(September 9, 1952)
This document 121 is very good. Please have Comrade Deng Xiaoping 131 read it, and then pass it on to Comrade Peng Dehuai (~) for handling.
Mao Zedong
September 9
Sichuan
This is a note by Mao Zedong in response to a report dated September 5, 1952, submitted by Yang Lisan, Minister of the General Logistics Department of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People’s Government, and Ren Chijiu, Deputy Director of the Veterinary Bureau of the same department.
[2]
Refers to the report by Yang Lisan et al. The report states that preventive health work concerning livestock and military horses has been grossly inadequate, and has not yet received the attention it deserves. Many people have yet to recognize the multifaceted connections between the prevention and control of diseases in livestock and military horses and human public health. The health of livestock nationwide directly affects agricultural production, while the health of military horses has an even more direct impact on combat effectiveness. Among the diseases posing the greatest threat to military horses are trypanosomiasis, osteomalacia, anthrax and tetanus, and rinderpest. Rinderpest is regarded as particularly serious and constitutes the most pressing problem, for which effective preventive and control measures have not yet been implemented. The key to controlling rinderpest lies in having a sufficient number of veterinary personnel with an appropriate level of technical competence. The report concludes by urging the urgent and intensified training of veterinary personnel and a fundamental reform of the existing veterinary departments in agricultural colleges and universities across the country.
[3]
Deng Xiaoping, who at the time served as Vice Premier of the State Council of the Central People’s Government.
[4]
Peng Dehuai, who at the time held the post of Vice Chairman of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People’s Government.