REI^ORT 



Board oIe" Cattle Coioiissioners. 



To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives. 



As provided for in section 51 of chapter 491 of the Acts 

 of the year 1894, the Board of Cattle Commissioners hereby 

 presents the following report of its work for the year 1897. 



As was the case last year, the law of 1894 continued to be 

 the basis of the work for the year 1897 ; and, as in 1896, the 

 work has been continued under the following heads : — 



Fnst. — The supervision and direction of the work of the 

 local inspectors appointed by the cities and towns under the 

 provisions of chapter 491 of the Acts of 1894, and the exam- 

 ination of all animals quarantined by them as suspected of 

 being afflicted with contagious disease. 



Second. — The examination of cattle coming into the mar- 

 kets at Brighton, Watertown and Somerville from without 

 the State for sale. 



TJiird. — The examination and identification of cattle 

 coming from without the State upon special permit. 



Fourth. — The conduct of laboratory and stable experi- 

 ments, to determine problems connected with the work of 

 the Board. 



Under section 1 of chapter 491 of the Acts of the year 

 1894, the mayor and aldermen of cities and the selectmen of 

 towns must appoint one or more persons to be inspectors 

 of animals and provisions. These inspectors must make 

 regular and thorough inspection of all neat cattle, sheep and 

 swine found within the limits of their several towns, when 

 ordered to do so by the Board of Cattle Commissioners. 

 They shall also make inspection of any domestic animal, 

 whenever they have knowledge, or reason to believe, that 

 such animal is affected with any contagious disease ; and 

 they shall also examine at the time of slaughter all neat 

 cattle, sheep and swine slaughtered at slaughter houses 

 licensed under the provision of this law. 



