Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-01-08

The war against tuberculosis and the
| introduction of diseased cattle into
saine, from or through Massachusetts,,
continues in all It's vigor. DR. Bailey
maintains, by quotations from the re-
ports OF the Massachusetts cattle com
missioners during the past five years,
that he is justified in saying that Massa.
chusetts is "honeycombed with tuber-
culosus" While the commissioners have
reported the presence in that state Of
tuberculosis cattle in alarming numbers,
and have said it would require the pay
ment of many hundreds of thousands of
dollars to stamp the disease out of Mas
sachusetts and necessitate the dcstruc-
ton of twenty animals to save one; and
down to the present day not single dol
lar has ever been appropriated by that
state to exterminate the disease, nor is
tuberculosis even mentioned among the
contagious diseases of Massachusetts,,
although it is the only contagious dis
ease the authorities have to deal with,
and every novice knows that it is always
a progressive disease and always fatal.
br. Bailey wants to know how it can
possibly be false when he says the
state Is honeycombed by the insidious
utctdst. itt says. We SEEN OIIly u
maintain that enviable reputation for the
among our cattle and purity Of our dairy
products for which Maine is famous, and
In furtherance Of that object all the pro.
lection We seem to need Is to quarantine
against Massachusetts, while all that
Massachusetts needs is protection against
itself" He is not little severe ON the
H. J
not seem to consider it a crime to allow
the unrestricted traffic in diseased cattle
and horses in that state. but the unsus-
pecting public who are eating and drink
ing the products Of tuberculous cows
have some rights the cattle commission
ers of that cultured state may not be
able to disguise or ignore; and if it
should cost hundreds of thousands OF
dollars to stamp out the disease it would
be the best money Massachusetts, ever
expended >
We are afraid that the Massachusetts
authorities have been too tender of the
public purse in this direction, and c lnnos
help feeling deep interest in the wei
fare of the people of our own as well
as those of our sister State Of Maine.
The quarantine notice issued by the
commissioners of the Pine Tree State
cites the cause of its Issuance and the
scope of its operations, as follows
Public notice is hereby given that, in
consequence of the prevalence of tuber-
culosis among Massachusetts cattle. as
disclosed by the ofiic reports of their
authorities. supplemented by post-mor-
tens held in Maine of cattle pur-
chased in that state for dairy
ard breeding purposes the com
missioners OF the State of Maize be
lieve that the public health of its citizens
and the welfare ofthis comnonw esl th
demand that a rigid quarantine against
all cows, whether IN milk or dry, aud all
bulls for breeding purposes he main
tanned on aud after January Il, 1892,
until further notice. and such ca tie en-
tering the State OF Maine thereafter viii
be subject 10 quarantine at the owners
expense, provided, however, that the
above regulations shall not apply to
western cattle coming through Massa-
chusetts into Maine for the purpose Of
slaughter
We fail TO see anything vindictive or
unreasonable in this, ard hope massa
chusetts may be able to soon show Il
reasonably clean bill OF health that will
justify the removal of the quarantine
which the present conditions appear to
Justify. II does nes seem to make any
difference to the public health whether
diseased animals coming frnm Massachu
sets are the property Of its citizens or
are permitted To 60 through it by being
sold in her markets IL further devel,
opmsnts warrant the act, a quarantine
will be established at ur near Fort and
We trust Massachusetts will provide for
n thorough inspection OF ali cattle sold
in her markets Mirror sBd Farmer.