The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-20

hogs showed that all but - we're frss nom the
malady In question. These divsreenc0s from the
results obtained By him do not shake Dr.. Bill.
lings's confidence In tho soundness Of his con.
illusions. and he invites the Commissioner Of
Agriculture TO send one or moro competent
persons 10 conduct. In concert with himself an
examination on scale 90 large - to be de-
cisve. He does not hesitate to predict that
virtually exhaustive series Of experiments
would provo thst there 10 . larger percentage
OF trlchiniasis among American hogs than ex.
ists among tho swine Of any other country.
Nor will any reasonable man contest the just.
ness Of his assertion that until such conclu-
slve Investigation has boon made. our Govern
mont 10 in no position to dispute the correctness
Of the German statistics or to impugn the mo-
tives OF tho legislation based upon them. And
certainly. II the outcome OF thu researches
prosecuted BY tho Massachusetts, Board OF
Health should be confirmed BY moro extensive
inquiries. 1t would be tho duty OF State Legis-
latures to take strict measures for the inspec.
ton Of all swine's flesh offered for salo 10 our
homo markets. The need OF such supervision
seems plain enough when we learn that every
one OF the hogs. specimens Of which were ex-
aminod by Dr.. Billings. was cut UP and sold.
although II WAS notorious that he was con-
tinually finding them trichinous.
the infectious diseases Of cattle. and proceeds
TO set forth tho grounds on which the preserva-
ton OF tho public health may DO said tn do
mand avigllant oversight Of the water. feeding.
and surroundings OF such animals. He re-
minds us Of fact not popularity known. that
ono species OF tapeworm. tho tdnia saoindtd is
derived from tho consumption OF impcrfectlv
cooked beef. 1t seems that this parasite Is
much moro prevalent among tho inhabitants
Of Austria proper and Southern Germany tbnn
tho t1nia soLi,pn that comes from eating pork.
1t Is true that very few cases OIL invasion by
this paraste are reported In England or in the
United States. but so little attention has been
paid to the collection OF careful statistics on
thishead that 1t Is unsafe to claim immunity
from source Of disease which Is very com mon
In other countries. Even tho foot-nnd-mouth
disease Is transmissible to man. though in the
examples known to Dr.Dillings the infection
was communicated only Ivy COWS. The danger
to be npprehended from the consumption
OF the milk OF COWS afflicted with this malady
Is clearly indicated by the indisputable fact
that young animals fed upon such milk fire..
Quently die from inflammation Of the stomach
and bowels. Another subject which has not
received the watchful scrutiny 1t deserves Is
the chemical change produced In milk by the
presence OF inlammatory conditions OF the
cows udder. Such milk assumes characters
Stimulating those OF colostrum. contains the
well-known colostrum bodies. has yellowish-
white color Is viscld. and coagulates easily
Now colostrum VIGOROUSLY exerts Q gentle
purgative influence; but should We not. asks
the author infer that when continually given
1t produces more serious and lasting effects 2
May not. he adds. the too frequent cases OF So
called summer complaint among children. es-
tali hrn yl,k tI,,h hot
be traceabe In q measure to feeding them upon
milk containing colostrum-like elemental
With regard to tho question which at the
present time Is exciting the anxious attention
OF German hygienists. but which can hardly DO
regarded as positively settled-the question.
namely. whether tuberculosis. which Is by no
means an uncommon disease among cows il
communicable through milk to man-Dr. Bill
lings contents himself with reciting the start
ling experiments Of Gerlach. which un1uos-
tionably point toward such transmissibility.
There Is at least ground for llvoly apprehen-
sion and for systematic measures OF precnu-
tion when We keep in view the tons OF thou
sands OF infants that are annually brought up
on tho bottle from cows milk. Hitherto parents
have been satisfied to know that the milk con-
sumed by their children is the product OF one
COW. and that 1t is purchased undilutcd. But.
researches OF German hygienists. they havo q
right to demand that State and municipal
Boards OF Health shall be enabled to prosecute
such comprehensive experiments as shall con-
clusively determine whether milk from tuoer-
culous cows is infectious to infants as 1t Ger
tanly seems to DO in tho case OF the young OF
other animals.
should Greek be Required for Admission to
It Is certainly singular that, among the
strenuous assailants OF tho practice OF oxacting
some knowledge OF Greek rs a condition OF
matrcuation In our leading universities. all
OF whom profess to urge the superior claims OF
tho inductive sciences. not one has sought to
apply the inductive method to the discussion
OF the subject. We have had good deal Of a
priori reasoning touching the assumed irrcle-
vancy OF Hellenic studies to tho prosecution OF
physical research and the efficient conduct OF
life. But the empirical test has been discard
cd. except by those persons who have frank
ly confessed that they themselves have
gained nothing from tho years devoted
to tho Greek language. Non cOnstat. how.
ever. that these persons would have been
more fortunate had they expended oil
tho time which they deem wasted upon Greek
upon those sciences for which they now nsser.
q keen but unsatistled prediction. The sole
witnesses who are competent to testify are
those distinguished scientists who themselves
gave portion Of their youth to the acquire
ment OF a certain acquaintance with Greek lit.
orature and who arc. therefore. qualified to say
just how far their own subsequent achieve
ments In the widely different field oil
inductive research have boon narrowed or
delayed by their Hellenic studios. Wo have
yet to see such pertinent and decisive testi-
mony givon against tho maintenance OF Greek
In the list OF requirements for admission to
colleges whereas We have great deal OF it In
favor Of assuring to that language the place II
has long held In the precollegiate curriculum.
The propriety OF making Greek a prerouui-
site OF matriculation was exhaustiveiy dis
cussed in Germany fifteen years ago. and what
Is much more to our purpose. has since then
been tested by actual experience in the Prus-
sian universities. The documents that sci
forth the results OF this experiment at the
| foremost scat OF learning In the world. the Uni
versity OF Berlin have been collected and pub,
| lished by Messrs. OHM. Heath 4 Co.. and we
commend them to the careful attention OF those