35 2 
SESSIONS. 
ily. Investigations have proved the disease to be generally 
prevalent among the cattle in all thickly inhabited countries 
although most of the cattle affected show few outward indica¬ 
tions of the disease. In fact, a large majority of such infected 
animals are apparently healthy, and the presence of the dis¬ 
ease cannot be detected with certainty without the use of 
tuberculin. 
The danger to human life and health has been discussed and 
magnified until the public are demanding action, by the State 
authorities, for their protection. Authority has been given the 
Cattle Commissioners to kill, without appraisal, all cattle found 
to be affected with the disease. 
The discovery that the injection of tuberculin is a very reli¬ 
able method of detecting the disease, has led many to believe 
that this should be applied by the authorities to all suspected 
herds, and some people are of the opinion that all the cattle of 
the State should be subjected to this test. From the experience 
thus far had in the use of tuberculin, we are led to believe that 
a large proportion of the cattle that are apparently healthy 
would be condemned by this test. The present law provides no 
recompense to the owner of such cattle. These condi¬ 
tions make the agricultural aspect of tuberculosis very serious 
indeed. 
* The neat stock of the State is rapidly decreasing, the de¬ 
crease having begun with the agitation of the danger from 
tuberculosis. In 1890 200,658 cows and 62,549 neat cattle 
other than cows were assessed. In 1893 85,806 cows and 47,528 
neat cattle other than cows were assessed, a decrease on 13,852 
in cows and of 15,021 in other neat cattle, making a total 
decrease of 28,873 * n three years. The number of cows had 
been previously quite steadily increasing for thirty years from 
149,090 in 1861 to 200,658 in 1890. 
The dairy is easily the most important branch of farming in 
Massachusetts. The State census of 1885 gives us the latest 
reliable figures. By that the value of dairy products was 
$13,080,526; hay, $9,676,893; other staple product, $4,578,763; 
