—r BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY iiiiNinniiiiiiiiiiiiii 3 9999 06544 683 1 y No. 98 ®ijr ffinmmnnuiFaltJj at iEajsj&trtjufirtta ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF LIVESTOCK DISEASE CONTROL FOR THE Year Ending November 30, 1938 Publication of this Document Approved by the Commission on Administration and Finance. 700-5-'39. No. 7248 ®h? ©ommotttttt altij nf ilaaaarituaettfi DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DIVISION OF LIVESTOCK DISEASE CONTROL " To the Commissioner of Agriculture : The report of the Division of Livestock Disease Control for the year ending November 30, 1938, is presented herewith. The appearance of two diseases contagious to animals and not previously encoun- tered in the State — encephalomyelitis in horses and anthrax in mink — together with new legislation enacted during the year relative to blood test requirements on cattle received from outside the State and to calfhood vaccination, all have had an effect on the activities of the Division. The work in the eradication, prevention, and control of bovine tuberculosis has progressed satisfactorily and resulted in a further reduction in the yearly total number of reactors to the tuberculin test. Rabies, which last year was causing concern because of its gradual increase, took a decided "about face," with the result that this year shows the lowest number of cases reported any year since 191 7. On September 27 a conference on encephalomyelitis was held at the office of the Division, at which there were present veterinarians, entomologists, and representa- tives of the United States Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Public Health Service, United States Army, New York and Massachusetts Departments of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, and Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Eugene L. Hannon of Pittsfield, Veterinary Health Officer of the Division, died on October 2, 1938. He was born in Stockbridge in 1886 and was graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College, Class of 1906. Dr. Hannon entered the employ of the Commonwealth in 1910 and at time of his death had charge of the work of the Division in Berkshire County. Dr. Mark L. Miner of Greenfield, former Veterinary Health Officer of the Division, died on October 9, 1938. Dr. Miner was born in Richmond, Vermont, May 3, 1864, and was graduated from the Chicago Veterinary College, Class of 1889. He entered the service of the Commonwealth in 1894 and was retired in May, 1934. BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS With eradication of bovine tuberculosis its ultimate objective, the major activity of the Division this year, as for many years past, centered in the work of elimination and control of that disease in domestic animals. This work with its many ramifications — tuberculin testing; appraisal and slaughter of reactor animals; supervision of disinfection of infected premises, vehicles, etc.; maintenance of the quarantine station at Brighton; control of interstate shipment of cattle ; and supervision of cattle dealers' purchases and sales — not only occupies the major part of the time of the employees of the Division in both field and office, but constitutes its principal item of expense. The continued finding of reactors to the tuberculin test, although fewer in number each year; the frequency with which so-called "breaks" occur in supposedly tuber- culosis-free herds ; and the occasional finding of extensively diseased animals at time of slaughter are evidence of the need of constant surveillance of all herds through periodic tuberculin testing of so-called "clean" herds on a yearly basis, of herds known to be infected on a sixty- to ninety-day basis, and of dealer herds on a ninety- day basis. P. D. 98 Flood conditions during the year and also the disastrous hurricane of September 21, 1938, handicapped the work of tuberculin testing in certain sections of the State. This is apparent in the table on "Tuberculin Testing by Months," when compared with a similar table for the year 1937. The total number of herd tests in 1938 is 23,370, as compared with 25,016 in I937 ; the total number of animal tests in 1938 is 226,325, as compared with 236,214 in 1937. One thousand one hundred twenty-two (1,122) head of cattle, .49% of the total 226,325 head tested, were declared reactors to the tuberculin test, a percentage lower, than previously recorded in this State and for the first time lower than the "less than .5%" required under the Federal plan for the eradication of tuberculosis for the rating of modified accredited tuberculosis-free areas. As is shown by the table "County Infection," the percentage of reactors to the last test of the year applied to all cattle in the State again shows a reduction — .068%, as compared with .08% in 1937. Although the total number of herds recorded in the State (23,195) is less than the number of the previous year (23,651), the total number of head again shows an increase (212,741, as compared with 210,201 