364 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



been far from satisfactory, — so much so, indeed, as to convince 

 them of the entire futility, and danger even, of relying further 

 upon this method for determining the presence of that disease 

 in neat cattle. 



While the Board, as a board, had been proceeding in this 

 way, Drs. Lyman and Osgood of the Board had been making 

 a long series of experiments with tuberculin, for the detection of 

 tuberculosis among this class of animals ; and upon September 

 20 Dr. Osgood presented the result of these investigations to 

 the Board. In view of this reported experience, the Board 

 were satisfied that the use of tuberculin was a reliable method 

 of detectins: the disease amono- neat cattle ; and that the time 

 had arrived at which a more scientific method should be used, 

 both for the protection of the owners of cattle and the public, 

 in properly determining the existence of this disease ; and that 

 a plan should be adopted, if possible, for the substitution of the 

 tuberculin test in place of the physical examination, which had 

 been heretofore uniformly used. In order to do this, it was 

 felt that not only should animals as reported by the several 

 inspectors be tested with tuberculin, but that systematic regu- 

 lations should be promulgated and enforced throughout the State 

 for quarantining animals until tested ; for regulating the impor- 

 tation of animals from without the State ; for providing a mar- 

 ket, as at Watertown and Brighton, at which tested animals 

 might be purchased by those desiring to have them ; and for 

 the systematic examination of all neat cattle throughout the 

 State. After a most thorough and careful consideration of the 

 matter at this meeting. Commissioner Osgood was requested by 

 the Board to formulate a definite plan for the accomplishment 

 of these purposes. The report of this commissioner was sub- 

 mitted to a full meeting of the Board, held on October 4, and 

 was adopted by a unanimous vote. The system then adopted 

 embraced : — 



First. — The test, with tuberculin, of all suspected cases 

 reported by the local inspectors. 



Second. — The regidation of the importation of all neat stock 

 into this Commonwealth from all points without its limits. 



Third. — The quarantining of all such imported animals until 

 tested with tuberculin, and either condemned or certified as 

 sound. 



