THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 79 



Statistics show that where the tuberculin test has been established 

 either compulsorily or voluntarily on the part of cattle owners, 

 tuberculosis is gradually being eradicated, while in localities where 

 the tuberculin test has not been applied, the disease is spreading 

 rapidly and becoming widely disseminated, the cattle owner being 

 confronted with serious and continuous losses. Tuberculin may, 

 therefore, be considered a most beneficial agent to the stock raiser. 



As an indication of the extent of the movement for the elimination 

 of tuberculosis among farm animals, it may be stated that 41 States 

 (Appendix AF) at present require the application of the tuberculin 

 test to cattle brought within their boundaries, this requirement 

 usually being limited, however, to cattle for dairy or breeding pur- 

 poses; and that 21 States and the District of Columbia (Appendix 

 AG) provide for the slaughter of animals found to be affected with 

 tuberculosis, and for the payment of an indemnity to owners; while 

 a few others give authority for condemnation and slaughter without 

 making provision for indemnity. Twenty States and the District of 

 Columbia (Appendix AH) provide for the tuberculin testing of 

 cattle within the State (not necessarily the subject of interstate com- 

 merce). 



USE OF MEAT OF CONDEMNED ANIMALS FOR FOOD. 



It is adduced that it is inconsistent on the part of the Federal au- 

 thorities to permit the use for food of the meat of animals condemned 

 on account of tuberculosis, while at the same time proposing to pre- 

 clude the use of milk derived from such animals. The committee is 

 reliably informed by officials of the Bureau of Animal Industry that 

 animals may be infected with tuberculosis in certain parts of the 

 body, this local infection not permeating the muscular portions or 

 other parts of the animal utilized for food purposes. The Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture has consequently, in the execution of the meat- 

 inspection law, very properly permitted, under rigid inspection, the 

 utilization of such parts of carcasses as are definitely and absolutely 

 known to be free from contamination with tubercle bacilli. 



The question raised as to the propriety of slaughtering for con- 

 sumption animals having localized diseases has been the subject of 

 careful and protracted deliberation by the Bureau of Animal In- 

 dustry in enforcing the Federal meat inspection regulations, for- 

 mulated and promulgated in pursuance of the act of Congress ap- 

 proved June 30, 1906. 1 It was suggested from several sources that, 

 in order to enlist the public support and cooperation of packers which 

 is so manifest in the execution of meat-inspection rules in European 

 countries, the regulations adopted by the Department of Agriculture 

 for controlling the meat industry in the United States should be 

 submitted for criticism to a commission of experts not connected 

 with the department, whose findings as to the effects of disease upon 

 meat with reference to its fitness for human food would command 

 the confidence of the packers and dealers as well as of the public 

 generally. In pursuance of this suggestion, a commission was des- 

 ignated by the Secretary of Agriculture, composed of men whose 



1 Provisions for Federal meat inspection incorporated in Agricultural appropriation act 

 for 1907, approved June 30, 1906, 