in 1937). Tests of 1,062 herds, 3,333 head, of the total of 23,370 herds, 226,325 head, are recorded as first tests, no previous tests having been recorded for the owners of these herds. Two hundred eighty-nine (289) of the 1,122 reactors to the tuberculin test, or 2575% were reported at time of slaughter as showing no visable lesions of tuber- culosis. The carcasses of ten reactors were reported as extensively diseased and were condemned as unfit for food purposes. The Federal regulation requiring that reactors be slaughtered within fifteen days of the date of appraisal if Federal compensation is to be allowed became effective July i, 1938, and was adopted and put into force by the Division on that date. Tuberculin testing continues to be conducted in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry. Veterinarians now assigned by the Federal Bureau are located in the areas of Leominster, Uxbridge, and New Bedford. The following tabulation is a record of the work of veterinarians in tuberculin testing for the year : Veterinarians paid by the State on an annual salary basis Veterinarians paid by the State on a per diem basis Veterinarians paid by the owners Veterinarians paid by the Federal Government Herds 7,060 Head 67,930 Reactors 390 12.494 121,212 517 44 1,093 2 3772 36,000 213 23,370 226,32; 1,122 4 P. D. 98 Average appraisals, salvage, and indemnity were all slightly lower than for the previous year, as is shown by the following tables. Tuberculin Testing of Goats During the year tuberculin tests were conducted in fourteen herds of- goats. One hundred seven head were tested and one animal reacted, but showed no lesions on post mortem examination. TUBERCULIN TESTS BY MONTHS— 1938 Clean With Reactors First Tests Tested Tested Reacted Herds P. B. Gd. Total Herds P. B. Gd. Total P. B. Gd. Total 1937 December . . 1938 January. . . . February. . . March April May June July August September. . October .... November. . 80 128 108 112 134 122 107 64 36 36 62 73 13 33 22 46 21 1 22 8 2 11 248 327 239 347 486 227 340 243 111 92 207 287 261 360 261 393 507 228 362 251 111 94 207 298 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 4 28 1 3 5 16 1 8 3 1 5 28 1 4 5 16 1 8 3 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 1 2 2 Total .... 1,062 179 3,154 3,333 16 2 70 72 1 17 18 Retests 1937 December . . 1938 January. . . . February. . . March April May June July August September . . October .... November. . 1,955 2,100 1,649 2,417 2,775 2,371 1,783 1,039 1,112 1,266 1,687 1,775 2,579 2,557 2,488 2,664 4,598 2,189 887 386 476 489 1,528 2,364 18,981 19,690 15,043 21,003 25,779 19,502 12,196 6,897 6,675 8,927 13,688 17,916 21,560 22,247 17,531 23,667 30,377 21,691 13,083 7,283 7,151 9,416 15,216 20,280 29 43 34 50 55 40 19 16 13 12 17 35 65 60 260 178 399 43 6 7 6 6 46 26 1,605 1,157 1,768 1,288 1,906 1,227 375 438 306 307 1,009 930 1,670 1,217 2,028 1,466 2,305 1,270 381 445 312 313 1,055 956 5 6 11 21 17 4 2 3 5 1 4 178 155 83 109 129 89 46 58 41 28 54 55 183 161 94 130 146 93 46 60 44 33 55 59 Total 21,929 23,205 186,297 209,502 363 1,102 12,316 13,418 79 1,025 1,104 Total 1937 December . 1938 January. . . February. . March April May June July August. . . . September , October . . . November . Total . . Herds 2,065 2,273 1,793 2,580 2,964 2,535 1,911 1,121 1,162 1,314 1,767 1,885 23,370 Tests P. B. 2,657 2,651 2,770 2,888 5,018 2,234 915 401 482 497 1,574 2,401 24,488 Gd. 20,835 21,178 17,078 22,639 28,171 20,959 12,916 7,594 7,093 9,326 14,912 19,136 201,837 Total 23,492 23,829 19,848 25,527 33,189 23,193 13,831 7,995 7,575 9,823 16,486 21,537 226,325 P. B. 6 11 21 17 5 2 3 5 1 4 Reactors 80 Gd. 179 157 85 110 129 90 48 61 42 28 56 57 1,042 Total 184 163 96 131 146 95 48 63 45 33 57 61 1,122 P. D. 98 TUBERCULIN TESTS BY COUNTIES I938 Clean With Reactors FIR8T Tests Tested Tested Reacted Herds P. B. Gd. Total Herds P. B. Gd. Total P.B. Gd. Total Barnstable. . Berkshire . . . Bristol Franklin . . . Hampden . . Hampshire . Middlesex . . Nantucket . Norfolk .... Plymouth . . Suffolk Worcester . . 29 97 110 10 66 65 108 56 130 4 67 89 3 228 5 25 12 29 6 5 10 10 23 54 47 298 385 26 195 131 350 231 546 10 137 164 3 631 52 323 397 26 224 131 356 236 556 10 147 187 3 685 1 1 1 6 1 6 1 1 2 8 1 12 1 46 3 8 2 12 1 46 1 2 1 6 1 7 1 2 1 6 1 7 Total 1,062 179 3,154 3,333 16 2 70 72 1 17 18 Retests Barnstable . Berkshire. . . Bristol Essex Franklin . . . Hampden . . Hampshire . Middlesex . . Nantucket . Norfolk Plymouth . . Suffolk Worcester . . 