No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 491 



practice to pass as sound all meat from animals in which the 

 lesions are slight or localized ; where the disease is general 

 or the carcass emaciated, the meat is destroyed. In this 

 country the United States inspectors of the Bureau of 

 Animal Industry, stationed at the large abattoirs where 

 animals are killed for export or interstate commerce, do the 

 same thing ; where the disease is localized, the meat is con- 

 sidered sound ; and when the lesions are extensive or gen- 

 eralized, the meat is condemned. 



This is an important economic problem, and the propriety 

 of so modifying our State laws regarding the disposal of the 

 products of animals infected with tuberculosis as to have them 

 conform to the rules and regulations of the United States 

 Bureau of Animal Industry for the inspection of meat, should 

 be carefully considered. 



Another recommendation for carrying on the work at a 

 less cost has to do with the advisability of reducing the rate 

 of compensation for animals condemned as tuberculous by 

 the Board. In the report of the special joint committee 

 appointed by the last Legislature to investigate the killing 

 of certain cows from Dracut and Lowell, last spring, con- 

 demned by the tuberculin test of private veterinarians, the 

 majority of the committee reported as follows : — 



From our observations at the investigation, we hold that the 

 Board of Cattle Commissioners should at once take into consider- 

 ation modifications of the law relative to the condemnation of cattle 

 by tuberculin test alone, — that is, upon the request of owners of 

 cattle for such testing of their herds. If cattle are to be con- 

 demned, or regarded as suspicious animals only after they show 

 signs of disease, it is a question as to the propriety or equity of 

 the State paying full value for those that are actually diseased. 

 This proposition we respectfully refer to the consideration of the 

 next General Court, trusting that the Board of Cattle Commission- 

 ers will, in the mean time, consider the same question and offer 

 recommendations in their annual report. 



In endeavoring to comply with this request, the advis- 

 ability of any longer paying full compensation must be 

 seriously questioned. The present law provides that full 

 appraised value not exceeding sixty dollars be paid for cattle 



