No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 581 



affected cattle, and the loss of milk, has been great, but has been 

 lessened b}^ handling the herd in a consei'vative manner. The 

 preservation of the blood of the old stock and building of the 

 new herd on the same lines has ))een a positive saving of qualities 

 it has taken years to gain. 



One important part of tBe work of this Board is that 

 which relates to the supervision of the large corps of inspec- 

 tors appointed by the various cities and towns, and also under 

 control of the local boards of health. This is the part of 

 the work which is so essential for the protection of the pub- 

 lic health. The members of the Board feel that steps should 

 be taken to bring this department up to the highest standard 

 possible. 



The local authorities in cities and towns should be urged 

 to appoint men of experience and judgment to this position. 

 It does not do to appoint men who will cater for newspaper 

 notoriety, and it does not do to appoint men for this work 

 who know little and care less about it, or who are appointed 

 for political reasons only. 



Under the law, inspectors must be present at the time of 

 slaughter, and inspect the carcasses of all animals slaughtered 

 in slaughter houses. It is their duty under the present law 

 to condemn to the rendering tank the carcass of any animal 

 showing any evidence of tuberculosis, no matter how slight 

 the lesion. 



This is a question that should be considered most carefully. 

 The interests at stake are so great that no mere feeling of 

 sentiment should be allowed a place in the matter. The 

 whole question should be carefully weighed and looked at 

 from every possible point of view before deciding what 

 changes in the law, if any, are necessary. The total con- 

 demnation of meat is not of so much importance, of course, 

 when only animals condemned by the local inspector are in- 

 volved, these being only exceptionally lit for beef; but when 

 one considers that a large percentage of valuable herds may 

 be condemned, each individual animal of which, to all ap- 

 pearances, is in perfect physical condition, and on autopsy a 

 number are found to be nearly free from disease, in the 

 opinion of the Board, under a proper system of inspection 

 the sale of such meat miijht be allowed. 



