No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 405 



is tanked. If the commission makes a, mistake by killing a healthy 

 animal, it pays for it. 



Since 1894 and 1895 many other States have adopted regu- 

 lations based upon those of the Massachusetts Cattle Commission. 

 The Bureau of Animal Industr}"^ of the United States Department 

 of Agriculture requires all cattle held at the government quaran- 

 tine stations to be tested with tuberculin if over six months old. 

 The Canadian government also requires neat cattle brought into 

 Canada to have a certificate of tuberculin test made by a govern- 

 ment veterinarian in the country from which they are shipped ; in 

 the absence of this, they are held and tested at the quarantine 

 station at the port of entry. 



One would suppose from this that the State of Massachusetts 

 had a right to adopt such rules and regulations as were deemed 

 necessary for the protection of her live stock interests, 3'et the 

 commission has had a steady fight on its hands for the last six 

 years with the cattle dealers and drovers. 



The regulations regarding the cattle traflRc in various States 

 differ somewhat. In Massachusetts the law gives the Cattle Com- 

 mission power to issue all necessary rules and regulations for the 

 protection of the live stock interests of the State ; the same is true 

 of Vermont, New Hampshire and Colorado. In some of the other 

 States the governor issues a proclamation upon the recommenda- 

 tion of the live stock sanitary boards; Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin 

 and several other States are examples of this method. In Maine 

 the Board of Cattle Commissioners may issue the necessarj' rules 

 and regulations, subject to the approval of the governor. 



In some States the importation of cattle is regulated by the 

 Public Statutes ; examples of this are Rhode Island, Connecticut, 

 New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This legislation may favor the 

 tuberculin test, or may be directl}^ opposed to it, and may even be 

 carried so far as to show a distinct animus against the veterinary 

 profession. The State of Connecticut is the most striking example 

 of this feeling. 



Rhode Island has an intelligent and conscientious Cattle Com- 

 mission, the secretary of agriculture acting as its secretar}', witli 

 a commissioner from eacli of the six counties, an appraiser and a 

 consulting veterinarian. Until tliis year the law of Rhode Ishuid 

 provided as follows : — 



[Ckai'tkr ;512, Acts oi- 189G.] 



Section 2. All persons, corporations or companies intending to ship, 

 transport or drive cattle into the state, must produce a certificate to tiie 

 eflect that the cattle to he so shi|)i)C(l, transported or driven an; free from 

 tuberculosis us I'ar as may be determined by pliysical examination and 



