Norwich bulletin., 1911-02-04
Connecticut Should Protect Itself
Biennial Report Shows State Open Diseased Cattle
 Action Regarding Dogs

The. biennial report of Heman O. Averill, commissioner on domestic an- imals, for the two years ended Sept. 50, 1910, has been made public. It shows that the commissioner examined 4,51S cattle in 1909 and 4,672 during 1910, and condemned in all 1,137. The total amount allowed for condemned cattle was S6,461.50 in 1909 and $6 744.- 50 in 191O The average price allowed per head was $11.12 in 1909 and $11.50 in 1910. The number of cattle reported as having been brought into the state during the period covered by the report is as follows: Cows 4,435, heifers 1.661, oxen 1S5, steers 9S4, bulls 561, calves 1914.
 state is paying more than S6,000 a year to cattle owners to compensate them for animals found to be affected with tuberculosis, and to this sum must be added about s1.500 to cover the ex- penses incidental to the work of in- spection, making a total outlay of ST. 800 each year. The figures, he says, raise the following inquiries: What are the benefits to the consumer of milk and it's products?'' Are the cat tie owners of the state protected by the destruction of the tuberculous ami nals ?'' and 'Is further legislation need- ed to increase the efficiency of this department"
 The commissioner then quotes from various scientists to show that tIber- culosiS is communicable from the bo vine to the human and, therefore, it seems wise to consider how the germs are conveyed from the COW to the hu- man. There is little danger, he says that the disease will be communicated directly from the COW to another by contact, and less that it will be trans mitted directly from the COW to the r1crl, lsat1 ha n healthy COW, occupying the same stable 30, 910. has been made public. It the disease by breathing the germs floating in the impure air in the stable or by occupying the stall where the diseased COW has lately stood and con- taminated the manager.
 The commissioner points out that tubercular cows cough though they have not acquired the human habit of expectorating, but yet contact with them when they are kept in filthy stables, generally opens a chance for the spread of the tubercle bacilli. The commissioner calls attention to the recommendation made by the late Governor Lilley that all cattle import ed into the state should be certified by veterinarians, and he says that shrewd farmers and cattle dealers in other states can easily find a ready market here for healthy looking animals that have responded to the tubercular test. He continues:
 .'There are in this state, as there are in every state, many dealers who are always ready and anxious to buy cows that are offered for sale without asking any questions that would en- barrass the seller, so these rcactors are sold at a reduced price. If any of the animals are emaciated or are 'coughers' they are disposed of for what they will bring as 'bolognas or 'bandboxes,' as such cattle are called. After wedding out these worst cases, if any are found, the rest of the re- actors appear perfectly healthy even to an expert and can be sold to dairy men at first class prices
 Commissioner Averill says that owing to the stringent laws of other states diseased cattle cannot be shipped out of Connecticut, but there is nothing to hinder their being shipped into the state. He says:
 While the protection of the public health it's. of course the strongest a-- gument in favor of the passage of the law preventing tuberculosis cattle from being shipped into this state. it ap- pears to the commissioner that the prevention of financial loss to the cattle owners in the state is alone a sufficient reason to secure the enact ment of such a law. It is argued by some that if it is wrong to sell dis