 

 Holyoke, were appointed and qualified May 12, and entered 

 upon the discharge of their duties ; but the statistics of the 

 work performed by the Board, which existed from January 

 1 to May 12, are embodied in this report, that the extent to 

 which contagious disease has prevailed during the entire 

 year, and the number of animals slaughtered, maybe shown. 

 After a thorough examination of the new law, and becoming 

 satisfied of its intent and familiar with the various provisions 

 by which that intent was to be secured, it was thought that 

 the duties imposed by it upon the mayor and aldermen of 

 cities, the selectmen of towns, and the inspectors, were such 

 that a system could and should be devised by which positive 

 information might be obtained of the number of cattle of all 

 kinds domiciled in the State, and the extent to which the 

 disease prevailed ; and thus, while at work for its suppres- 

 sion, we would be able to gather positive facts to correct 

 erroneous opinions, if such existed. Therefore circulars were 

 prepared in which a system of work was outlined, and 

 instructions given in relation to the methods by which the 

 provisions of the law should be enforced, and sent to the 

 officers named in every municipality in the Commonwealth, 