540 2,011 2,486 119 1,408 1,845 1,916 2,037 2,375 37 1,025 1,527 21 4,582 125 3,197 2,310 21 1,791 1,932 1,532 2,901 2,405 14 1,091 1,060 77 4,749 1,806 22,382 19,241 672 11,362 17,604 14,372 16,859 20,267 390 7,944 10,128 110 43,160 1,931 25,579 21,551 693 13,153 19,536 15,904 19,760 22,672 404 9,035 11,188 187 47,909 1 26 54 32 5 19 25 70 32 14 3 82 19 366 3 213 98 221 12 28 142 27 927 1,035 3,251 233 471 644 2,364 641 494 31 2,198 27 946 1,401 3,254 233 684 742 2,585 653 522 31 2,340 1 9 2 10 8 29 1 1 18 1 83 131 219 6 41 68 203 77 25 3 168 1 84 140 221 6 51 76 232 78 26 3 186 Total 21,929 23,205 186,297 209,502 363 1,102 12,316 13,418 79 1,025 1,104 Tests Reactors Total Herds P.B. Gd. Total P.B. Gd. Total Berkshire Bristol 570 2,135 2,651 129 1,506 1,915 2,044 2,118 2,581 41 1,125 1,630 27 4,898 130 3,242 2,688 21 1,823 1,932 1,752 3,004 2,636 14 1,113 1,111 77 4,945 1,880 23,609 20,669 698 14,808 17,968 15,194 17,734 23,189 400 8,723 10,786 144 46,035 2,010 26,851 23,357 719 16,631 19,900 16,946 20,738 25,825 414 9,836 11,897 221 50,980 2 9 2 10 8 29 1 1 18 1 83 133 219 6 42 68 209 78 25 3 175 1 85 142 Dukes Essex Franklin 221 6 52 Hampshire Middlesex 76 238 Nantucket Norfolk 79 Plymouth 26 Suffolk 3 Worcester 193 Total 23,370 24,488 201,837 226,325 80 1,042 1,122 P. D. 98 COUNTY INFECTION STATUS OF HERDS ON NOVEMBER 30, 1938, 1937, 1936 1938 Tests Reactors Herds Head Herds Head Reactors Barnstable 557 2,107 2,536 138 1,567 2,016 1,935 2,082 2,574 41 1,067 1,612 22 4,941 1,939 25,935 20,977 751 13,964 20,609 15,070 20,099 23,468 414 8,953 10,988 175 49,399 7 7 10 2 7 12 4 4 18 200 91 673 19 217 381 41 79 480 Berkshire 21 Bristol 12 Dukes Essex 25 Franklin Hampden 0 Hampshire 15 Middlesex 24 Nantucket Norfolk 6 Plymouth 4 Suffolk Worcester 37 Total 23,195 212,741 71 2,181 146 1937 Tests Reactors Herds Head Herds Head Reactors Barnstable 572 2,153 2,590 143 1,614 2,050 1,958 2,152 2,645 45 1,079 1,620 22 5,008 1,909 26,194 20,454 703 13,924 20,590 14,866 19,633 23,054 452 8,842 10,453 176 48,951 3 9 11 4 4 8 1 4 25 64 163 843 102 149 151 141 88 549 Berkshire 9 Bristol Dukes 12 Essex Franklin 28 Hampden 14 Hampshire 7 Middlesex 39 Nantucket Norfolk 4 Plymouth 23 Suffolk Worcester 41 Total 23,651 210,201 69 2,255 177 Te STS Reactors 1936 Herds Head Herds Head Reactors Barnstable 617 2,243 2,675 147 1,643 2,136 1,998 2,221 2,656 47 1,105 1,673 20 5,117 1,999 26,461 19,817 707 13,869 20,573 14,866 19,585 22,509 481 . 8,951 10,355 189 49,582 22 13 1 9 2 4 6 10 1 3 34 430 246 2 722 63 140 220 299 33 143 786 Berkshire 39 Bristol 15 Dukes 1 Essex 29 Franklin 25 Hampden 6 Hampshire 9 Middlesex 17 Nantucket Norfolk 20 Plymouth 5 Suffolk Worcester 94 Total 24,298 209,944 105 3,084 260 P. 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August Septem Octobe Novem a 0 H S3 O 2q P. D. 98 9 INERSTATE MOVEMENT OF CATTLE The movement or transportation of cattle into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was affected to a marked extent by Chapter 168, Acts of 1938, passed by the General Court and approved April 5, 1938, and effective on July 4, 1938. This law, referred to as "An Act relative to the control of the importation of animals affected with Bang's Abortion Disease," reads as follows : Chapter one hundred and twenty-nine of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section twenty-six A, as appearing in the Tercentenary Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following: — Section 26A. Whoever ships, drives or transports into the commonwealth cattle to be used for dairy purposes, unless they have been inspected and passed as healthy by a veterinary inspector of the United States Bureau of Animal Industry or a veterinarian of the state of origin authorized by the state and approved by said bureau and are accompanied by a certificate of health approved by the proper livestock officials of the state of origin stating that each such animal six months of age or over was negative to an agglutination blood test for Bang's abortion disease applied within thirty days prior to entry, shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars. Under the provisions of this law it is required that in addition to the permit, made necessary by Division Order No. 42, each shipment of dairy cattle into Massachusetts must be accompanied by a certificate of health approved by the proper livestock offi- cial of the state of origin. For the proper enforcement of the law, it was necessary to revoke Division Order No. 44 and to invoke new regulations, as follows : To Transportation Companies, Inspectors of Animals, and All Persons Whom It May Concern : Division Order No. 44 is hereby revoked and the following Order to be known as Order No. 45 submitted therefor : Whereas it is deemed necessary, for the protection of the livestock interests of the Commonwealth, to restrict shipments into this Commonwealth of cattle assumed to be affected with Bang's abortion disease (Chapter 168, Acts of 1938) Now therefore, acting under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the provisions of Chapter 129 of the General Laws (Tercentenary Edition) and all Acts and Amendments thereof and in addition thereto, and all other authority me hereto enabling, I do hereby make the following order and regulation: — Section 1. All bovine animals, six months of age or over, shipped, driven, or in any way transported into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from any point out- side thereof to be used for dairy purposes unless they have been inspected and passed as healthy by a veterinary inspector of the United States Bureau of Animal