No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 369 



issued by the commission soon after the passage of the present 

 law, it is ordered " that two thorough examinations of all neat 

 cattle be made in each 3^ear, — one during October, or as soon 

 as possible after the animals come in from pasture ; the other 

 during March, or just before the animals are turned to pasture ; 

 they are also ordered and advised to make inspections of any 

 herds, or of any animals, within their district, whenever any 

 emergency arises, or whenever in their judgment it is better for 

 them to do so." Under this order the inspectors throughout 

 the State made examinations from time to time of suspected 

 animals up to the time of the regular fall inspection. This was 

 begun about the 1st of October, and up to December 15, at 

 which time the returns were required to be sent in, reports 

 had been received from 243 towns, covering the examination of 

 131,968 animals.* 



In addition to this regular work, a new duty was imposed 

 upon the inspectors under the law of 1894, requiring them to 

 make, from time to time, inspections of all other domestic ani- 

 mals within the limits of their several cities and towns when- 

 ever they have knowledge or reason to suspect that such animals 

 are, or have been, exposed to any contagious disease. Of 

 these inspections the commission receive no returns except in 

 cases where the animal has been quarantined as suspicious. 

 Upon making all inspections of neat cattle, it is the duty of the 

 inspector, if in his opinion the animal is free from contagious 

 disease, to deliver to the owner or person in charge a certificate 

 of its wholesome condition. Copies of the form of this certifi- 

 cate will be found appended hereto. Under this provision, up to 

 December 15, there had been issued l)y such inspectors certificates 

 of soundness of 21,273 herds, all of the certificates, of course, 

 being based upon the physical examination by the inspector. 

 Wherever an inspector suspects, or has reason to believe, that 

 any animal inspected by him is affected with a contagious dis- 

 ease, it is made his duty to immediately quarantine the sus- 

 pected animal, he being given the power to do so. This power 

 was first given under the law of 1894 ; prior to that, all quaran- 

 tines had to be imposed either by the Cattle Commission or 

 some of its members, or by the local board,s of health. This 



• The total number of neat cattle assessed ia the State in 189i is : cows, 182,477 ; 

 other than cows, 41,059; total, 223,536. 



