No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 371 



this head, the Board soon found that the matter of inspections, 

 by them, of suspected animals, could not be efficiently performed 

 unless some regular system was ado[)ted ; they were therefore 

 obliged to establish the rule that the commissioners should only 

 act in the matter of inspecting suspected cattle where the ani- 

 mal had been quarantined by the proper authority. This rule 

 was arrived at not only because of the large number of cases 

 which called for their personal attention, but also from the fact 

 that, unless the animal was securely quarantined, they were 

 liable, upon arriving at the place where it had been located, to 

 find that it had 1)een removed or that it was otherwise beyond 

 their reach, — this has occurred many times after travelling long 

 distances. 



Prior to October 4, the existence of the contasfious diseases 

 in these animals was determined by the commission upon a 

 physical examination ; and, as before stated, in the cases of 

 tuberculosis the results were found to be exceedingly unsatis- 

 factory both to the commission and to the owners of the ani- 

 mals. The symptoms were so unevenly shown that animals 

 which were apparently sound were released, and in some cases 

 afterwards found to" be affected with the disease ; in others, ani- 

 mals which appeared to have the symptoms of the disease were, 

 after slaughter, and upon post-mortem examination, found to be 

 free from tuberculosis, but affected with bronchitis, pneumonia 

 or other non-contagious disorder ; and in this way throughout 

 the State a lar2:e number of mistakes occurred, notwithstanding 

 the fact that the greatest care was taken to prevent them. In 

 fact, we were simply repeating the experiences of all other 

 countries that had tried to do anything towards the removal of 

 tuberculous animals from among its herds, and we felt that the 

 ultimate result was sure to be extremely unsatisfactory to all 

 parties concerned ; and consequently, as has already been stated 

 in this report, the Board determined to adopt the uniform rule 

 of subjecting all animals suspected of being affected with tuber- 

 culosis to the tuberculin test. 



The Board further felt, in view of the fiict that the law passed 

 last year provided for the payment of compensation to the own- 

 ers of animals so slaughtered, and placed in the hands of the 

 commission a considerable sum to be applied for this purpose, 

 that, as representing the interests of the Commonwealth us well 



