FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION 293 



of foot-and-mouth disease virus, while the bulk of the serum 

 remained free from these tiny masses. If this were the case, it 

 is obvious that certain animals inoculated with the serum would 

 develop foot-and-mouth disease and others would escape. Up to 

 the present, it should be stated, scientists have not been able to 

 identify the germ of foot-and-mouth disease although the econo- 

 mic importance of the plague in Europe has caused it to be 

 studied exhaustively for many years. 



In the Department, experiments are now being vigorously 

 prosecuted with a. view to discover a means of treating serum at 

 the time of its manufacture which effectually will kill the virus 

 of foot-and-mouth disease. The results so far attained are prom- 

 ising and the Department hopes that a successful method will be 

 evolved shortly. In the meantime all the infected serum in the 

 hands of the Chicago Serum Company has been destroyed with- 

 out compensation. All other serum manufactured in Chicago, 

 which it was believed might contain possibilities of danger, has 

 likewise been destroyed. Furthermore, the Department is pro- 

 hibiting the shipment of any serum from licensed establishments 

 in the districts that are under quarantine for foot-and-mouth dis- 

 ease. 



The problem of producing serum which will be effective in 

 controlling hog cholera and at the same time will be absolutely 

 safe in general use is complicated by the fact that the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture has no authority over serum plants which 

 dispose of their product exclusively in the State in which they 

 are manufactured. Such establishments are amenable alone to 

 State law and regulation. The virus act confers no authority on 

 the Department to guarantee or certify any commercial serum, 

 nor does it provide for a continuous examination and inspection 

 of serum establishments, such as the meat-inspection law pro- 

 vides for packing houses. The Department can only control 

 serums and analogous products in interstate commerce when 

 there is evidence that they are contaminated, dangerous or 

 worthless, or when the manufacturer is not licensed to engage in 

 such interstate business. The virus act was passed about two 

 years ago, and within the short time intervening between its 



