164 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



THE TOLL OF TUBERCULOSIS. 



By J. A. Kiernan and L. B. Ernest, 



Tuberculosis Eradication Division, Bureau of 

 Animal Industry. 



The practicability of eradicating tuberculosis of cattle 

 and swine has been demonstrated in a number of herds in 

 practically every state. Herds which have contained a very 

 high percentage of diseased animals have been freed of 

 tuberculosis by systematic testing and the removal of re- 

 actors, and afterwards have been maintained on a healthy 

 basis. Likewise, herds which at the outset of the control 

 work were but slightly affected have been cleaned up and 

 kept as healthy herds. 



Responsibility of Owners. 



Many owners pay as strict attention to their healthy 

 herds as though tuberculous animals had been found in 

 them. Such owners have had their animals regularly tested 

 and have not permitted animals from outside sources to be 

 brought into the herds until they have been proved free 

 from tuberculosis. This is the proper attitude for the own- 

 ers of herds to take. 



The responsibility for free herds and for keeping them 

 free from tuberculosis rests on the owner and not on the 

 State or Federal authorities. Obviously there is not a suf- 

 ficient number of State and Feedral inspectors to test all the 

 cattle in the United States, nor is it desirable to try to con- 

 duct the campaign on that basis. There should be a suffi- 

 cient corps of State and Federal inspectors to assist the 

 owners in eradicating the disease, but the greater part of 

 the work should rest on those whom it will benefit most. In 

 practically every section of the United States there are 

 qualified veterinarians who will test cattle with tuberculin 





