REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Animal Industry, 

 Washington, D. C, September 7, 1901. 

 Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the operations 

 of this Bureau for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901. 

 Respectfully, 



D. E. Salmon, Chief. 

 Hon. James Wilson, Secretary. 



WORK OF THE YEAR, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. 



The past year has been one of great prosperity in all branches of 

 the animal industry. Prices have been good, markets have been 

 active, and there has been an outlet in foreign countries for most of 

 our surplus. 



The work of the Bureau has been greater than ever before, and yet 

 the facilities at its command have not been sufficient to meet the 

 demands that have been made upon it. The magnitude of the inter- 

 state and foreign traffic in animals and their products and the amount 

 of work required to inspect and certify to these subjects of commerce 

 are enormous. The diseases which appear in various parts of our 

 extensive territory each year are numerous, and there is urgent need 

 for assistance to protect the affected communities from disastrous 

 losses. Of scarcely less importance is it to investigate the incorrect 

 reports of Old World plagues which are from time to time alleged to 

 exist among our animals. These mistaken reports alarm our stock 

 raisers, injuriously affect our markets, and lead to prohibitions by 

 foreign countries. 



OUTBREAKS OF ANTHRAX. 



The past year has been remarkable for the number and wide distri- 

 bution of the outbreaks of anthrax. There are certain regions where 

 this disease appears to be indigenous, as on the alluvial soils of por- 

 tions of the southern part of the Mississippi Valley, and where it 

 apparently develops when the conditions of the soil and climate are 

 favorable. There are, however, other outbreaks which occur as the 

 result of importing the contagion with hides, hair, wool, etc. In either 

 case the stock owners should be promptly informed of the nature of 

 the disease, of its communicability to man, of its deadly nature, and 

 of the measures required to arrest its spread. 



One of the greatest resources in the fight against anthrax is the use 



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