No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 365 



Fourth. — The establishment of regular quarantine stations, 

 at which all animals brought within the limits of the Common- 

 wealth should 1)0 delivered in quarantine. 



Fifth. — The forbidding of the importation of all neat stock 

 within the limits of this Commonwealth, unless delivered at 

 these points except upon written permit to the Board. 



Sixth. — The branding, in a distinct way, of all animals that 

 had successfully passed the tuberculin test. 



Seventh. — A systematic examination, by the use of tuber- 

 culin, of all animals within the State, beginning with the coun- 

 ties of Nantucket, Dukes and Barnstable. 



The first announcement of this policy was made at the conven- 

 tion held at Worcester, the 25th of October ; and subsequently 

 the Board, upon November 20, issued orders and regulations 

 covering the same, to take effect upon the twenty-fifth day of 

 November, a copy of which orders will be found appended 

 hereto. 



Prior to the adoption of the tuberculin test by the Board, as 

 the best known method of examining animals suspected of being 

 affected with tuberculosis, the work of the commissioners in 

 relation to the examination of cattle consisted in keeping a 

 corps of inspectors throughout the State in as perfect a condi- 

 tion as circumstances would permit ; instructing them regarding 

 the interpretation and enforcement of the law, as far as it 

 applied to their duties in inspecting animals and slaughter 

 houses, or otherwise in connection with the commission ; in 

 directing the times at which the examinations of herds should 

 be made ; and in keeping proper records of the results of the 

 work done by them. Besides this supervisory work, in all 

 cases of animals reported by the several inspectors, or by other 

 persons, as suspected of being affected with a contagious dis- 

 ease, the several members of the Board made a personal exami- 

 nation of the suspected animals so reported, reliance always 

 being placed upon physical examination ; and, as a result of 

 such examination, each animal was either condemned as dis- 

 eased or freed from quarantine and certified as sound. In addi- 

 tion to this, the Board, as far as possi))le, inquired into such 

 breaches of the law as came to their attention, and took such 

 steps as were necessary or practical to prevent their occurrence 

 in the future. 



