OUTLINES OF A POLICY OF REFORM 273 



disinfect many thousands of cow barns and to destroy 

 altogether many thousands more which cannot be 

 disinfected. It will also be necessary to rehabilitate 

 the breed of dairy cattle by breeding from sound 

 stock. It may be necessary even to prohibit under 

 severe penalties breeding from any animals except 

 those certified to be perfectly healthy. I frankly 

 confess that I do not see how these things can be 

 done except by the federal government. 



The problem is a national one, and its ramifications 

 are so numerous and varied in character that to cope 

 with it in any other way than by federal action seems 

 almost impossible. That much can be done by 

 means of state legislation and administrative genius 

 I have no doubt whatever, but the problem will 

 never be entirely solved until it is faced by the union 

 of states. Failing such a policy being undertaken 

 by the federal government, then our only hope lies 

 in securing an agreement of all the states upon a 

 uniform policy of aggressive warfare upon tuber- 

 culosis and all other diseases which mankind may 

 acquire from his four-footed friends in his food and 

 drink. 



Ill 



In most of the states there has been some provision 

 made for the inspection of dairy cattle with a view 

 to eliminating tuberculosis from our herds, and the 



