196 
M. H. REYNOLDS. 
fluence to bear upon the legislature looking toward legislation 
similar to that in effect in other States.* 
In view of recent developments in certain of the Eastern 
States and among our neighboring States here in the West it 
may possibly become necessary for Minnesota to take some radi¬ 
cal action concerning the importation of dairy and breeding 
cattle. I have hitherto taken the position, so far as Minnesota 
is concerned, that so long as cattle in neighboring States were 
probably no worse affected with tuberculosis than our own, we 
were not justified in prohibiting the importation of untested 
cattle. This proposition came up in Wisconsin something like 
a year ago, and I made a similar proposition to the Wisconsin 
representatives, that so long as Wisconsin was no better in this 
respect than her neighboring States, there would be nothing 
gained by such a measure. But the problem has assumed a 
different phase. When our neighboring States adopt measures 
similar to those now in force in Illinois, Minnesota will be 
compelled to do likewise or become a dumping ground for 
tuberculous cattle. A considerable number of cattle, largely 
dairy cows, are shipped each year from this State to Illinois. 
Nearly all of these cattle are tested before shipment. The 
healthy cattle are shipped into Illinois ; the tuberculous cattle 
are left on our hands. If dairy or breeding cattle are tested in 
Iowa with a view to shipping into Illinois, the same thing oc¬ 
curs ; the healthy cattle are shipped into Illinois, the diseased 
cattle may be moved over the line into Minnesota. 
During the past three months there have been tested in this 
state 2768 cattle of all kinds, of which 135 reacted and 25 were 
killed ; an average of 5.1 reactions. But the majority of these 
were not breeding herds. All of the dairy and breeding herds 
belonging to state institutions in Minnesota are now being 
tested regularly, and the officers of these various institutions 
are now in sympathy with this movement, although it was 
rather difficult to get the work started. 
x Since this paper was written Missouri has issued a proclamatiou similar to that now 
in force in Illinois. 
