868 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
of cattle in other parts of the State from whence part of our 
milk supply comes, no practical veterinarian who was inter¬ 
ested in that branch of the profession, who had the authority 
and could legally incur the expense of investigating any re¬ 
ported trouble, or even suspected trouble, and report to those 
directly interested. 
Some three years ago, the New York State legislature con¬ 
sidered it worth their while to create a commission at an ex¬ 
pense of ten thousand dollars to investigate and find out the ex¬ 
tent of tuberculosis in that State. They reported 6.92 per cent, 
of the whole of the cattle in the State affected with tubercu¬ 
losis, and then rested. Following that I drew up a bill, which 
was introduced and referred to the proper committees, creating 
a Bureau of Animal Industry, placing the whole of the cattle 
industry of the State under its care, and if possible eradicating 
tuberculosis. I went before both house committees in Albany, 
made eight trips there at my own expense and failed to make 
even one position, let alone two in each county. It was claimed 
it was too expensive. Thinking it was best to get the thin 
edge of the wedge in first, I drew up the bill now under discus-, 
sion, and showed it to the then leader of the Assembly (Mr. 
Ainsworth), who seemed to think that that would be the better 
way to attack the matter. It, however, was too late in the 
session to get a bill through, so that the second bill as then 
drawn up is the one now introduced by Mr. Hughes. So much 
as to the history of the matter. 
Now, as to some other objections. It is claimed that this bill 
takes the work out of the hands of the Commissioner of Agri¬ 
culture, and places it in those of the State Board of Health. 
Those who make such objection are unmindful of the fact that 
by the very act that created the former office, he is exempted 
from taking up the question of tuberculosis ; that that question 
rests in the hands of the State Board of Health. The bill now 
introduced provides that either of those departments who may 
have knowledge of any trouble among the domestic animals of 
the State, shall refer the matter to the State Veterinarian, who 
shall report back as to facts, with recommendations as to action 
to that department which has referred the matter to him. The 
bill provides also that he shall be a member of the State Board 
of Health. It’s only a question of being a member de jure, in¬ 
stead of ex officio. He would and should be consulted, and con¬ 
sidering the great part comparative medicine plays in public 
health, it should receive that recognition it so rightly deserves 