Industry or a veterinarian of the state of origin authorized by the state and approved by said Bureau and are accompanied by a certificate of health approved by the proper live- stock officials of the state of origin stating that each animal six months of age or over was negative to an agglutination blood test for Bang's abortion disease applied within thirty days prior to entry, are hereby declared to be in quarantine and, pending a decision by the Director of Livestock Disease Control as to their disposal or release as provided in Section 2 of this Order, shall be segregated at the risk and expense of the owner or the person, firm or corporation in whose charge such animals are held. Section 2. All bovine animals quarantined under the provisions of Section 1 of this Order may be released by order of the Director, providing the owner or his authorized representative shall agree: A. To return said animals immediately to the state in which shipment origin- ated; or 10 P. D. 98 B. To arrange for the immediate slaughter of said animals and to furnish the Director, as evidence of killing, a statement signed by the inspector of slaughter- ing under whose inspection slaughter took place giving information as to the identification of each animal and the date and place of slaughter; or C. To submit to the laboratory of the Division of Livestock Disease Control a sample of blood from each of said animals, which blood must be drawn by a registered veterinarian employed by and at the expense of the owner, or the person, firm, or corporation in whose charge such animals are held, said ani- mals to be released by the Director if the report of the laboratory test is nega- tive, or to be disposed of by the owner or his authorized representative in accordance with option A or B of this Section if the test is reported by the laboratory otherwise than negative. This order shall become effective July 4, 1938, and shall be published by the Inspector of Animals in each city and town in the Commonwealth by filing a copy hereof with the City Clerk or the Town Clerk as the case may be and by posting a copy hereof in a conspicuous public place within the city or town for which he is the Inspector of Animals. CHARLES F. RIORDAN, Director of Livestock Disease Control. Approved : WILLIAM CASEY, Commissioner of Agriculture. Approved in Council June 13, 1938: WILLIAM L. REED, Executive Secretary. Under the law (Chapter 168, Acts of 1938), as interpreted by the office of the Attorney General, cattle entering Massachusetts for pasture purposes and cattle returning from out-of-state pasturage must be accompanied by a certificate of blood test made within thirty days prior to entry, as specified in the law. Cattle entering the State for exhibition purposes are exempt, however, from that requirement. It was also ruled by the Attorney General that the clause "negative to an agglutination blood test" be interpreted to imply that the test must have resulted negatively to all dilu- tions or titres normally recorded by the official laboratory of the state from which the consignment originated. The effect of the change in interstate shipment requirements is reflected in the tabulation of receipts of dairy cattle at the quarantine station at Brighton and at points other than Brighton. Quarantine Station at Brighton The receipts at the dairy section of the quarantine station, indicating the origin and disposition of cattle received, are as follows : Released on Papers Held for T.B. Test Released Held for Blood Test Released Ret'd to State of Origin Killed Total Origin: Interstate : Canada Connecticut Maine New Hampshire New York Rhode Island 40 3 4,137 1,293 78 10 1,573 1 9 12 4 5 2 40 3 4,138 1,302 78 10 1,596 Vermont 7,134 2,303 22 4 4 5 2 7,167 2,307 Held over, 1937, Vermont. . . . 9,437 26 2 4 5 2 9,474 2 Total 9,437 28 4 5 2 9,476 P. D. 98 11 Disposition Massachusetts Rhode Island Vermont Returned to state of origin, or killed Interstate 5,990 1,165 7 7,162 7 7,169 State 2,178 129 2,307 2,307 Total 8,168 1,294 7 9,469 7 9,476 The importance of preventing contact at the sales barn between blood-tested cattle and cattle which have not been subjected to the blood test was recognized and a section of the barn was set aside as an area for handling cattle which are certified as negative to the blood test. Cattle, state or interstate, eligible for housing in that portion of the sales barn must be accompanied by proper health certificates of blood test. Arrivals from other states on and after July 4 totalled 2,873 head. Two thousand eight hundred sixty-two (2,862) head which were accompanied by satisfactory health certificates were released. Eleven (11) head — all from Vermont — were held. Of these, five were returned to Vermont without test, four were tested and found nega- tive to the agglutination test and were released, and one was reported doubtful to the agglutination test and was slaughtered, and one was slaughtered at the request of the owner without test. As a result of rumors regarding irregularities in connection with blood