No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 493 



be diseased to the same extent (or more) as the old one, if 

 he has neglected to disinfect the place where the old one 

 stood, or has been careless about it. This would not be the 

 case in any of the above instances, if compensation were not 

 paid in full. 



The wisdom of paying full compensation for cattle that 

 react to tuberculin is doubtful, except perhaps in cases where 

 an owner is compelled to have his whole herd tested. If 

 partial compensation only were paid, fewer cattle would be 

 killed by the commission, and at a less proportionate cost to 

 the State, giving more opportunity to test herds for owners 

 who wish to eradicate tuberculosis, which our funds do not 

 allow us to do now. Moreover, there would be no applica- 

 tions, under reduced compensation, for voluntary request 

 tests, except from those who were sincere in their desire to 

 eradicate tuberculosis from their herds, as part of the loss 

 would fall on the cattle owner, and he would not be willing 

 to incur his share of the loss unless he was honest in his 

 wish to rid himself of this disease, which Professor Walley 

 enumerates as one of the " four bovine scourges." 



Scientists in various countries have been working for a 

 number of years, and still are, to discover an immunizing or 

 curative agent for tuberculosis ; and it is possible that in 

 time, perhaps in a few months and perhaps after the lapse of 

 several years, a material may be produced with which cattle 

 may be rendered immune from tuberculosis, or that even 

 tuberculous cattle may be cured. When these discoveries 

 are made, it will certainly be the duty of the State to avail 

 itself of them. Under the present law, the Cattle Commis- 

 sion has power to create quarantine stations and to experi- 

 ment with animals in the study of contagious diseases ; hence 

 it would seem that the Board has discretionary power to 

 change its methods with the advance of modern scientific 

 research. Meantime, we have tuberculin as a fairly reliable 

 diagnostic agent ; it should be used to verify the diagnosis 

 on cattle condemned as tuberculous on a physical examina- 

 tion ; and where owners of herds are desirous of eradicating 

 this scourge from among their cattle, we know it can be done 

 where the test is applied two or three times, and the owner 

 complies with the laws of hygiene and has a barn that can 



