284 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the importance of so doing an opportunity of buying healthy 

 cattle. Any relaxation of these regulations would also make 

 Massachusetts a dumping ground for diseased cattle from 

 other States. It is regrettable that so many of the cattle 

 coming into this State in a healthy condition are destined to 

 go to dairies where in time they will become infected with 

 this bovine scourge. At present the law does not allow the 

 testing of cattle with tuberculin by the State except animals 

 brought in from without the State, or at Brighton, Water- 

 town and Somerville, and animals that are considered tuber- 

 culous by a competent veterinary surgeon ; in other cases it 

 cannot be done without the written consent of the owner. 

 If an attempt were to be made to clean up dangerous herds 

 in localities where they were a source of danger to the 

 neiefhborinff cattle, it would be well to amend the law so as 

 to give the Chief of the Cattle Bureau authority to have any 

 herd tested in which one or more tuberculous animals, which 

 could be condemned upon a physical examination, were found 

 to be present. 



Many farmers do not seem to realize the importance of 

 keeping incipient tuberculosis out of their herds, even when 

 an opportunity for doing so offers itself, as illustrated by 

 answers to the following letter, sent to owners whose herds 

 were killed because of foot and mouth disease, and whose 



barns were thoroughly disinfected : — 



Boston, Dec. 24, 1903. 



Dear Sir : — Last winter your herd was killed by the United 

 States Bureau of Animal Industry, and your premises thoroughly 

 disinfected, giving you an opportunity to restock your farm with 

 healthy cattle. I would like very much if you would be so kind as 

 to inform me what pains you have taken to buy cattle that have 

 been tested with tuberculin, so as to be sure that they were abso- 

 lutely healthy when you restocked your farm, or whether you have 

 bought cattle without taking any particular precautions to be sure 

 that they were free from any form of contagious disease, particu- 

 larly tuberculosis. 



An early reply will be very much appreciated. 



Yours truly, Austin Peters, 



Chief of Cattle Bureau. 