tests of cattle which arrive at the quarantine station, blood tests, without advance notice to owners or shippers, were conducted as follows : Week of September 5 : Cattle Received Bloods Drawn Maine New Hampshire Vermont Total Week of November 22: Connecticut Maine New Hampshire Vermont Total 73 33 36 14 14 7 123 54 3 3 87 33 44 19 36 15 170 70 With few exceptions the results proved satisfactory and a report of the findings was sent to the livestock officials of the states from which the cattle were received. There were also received for slaughter at the Brighton station the following dis- eased cattle : Mass. N H. Vt. Total Tuberculin test reactors 476 — — 476 Tuberculosis suspects 6 — — 6 Bang's disease reactors 10 6 — 16 Bang's disease suspects — 2 2 4 Bang's disease suspects (on permit-to-kill basis) — — 2 2 4 — 1 5 2 — 2 2 Actinomycosis 1 — — 1 499 512 These cattle were checked, tagged, and released to slaughtering establishments for immediate slaughter. 12 P. D. 98 One hundred forty-four (144) head of Canadian dairy cattle were received at the stock yard station by rail ; 40 were released at the sales barn ; 104 accompanied by official permits, were transferred to trucks and allowed to proceed to the destinations named in the permits. Four hundred forty-six (446) trucks and 3 railroad cars were cleaned, washed, and disinfected at Brighton under the direct supervision of an employee of the Division. The sales barn is cleaned, washed, and disinfected at regular intervals. Two thousand three hundred twenty (2,320) head of cattle were treated in preven- tion of hemorrhagic septicemia, or shipping fever. This service is given only upon request of the owners of cattle. Arrivals at Points Other Than Brighton Three thousand seven hundred twenty-nine (3,729) permits, as required by Division Order No. 43, were issued in 1938, as compared with 4,198 in 1937. Of this number, 223 permits covered shipments of cattle for exhibition purposes. There were re- ceived on these permits 17,346 dairy cattle, 886 exhibition cattle, and 4,979 cattle con- signed for immediate slaughter. The dairy cattle originated at the following points : Canada 2,203 New Jersey ....... 22 Connecticut 1,429 New York 1,280 Georgia 1 Ohio 960 Illinois 2 Oregon . 1 Indiana 48 Pennsylvania 318 Maine 649 Rhode Island 696 Maryland 2 Vermont 6,429 Michigan 254 West Virginia 1 Minnesota 313 Wisconsin 556 Missouri 28 Wyoming 1 New Hampshire .... 2,053 Total 17,346 Of the total number received, 16,884 were released on certificates of health issued by the state or country of origin and 462 were held and retested. Four hundred fifty- eight (458) of those held and retested were released, and 4 which reacted were con- demned and slaughtered. Two of the reactors showed no visible lesions of tuber- culosis and one proved to be a generalized case. Six thousand seven hundred five (6,705) of the 17,346 head received arrived after July 4. One hundred three (103) were unaccompanied by acceptable or properly approved certificates of health. Concerning these 103 cattle, blood samples were drawn by veterinarians at the expense of the owner or shipper and were submitted for laboratory examination. The result was that 95 (negative) were released, 7 (5 positive and 2 doubtful) were slaughtered, and 1 was returned to the state of origin. Origin of cattle arriving at points outside of Brighton on and after July 4: Canada 1,462 New Jersey 16 Connecticut 330 New York 362 Maine 238 Ohio 280 Indiana ....... 23 Pennsylvania 72 Maryland 1 Rhode Island 219 Michigan 134 Vermont 2,697 Minnesota 77 Wisconsin 249 New Hampshire .... 545 Total 6,705 Recapitulation The total number of cattle received interstate was 24,513 (7,167 at Brighton and 17,346 at other points), as compared with 29,136 in 1937 (9,016 at Brighton and 20,120 at other points). P. D. 98 13 The following table is an analysis of the sections from which cattle were received interstate : Canada 2,243 New England sta New York . Southern states Western states Total tes • 18,305 1,458 344 2,163 24,513 Addendum Other legislation, Chapter 386, Acts of 1938, effective September 1 (copy of which follows), although primarily a police bill intended for the purpose of preventing ''cattle rustling" or stealing, also should be of benefit in preventing the "bootlegging" of cattle interstate. Chapter one hundred and twenty-nine of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section thirty-six B, inserted by chapter three hundred and fourteen of the acts of the current year, the following new section: — Section 36C. No person, except the owner of the cattle being transported or a person acting under written authority of such owner, shall transport neat cattle on any public highway unless he then has in his possession a bill of sale or a memorandum signed by the owner of such cattle and containing the owner's address, the number, breed and ear tag number of the cattle and the name of the place or places to which the cattle are to be trans- ported. Any person, except as aforesaid, transporting such cattle shall on demand exhibit such bill of sale or memorandum to any officer qualified to serve criminal process. