A post mortem examination has been made in every instance, and, without a single exception, it has verified the diagnosis and revealed the existence of tuberculosis. From January 1 to April 1, 1893, the appraisal was made, so far as it could be, in accordance with the law in force in 1893. From April 1, 1893, to January 1, 1894, the appraisal has been made in accordance with the law enacted by the last legislature. The state has paid for the one hundred and fifteen cattle killed $1,826.80, or an average of $15.88 each. Attention is called to the fact that seventy-one of the one hundred and fifteen cases found were located in Hillsborough county, and it is also of interest to know that twenty-four of those cases were found in one town. Merrimack county furnishes seventeen cases, of which eight were found in a single town. Isolated cases are found in various sections of the state, but are generally traceable to some locality, either within or outside the state, where the disease is known to exist. Reference to the counties and towns named is made with no intention of injury, but rather to

show that the disease appears to be more localized than is generally supposed, and, therefore, there is more encouragement in the work of suppression. In 1892 no less than twenty-one cases were found in the town of Antrim, and in 1893 the board has found but one case in that town. It is only by the most vigorous measures that the headway of this dangerous and insidious disease can be checked, and its complete eradication is impossible.

The subject is receiving increased attention throughout the country, and President Cleveland, in his recent message to congress, had the following to say in regard to it:

"While contagious pleuro-pneumonia in cattle has been eradicated, animal tuberculosis, a disease widespread and more dangerous to human life than pleuro-pneumonia, is still prevalent. Investigations have been made during the past year, as to the means of its communication and the method of its correct diagnosis. Much progress has been made in this direction by the studies of the division of animal pathology, but work ought to be extended, in coöperation with local authorities, until the danger to human life arising from this cause is reduced to a minimum.”

Tuberculin is a recent aid to the diagnosis of tuberculosis. We have always lacked a sure method of diagnosing this disease in its earlier stages, which has practically made it impossible to carry out full measures for its suppression.

In December, 1890, Professor Koch announced his discovery of a substance which had a specific action on tubercular processes, which, when properly administered, caused a hyderæmia around the tubercle and an elevation of the body temperature. This action was not observed when the substance was injected into healthy subjects, or into subjects of disease other than tuberculosis. This substance is known as Koch's Lymph of Tuberculin, and it was hoped for a time that it would cure consumption, but this has been abandoned.

In 1891, Professor Gutman, of Dupat, Russia, employed tuberculin as a means of diagnosis of tuberculosis in cattle. He found a temperature reaction in those diseased, but none in healthy animals.

This substance has since been used in the diagnosis of this disease in every civilized country, and the reports are very favorable.

The imperial health office of Berlin has recently published an extensive report on its use in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in cattle, which says it has been found reliable in all sorts of cattle. Even when the lesion is hidden, and the animal appears healthy, tuberculin reveals the presence of this disease. The Berlin Veterinary Weekly contained an editorial in a recent number, in which this statement occurred: "The proof which has been presented to our readers is more than sufficient. The results are absolute and gratifying, and show that tuberculin is a reliable agent for determining the presence of this disease."

We have killed a number of cows which have reacted to tuberculin, and have found them tubercular in every instance, and when animals do not react after injection it can be said, with almost absolute certainty, that they are free from tuberculosis. Results with tuberculin have been so satisfactory that it is considered one of the most important advances in veterinary medicine in recent years. The method of using it is as follows:

A ten per cent. solution is made in a one per cent. solution of carbolic acid, and of this dilution 2.5 to 5 cc. are injected. This injection had best be made about 6 a. m., at which time the temperature is taken. After three hours the temperature is measured, in intervals of one or two hours, for fifteen hours, and if a variation beyond normal occurs, it is a reaction, and the animal is in all probability affected with tuberculosis. The amount of the reaction varies from two to six degrees, and lasts from twelve to twenty-four hours.

With this to aid us, we are now in

position to battle with the disease as never before, and can enforce the regulations on the statute books.

By authority of the board, nineteen horses, condemned with glanders, have been destroyed during the year. These have been generally isolated cases, but in one stable five of eight horses were killed. A valuable aid in detecting obscure cases of this disease is mallein, a substance acting upon horses in a similar way to tuberculin, upon cattle. As far as the experience of this board is concerned, it has proven mallein a valuable and authentic test in all cases of suspected glanders, unless it shows the most positive symptoms without resorting to the use of this test, under the supervision of a competent veterinarian.

But litle hog cholera has been developed in the state during the year, and the board has been able to take hardly any action in regard to it. Advice has been given in all cases reported, and when there seemed imminent danger of a large outbreak the board took all possible means to prevent its spread.

The quarantine regulations established between New Hampshire and Massachusetts by this board are still in force, and have prevented the introduction into the state of any tuberculous animals.

One veterinary surgeon, who examined several herds for parties in Massachusetts, to be sent into our state for pasturage in the spring of 1892, rejected twenty-seven animals as suspicious cases in the few herds that he examined. The quarantine regulations will probably be continued until there is less danger from the introduction of tuberculous animals from outside the state than exists at present.

While the people of the state should not be unduly alarmed by this disease, the board is of the opinion that the most vigorous measures for the suppression are not to be neglected.

The danger from tuberculosis to the herds of the state is a matter of trifling importance as compared to the danger to human life, and it becomes not merely a matter of financial importance to stock-owners, but one of interest and vital consequence to all our citizens. Every possible means of precaution should be taken, that the danger may be reduced to the minimum.