Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-24
Report of Live Stock
Sanitary Commissioner

Report of Live Stock
Sanitary Commissioner
This department has in it's life of
five years grown to be recognized as a
safeguard to all humanity by combat
ting and extirpating the infectious and
contagious diseases among horses, cat
tie, sheep and swine" says, Boyden
Bearce of East Eddi ngton. State live
stock sanitary commissioner. in his
annual report to the Governor and
Council 1T not only assists the farm
er and breeder to healthier herds, bet
ter conditions and more profit, but
furnishes a better protection to the
human family against contracting the
diseases of our animals"
Commissioner Bearce says further:
Foot and Mouth Disease.
THE placing of an embargo upon the
interstate movement of livestock be-
cause of the foot and mouth disease
caused much comment at first, many
in praise and few in opposition. The
main object of the embargo was to get
control of all livestock coming into
the state, and at one time the pass
ing of people from badly infected
areas into Maine caused much anxiety.
On one occasion / was notified by
the federal authorities that a certain
man, who resided in a badly infected
area, had been in Maine and purchased
a carload of cattle. His travels were
located and a careful watch kept
over the places he had visited but no
infection was found.
MANY suspicious cases were report
ed. and In each case a careful and
prompt investigation was made. One
particular case was reported by Dr. B.
l.. Pratt Of Caribou. The animal was
a -blooded Guernsey bull six
months old, and had recently been
imported into the state. DR.. A. L.
Murch of Bangor was dispatched for
consultation and he reported foot-and-
mouth disease, and the farm was plac-
ed under quarantine. The Federal Blu
reau of Animal Industry was notified
and DIR. j. Fl. Herman, who had charge
of the eradication of this disease in
Massachusetts, FASTENED to the out
break. He voiced the opinion of the
others that it was a typical case of
foot-and- mouth disease, but advised
that we wait few days for develop
ments before slaughtering the whole
herd. In the meantime TRANSFORMATION
companies were notified, other federal
inspectors were on the spot. and all
was IN readiness for a grand fight, but
l am pleased to report that the fight
never came as the bull died and no
other animal in the herd was affected.
Tuberculosis.
THE war against tuberculosis is
carried on in Maine to a greater ex-
tent than in any other state in the
union to my knowledge, and the max
imum appraisal. per head, paid by the
state for cattle re-acting to the tu-
berculin test condemned and slaueht-
cred, equals or exceeds that paid by
many states. This may be a wise
provision of the law or not, but the
farmer or breeder, who allows a tuber-
cular animal to remain in his herd is
himself to blame, as the state amply
provides that tubercular animals may
be destroyed with but little cost to the
owner.
Safety First is the popular slogan,
nestle cattle as to the railroad, for
it is my belief that the majority of
people had rather be taken away by a
railroad accident than the slow knaw-
ing diseases contracted from .insanitary
conditions and diseases of the animals
whose products we are ever dependent
upon.
There have been 1925 cattle tu-
berculin tested in the state during the
past year, and, with a few exceptions,
believe that the tests have been faith
fully executed. OF the whole number
OF cattle condemned, Asa have been
sent to abattoirS at either Auburn,
Houlton or Portland and slaughtered.
BY post -mortem no tubercular LESSONS
were found in &c, or ga per cent;
10 of the 26 were found to be suffering
either with chronic broncho pneumonia
or pyemia.
1--WE believe that every owner of
cattle should make a study and be-
come familiar with the manner of adj
ministering the test, and that every
farm should have among it's equip
mentS a syringe and thermometer The
farmer and breeder should study the
health of his cattle with the same de-
gree of interest that he studies the best
method of feeding or breeding, or
that the merchant and manufacturer
studies every detail connected with
their business; by SO doing he would be
better able to administer the tuber-
culin test with honesty and efficiency
than any stranger.
ssCo,Ipfy r fore, -,