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by imprison- ment in the state prison for not more than five years, or in a jail or house of correc- tion for not less than thirty days nor more than two and one half years, or by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars. Cattle Exports One thousand three hundred one (1,301) head of cattle, identified and released at the dairy section of the quarantine station at Brighton, were transported direct to other states. In addition, interstate shipping certificates were issued by the Division covering 4,776 head of Massachusetts cattle for consignment to other states and countries. The following tabulation is a record of cattle exports : From the quarantine station at Brighton : Destination Head Rhode Island 1,294 Vermont 7 From Massachusetts herds Destination Alabama California Colorado Connecticut Florida . Georgia . Illinois Indiana . Iowa Louisiana Maine Maryland Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri . New Hampshire Head Destination 1 15 1 1,830 1 1 14 4 2 2 127 4 6 2 1 3 362 New Jersey . New York . Ohio . . Oregon . Pennsylvania Rhode Island Texas Vermont Virginia . Washington . West Virginia Wisconsin Australia Canada . Jamaica . Puerto Rico Total . 1,301 Head 20 285 24 1 13 1,624 386 5 1 22 9 1 6 1 1 4,776 14 P. D. 98 LICENSED CATTLE DEALERS The law, (Chapter 426, Acts of 1935), by which it is required that persons engaged in the business of dealing in cattle for dairy purposes must obtain annually a license to engage in such business, continues to be of great value, not only to the dairy farmer by assuring him protection regarding the health status of cattle which he may purchase, but to the Division itself by keeping it informed concerning the activities of cattle dealers. As a rule dealers express the opinion that the law is of benefit to them also because it has a tendency to discourage the activities of unscrupulous traders. A thorough check by the Division of the weekly reports which dealers are required to make results frequently in preventing the addition of animals of questionable status to disease-free herds. Two hundred eighty-four (284) licenses were issued in 1938. Two licenses were temporarily suspended and four were revoked for non-compliance with the require- ments of the Division in connection with dealers' licenses. Four of these licenses were renewed upon payment of the five-dollar renewal fee required by law. Cattle dealers reported the sale of 31,362 cattle during the year, of which 29,296, intended for dairy purposes, were checked for purpose of identification as proper additions to tuberculosis-free supervised herds. Two thousand sixty-six (2,066) were sold by dealers for slaughter. A conviction against one dealer in the Town of Greenfield for dealing in cattle without a license was obtained in the district court in Greenfield and a suspended fine of $25. imposed. A verdict which carried a fine of $50. was obtained in the superior court at Lawrence against the Newburyport dealer referred to in the report of this Division for the year 1937. BANG'S ABORTION DISEASE Although recognized as a contagious disease of serious economic importance to the dairy industry and to some extent a public health problem, Bang's abortion dis- ease differs radically from other contagious diseases of animals. It is rarely diag- nosed from physical symptoms alone or as a result of a systemic reaction to any type of test applied to the animal itself — diagnosis depending wholly on results ob- tained by laboratory methods. There still continues to be a decided difference of opinion on the part of owners of cattle, veterinarians, and investigators as to the better method of procedure to pursue in the control of Bang's abortion disease — whether through attempted eradica- tion by blood-test-and-slaughter, or by an endeavor to establish acquired protection with possible immunity by vaccination. Interest in the control or eradication of any of the many contagious diseases of domestic animals through the blood-test-and-slaughter method depends largely upon whether compensation for animals destroyed is provided. This situation has always existed regardless of the nature of the disease and whether eradication or control is desirable for economic or public health reasons. The extermination of contagious pleuro-pneumonia of cattle in the epidemic of i86o-'6i (to which epidemic this branch of the State service owes its origin) was accomplished only as a result of slaughter, with compensation for all affected and contact cattle destroyed. The same is true regarding glanders in horses and foot-and-mouth disease in cattle, sheep, and swine. Never would bovine tuberculosis have been brought to its present low point without the aid of compensation. This same situation would undoubtedly exist in regard to Bang's abortion disease if eradication were to be attempted by slaughter. Exponents of the vaccination method of approaching