Suppression of Tuberculosis. 



497 



the herd ; (2) to disinfect the premises ; (3) to slaughter im- 

 mediately any animal suffering from tuberculosis of the udder 

 or the lungs, and not to sell or use its milk unless it has been 

 boiled ; (4) to have new-born and newly acquired animals 

 tested with tuberculin at his own expense before they are placed 

 with the healthy animals ; and (5) to have tuberculous or 

 suspected animals branded with a " T " on the hide or horns. 

 In certain cases the test will be repeated free of charge. The 

 State veterinary surgeon who carries out the test is instructed 

 to give the owner the necessary directions as to isolation, 

 separate attendance, &c, with a view to the eradication of the 

 disease. The compensation given by the State for the slaughter 

 of tuberculous animals is not intended to cover more than 

 one-third of the loss incurred, the value of the hide and carcase 

 being deducted from the estimated value. The owner who 

 wishes to receive this compensation must undertake to have 

 those animals slaughtered which, after testing, are declared 

 o be tuberculous, and to have the herd annually tested until 

 it is considered free from tuberculosis. 



According to the report of the Norwegian Veterinary Depart- 

 ment for 1904, it appears that in the period 1895-1905, 178,000 

 animals on 20,485 farms have been tested, of which 10,384, or 

 5 -8 pei cent., were found infected. In the first two years the 

 percentage was about 8 -4, in 1901 it fell to 3 -2, but rose again 

 in 1904 and 1905 to 5 7 and 4 -6 per cent. As the test is 

 carried out on the voluntary application of the owners, it is 

 found that the interest in the question varies very much in 

 different districts. In some parts there is very little sympathy 

 with the movement ; elsewhere, on the contrary, the desire to 

 eradicate the disease is very strong. In the Commune of 

 Snadsen, where breeding is extensively carried on, the munici- 

 pality pays compensation for the slaughter of tuberculous cattle 

 to the extent of one-fourth of the value in addition to that 

 granted by the State. In other cantons frequent tests are 

 made, and in the west a number of agriculturists have slaughtered 

 out their cattle, rebuilt their cattle-sheds and formed entirely 

 new herds with a view of eradicating the disease. 



Dr. Malm, the Director of the Veterinary Department,* 

 thinks that a more rapid result may be hoped for in Norway 



* La Lutte contra la tuberculose bovine, 1903. 

 (4233) 2 I 



