Annual report of the Bureau of Animal Industry. v. 18, 1901

The past year has been one of great prosperity in all branches of the animal industry. Prices have been good, markets have been active, and there has been an outlet in foreign countries for most of our surplus.

GROWTH OF THE BUREAU'S WORK.

The work of the Bureau has been greater than ever before, and yet the facilities at its command have not been sufficient to meet the demands that have been made upon it. The magnitude of the interstate and foreign traffic in animals and their products and the amount of work required to inspect and certify to these subjects of commerce are enormous. The diseases which appear in various parts of our extensive territory each year are numerous, and there is urgent need for assistance to protect the affected communities from disastrous losses. Of scarcely less importance is it to investigate the incorrect reports of Old World plagues which are from time to time alleged to exist among our animals. These mistaken reports alarm our stock raisers, injuriously affect our markets, and lead to prohibitions by foreign countries.

OUTBREAKS OF ANTHRAX.

The past year has been remarkable for the number and wide distribution of the outbreaks of anthrax. There are certain regions where this disease appears to be indigenous, as on the alluvial soils of portions of the southern part of the Mississippi Valley, and where it apparently develops when the conditions of the soil and climate are favorable. There are, however, other outbreaks which occur as the result of importing the contagion with hides, hair, wool, etc. In either case the stock owners should be promptly informed of the nature of the disease, of its communicability to man, of its deadly nature, and of the measures required to arrest its spread.

One of the greatest resources in the fight against anthrax is the use of a properly prepared vaccine. That supplied commercially is often

unreliable. Sometimes it is so virulent that it is more dangerous than the disease it is designed to prevent; in other cases it is so lacking in activity as to be worthless. There is, however, no good reason why anthrax vaccine of proper strength should not be supplied, as blackleg vaccine has long been supplied, by this Bureau. It is only a question of having the laboratory facilities and the money for properly conducting the work.

Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas have lost millions of dollars' worth of horses, mules, cattle, and other animals, and an undetermined number of human beings from this disease. Other States, among them Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas, have suffered to a greater or less extent. Numerous requests for vaccine have come from the people of these sections, but it could not be supplied in any instance. More laboratory facilities and more men of thorough training must be had before this line of work can be attempted.

BLACKLEG VACCINE.

Blackleg vaccine has been supplied in greater quantities than ever before, but the facilities which the Bureau now has are not sufficient to keep pace with the demands. More than 1,500,000 doses were distributed to cattle raisers last year, and this gave the most favorable results, the losses in the vaccinated herds being less than 1 per cent of the total number.

TUBERCULOSIS.

The tuberculosis question is one which demands immediate and thorough investigation. This disease is increasing among our cattle and swine, probably also among our sheep. The value of the meat which must be destroyed each year on account of it is becoming considerable. Questions have recently been raised as to the communicability of animal tuberculosis to mankind which are of the highest importance, and should be settled at an early day. The disease is one which not only threatens the prosperity of the farmers who own the stock, but according to the weight of medical opinion at this time it is also a menace to the consumers of their products. Fortunately, the cattle of the United States are affected in less proportion than are those of any other large cattle-producing country, and it is the part of wisdom to arrest the plague now rather than to wait until the losses become greater, and the task of eradication still more difficult to accomplish.

PRESENT SALARIES FOR SCIENTISTS INSUFFICIENT.

The scientific work which is required in connection with the manufacture of anthrax vaccine, blackleg vaccine, tuberculin, mallein, and the study of diseases is of the most difficult character, and is always

« Zurück Weiter »

Books

Annual report of the Bureau of Animal Industry. v. 18, 1901, Band 18