the problem believe that de- struction of reactors to the agglutination blood test without due consideration being given to breeding, production record, etc., is economically unsound and claim that control or even eradication of the disease through the proper use of vaccine is a more reasonable possibility. As in previous years, this Division, except for supplying the vials to use in ob- taining blood samples and offering laboratory service for examination of these sam- P. D. 98 15 pies, has not entered into any active campaign in connection with either eradication or control of Bang's abortion disease. The vials and laboratory service are both provided without charge. The so-called Massachusetts plan for the accreditation of herds as free from Bang's abortion disease, while it has an appeal for those interested in the sale of purebred cattle, has little as yet to offer the majority of cattle owners. However, during the year 13 herds containing 567 head of cattle have been awarded Bang's abortion dis- ease-free accredited herd certificates. Twenty-nine (29) of the herds accredited in 1937 were re-accredited, making a total of 42 herds containing 1,849 head of cattle accredited at this time. During the year 19,629 samples of blood from 545 herds were received for examination. Of this number 16,715 were negative to the agglutina- tion blood test and 854 were positive. Blood testing by the United States Bureau of Animal Industry under the Federal elimination plan has continued as in the past few years. Four thousand six hundred seventy-three (4,673) blood samples from 59 herds were drawn during the year by veterinarians in the employ of the Federal government. One hundred fifty-seven (157) bloods indicated positive reactions and the animals from which the bloods were drawn were tagged, branded, and disposed of as required by Federal regulations. Calfhood Vaccination Experiments under way in Massachusetts conducted by the Federal Bureau in calfhood vaccination appear from all reports to be quite promising, but until a suffi- cient number of such vaccinated calves have passed through several pregnancies and have continued to remain negative to blood tests, no definite conclusion can very well be reached. The vaccine employed — referred to as Strain 19 — is manufactured under strict governmental supervision and consists of a culture of Brucella abortus bacilli, which is non-pathogenic to cattle. If adult animals, vaccinated as calves, continue apparently immune, it would appear that the disease practically could be eradicated after a few generations of cattle have been so treated. Apparently with this thought in mind, advocates of calfhood vaccination succeeded in having legislation passed this year in Massachusetts, Chapter 314, Acts of 1938, which reads as follows : Chapter one hundred and twenty-nine of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding after section thirty-six A, inserted by chapter four hundred and twenty-six of the acts of nineteen hundred and thirty-five, the following new section: — Section 36B. The director or his agent, with the approval of the owner of the cattle herein- after referred to, may vaccinate cattle not less than four nor more than eight months of age, which in the judgment of the director or such agent may cause the spread of Bang's disease ; provided, that such vaccination is supervised under rules and regula- tions of the department of agriculture, authority to make the same being hereby granted. For each animal so vaccinated the director shall collect a fee of fifty cents. Under this law the following rules and regualtions were promulgated : Rules and Regulations APPLYING TO THE VACCINATION OF CALVES BETWEEN THE AGES OF FOUR AND EIGHT MONTHS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 314, ACTS OF 1938 1. Owners of cattle desiring assistance from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the prevention of Bang's abortion disease may apply to the Director of Live- stock Disease Control for the vaccination of any or all calves in their possession not less than four nor more than eight months of age. The application, signed by the owner or his authorized representative, shall be made on forms prescribed by said Director and be accompanied by the fee prescribed by law. 2. The application shall give complete information as to the number of calves to be vaccinated, the date of birth of each such calf, its breed and sex, and the eartag or registration number of its dam. 16 P. D. 98 3. The applicant shall agree to notify the Director in writing of such disposition as may be made of each and every calf after vaccination; the date when such calf, if a heifer, is bred; the date of calving after breeding; and, if requested, shall sub- mit for laboratory examination a blood sample drawn prior to .breeding. 4. Said applicant shall agree to waive all liability on the part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or its agents in the application of the treatment or any un- favorable results that may occur through the use of the vaccine. 