No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 4G5 



agree to observe the sanitary requirements prescribed by 

 them, introduce none but tested animals into the herd with- 

 out first having them tested with tuberculin, and thoroughly 

 disinfect the premises. These precautions were considered 

 necessary, because it was thought to be of little use to test 

 an entire herd and kill those that reacted, in the expectation 

 of freeing the herd of disease, if untested or diseased animals 

 were to take the place of those condemned, or if tested ani- 

 mals were to be put into infected stalls or stalls that had not 

 been properly disinfected. This matter had evidently not 

 been thoroughly explained to many of the parties that had 

 their herds tested by private veterinarians ; and so, because 

 of this, the following letter was sent to all whose herds 

 had been tested in this manner : — 



COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Board of Cattle Commissioners, 

 Commonwealth Building, Boston, April, 1897. 



Deak Sir : — We desire to call the attention of owners of 

 cattle, whose herds have been tested by private test, to section 4.5, 

 chapter 491 of 1894, as amended by section 10, chapter 496 of 

 1895. This section provides for the killing of animals found to 

 be affected with any contagious disease. It farther provides that, 

 "whenever any cattle condemned as afflicted with the disease of 

 tuberculosis are killed under the provision of this section, the full 

 value thereof at the time of condemnation, not exceeding the sum 

 of sixty dollars for any one animal, shall be paid to the owner 

 thereof out of the treasury of the Commonwealth, if such animal 

 has been owned within the State six months continuously prior to 

 its being killed ; provided, such person shall not have, prior 

 thereto, in the judgment of the Cattle Commissioners, by toilful act 

 or neglect, contributed to the spread, of tubercidosls ; but such 

 decision on the part of the commissioners shall not deprive the 

 owner of the right to arbitrate, as hereinafter provided." 



If an owner does not thoroughly cleanse and disinfect his barn, 

 or if, after having had his herd tested and paid for by the State, 

 he introduces untested animals into his herd, he has through his 

 neglect contributed to the spread of tuberculosis in his herd, and, 

 therefore, under this section forfeits his right to compensation for 

 such tuberculous animals as may hereafter be found in his herd. 

 The commissioners desire to call your attention to this matter, so 

 that you may fully understand their position in regard to it. 



