112 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



CONTROL OF INFLUENZA, ANTHRAX, AND OTHER DISEASES. 



In continuation of the Avar emergency campaign to stimulate the 

 production and conservation of live stock, work was carried on look- 

 ing to the control of anthrax, influenza, and other diseases and to a 

 reduction of the losses resulting therefrom. 



The assignment of 30 bureau employees to service with the War 

 Department to assist in the efforts being made to reduce losses among 

 Army horses and mules from influenza was continued until about 

 February 1. The activities of these employees Avere directed toward 

 bettering sanitary conditions at all points where public animals were 

 liandled, and great improvement was made, with the result that such 

 losses were very materially reduced. 



At the large markets of the country bureau employees were regu- 

 larly assigned to work for the control of influenza, inspecting all 

 horses and mules received and isolating sick animals. At those 

 stations 507,559 such animals were inspected, of which 5,341 were 

 sent to the hospital. Of the latter number 622 died of influenza, 

 which shoAved a great reduction beloAv the average losses of previous 

 years. In addition to the regular assignments, cooperation Avas ex- 

 tended to State officiakj ancl horsem.en at practically all bureau 

 stations. 



Cooperation Avas extended to tlie officials of A^arious States, espe- 

 cially those along the Gulf coast, in the control of anthrax and the 

 reduction of losses from that disease. Bureau employees supervised 

 the disinfection of infected premises and the proper disposal of car- 

 casses of animals dead from anthrax, and Avhenever necessary as- 

 sisted the OAvners of infected herds in the vaccination of susceptible 

 animals. In southern Texas alone, Avhere the disease has existed 

 extensively in recent j^ears, bureau employees assisted in the vaccina- 

 tion of about 30,000 animals. Good results Avere obtained and the 

 value of i^rompt and vigorous control measures Avas fully demon- 

 strated. 



On the request of stockmen or other interested persons, bureau 

 employees Avere detailed to investigate outbreaks of blackleg, to ad- 

 vise oAvners as to the proji^r treatment, and, if necessar}^, to assist in 

 vaccination. 



Investigations of repprted outbreaks of disease among domestic 

 animals were made in various parts of tlie country. In cooperation 

 with the State officials of South Dakota the bureau assisted in suc- 

 cessfully arresting a serious outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis 

 among liorses. Cooperation Avas also extended to the National Park 

 service in determining the cause of the death of a number of buffaloes 

 in YelloAvstone Park. 



To guard against the recurrence of foot-and-mouth disease, careful 

 inspections of all ruminants and swine receiA^ed at public stockyards 

 were made by experienced A^eterinarians specially assigned to that 

 work as in previous years. Prompt investigations were made of all 

 suspected outbreaks of the dis'oase reported to the bureau, Avith nega- 

 tive results in all instances. 



LIVE-STOCK SANITARY WORK IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE. 



In the courge of supervising the interstate transportation of live 

 stock to prevent the spread of animal diseases, bureau employees at 

 market centers inspected 22,594,329 cattle, of Avhich 10,897 Avere 