5. The applicant or his representative shall agree to comply with these rules and regulations and such additional rules and regulations as the Director of Livestock Disease Control may prescribe from time to time. CHARLES F. RIORDAN, Director of Livestock Disease Control. Approved : WILLIAM CASEY, Commissioner of Agriculture Approved in Council July 7, 1938. Approved as to form : WILLIAM L. REED, RAYMOND E. SULLIVAN Executive Secretary. Assistant Attorney General. Owing to the limited age period in which vaccination can be applied under the provisions of this law and, possibly, to the requirement of a fee of fifty cents on each animal vaccinated, the demand for this service has been limited. Five requests for vaccination were received and seventeen calves were vaccinated. HOG CHOLERA Weather conditions during the major part of the year were unusually favorable to the successful raising of swine, resulting in comparatively few reports of serious outbreaks of any of the various diseases to which swine are subject. During the year 81,329 treatments for and in prevention of hog cholera were ap- plied by veterinarians in the employ of the Division on 932 premises. In addition, 39,515 treatments were applied on 1,148 premises by veterinarians in private practice. In addition to the above, 25,481 treatments for infection in swine other than cholera were applied by State-employed veterinarians and 8,254 treatments by veterinarians in private practice. RABIES In the report of the Division for the year 1937, attention was called to the dis- turbing fact that rabies in animals was apparently increasing. The record for that year showed a decided upward trend in the number of cases reported. It is there- fore gratifying to report that for the year 1938 the records of the Division show a substantial reduction in the number of rabies cases reported (60 cases, as compared with 218 in the year 1937). Even more gratifying is the fact that this number (60 cases) is the lowest number reported in this State any year since 191 7. The factor, or factors, responsible for so great a reduction in the total number of such cases are difficult to determine. Preventive or protective vaccination by veter- inarians in private practice and at clinics sponsored by local boards of health can be accorded some credit without question, although records show that there were fewer clinics held in 1938 (35 in number) and fewer dogs (11,361) vaccinated at such clinics than in 1937, in which year 45 clinics were held and 13,498 dogs were treated. It is quite apparent also that clinics have not always met with popular approval in communities where held. This fact has been indicated by the low per- centage of dogs, licensed or unlicensed, which have been presented for treatment. Publicity through radio broadcasts and news releases doubtless has been effective to some extent in making the public rabies-conscious, and has resulted in a more careful supervision of dogs by their owners and in a more prompt reporting of ani- mals suspected as possibly affected with rabies. P. D. 98 17 Whatever the explanation may be, it is emperative that there be no relaxation of effort in the enforcement of existing dog laws, in the prompt quarantining and re- porting of suspected animals, and, possibly, in the continuation of vaccination clinics. An example of the manner in which rabies can be spread is the case which oc- curred during the year in which a dog, owned in Andover, left home and made its way to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where it was harboured a few hours. It dis- appeared from Portsmouth and shortly afterward was found in Dover, New Hamp- shire. The owner, identified by the name on the dog's collar, was notified and the dog was returned to Andover, but escaped from home and was again found in the neighborhood. A veterinarian who was then called in for advice made a diagnosis of rabies. The dog is known to have bitten the owner's son in Andover, and, during the period of its travels, a veterinarian and a dog in Dover, New Hampshire. Rabies was reported this year in 23 of the 76 cities and towns recorded in 1937, in addition to which cases were reported in 14 additional cities and towns, making a total of 37 cities and towns in which the disease was known to exist in 1938. 1938 Rabies by Towns — Dogs Andover 4 Attleboro 1 Billerica .._ 1 Boston _ 1 B oxford „ 1 Braintree 1 Brockton 1 Canton „ 1 Chelsea 1 Danvers - 2 Dunstable 1 Erving _ 1 East Bridgewater 1 Fitchburg 1 Grafton — 1 Haverhill 1 Ipswich 1 Lawrence 1 Lowell 4 Maiden 1 Methuen _ „ 2 Milton „ 1 Newbury 1 Newton „ 1 Norwood 1 Peabody „ _ 2 Reading 2 Rowley _ „ 2 Saugus _ 3 Stoughton 1 Sutton 2 Uxbridge 1 Westboro 6 Wilmington 2 Worcester „ 3 Wrentham 1 J938 — Rabies by Towns — Miscellaneous Cambridge Dunstable Cat 1 Coi 1938 — Rabies by Counties Towns Bristol 1 Essex _ 10 Franklin „ 1 Middlesex _ 9 Norfolk „...._ „ _ „ 6 Plymouth _ 2 Suffolk — „ 2 Worcester _ „ 6 Total - ~S7 Cases 1 19 1 15 6 2 2 60 i8 P. 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