58 
EDITORIAL. 
which are issued by some of the Boards of Health, are doubt¬ 
less read, if not studied, by veterinarians generally, and 
especially bv those among us who are in the habit of giving 
the subject of sanitary medicine a prominent place in our 
studies and observations; and certainly the State V eterina- 
rians and the officers of the Bureau of Animal Industry should 
be counted among this number. 
Among the reports which we have recently received are 
two which have specially attracted our attention. One of 
these is from Connecticut, and the other from Maine. 1 he 
Connecticut report gives us the assurance that the past sea¬ 
son has been one of general healthfulness, and that no disease 
commonly accounted contagious has to any considerable 
extent prevailed within her borders. 
The report from Maine, although it closes by affirming 
that “ upon the whole ’the condition of freedom from disease 
has been most gratifying,” devotes the greater part ot its 
space to the consideration of tuberculosis, and the justifica¬ 
tion of the quarantine measures which have been established 
against the importation of cattle from Massachusetts. 
A careful perusal of this report leaves a very favorable 
impression of the course of the Commissioners, and indicates 
the performance of a great deal of careful work and a full 
appreciation of the importance of the duty devolving upon 
them, and of the necessity of establishing their position by 
the citation of facts such as would clearly sanction and sub¬ 
stantiate their action. 
The figures presented by the Commission in proof of the 
invasion of their State by tuberculous subjects from Massa¬ 
chusetts are of great force and value, though probably not 
very pleasant reading for Massachusetts people. But while 
the truth is sometimes unpleasant to hear, there are f requently 
conditions in which there is much to lose and nothing to gain 
by its postponement or suppression, and the truest rule as to 
its disclosure is “the sooner the better.” And such is now 
the case in respect to the authorities of Massachusetts. 
That the people of that State are becoming awake to 
the seriousness of the accusations made by the Maine 
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