Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-20

WAS SDreHulUE. no cdlA ~ "o' WV
contagious, and that people drinking milk
from the diseased COWS were certainly
running a great risk. lie affirmed that
the large mortality list could. he believed,
in many cases bs traced to the use OF I'M
pure milk.
us it easy to detect the afflicted ami
mails ?"
ITO a skilled veterinary it is to Others
1t is not. Where the physician Is IN DOUBT
however, by an injection OF virus alag1
posis of the case can be made, which Will
prove beyond doubt whether or not the
cow is affected" Continuing. the Doctor
said there was no euro for the disease; but
that the spread of it could DO stopped by
killing those found to be suffering. inc
reporter then asked the surgeon TO allow
him to go on the next killing expedltlon
and witness the post-mOrtem. Inc re-
quest was readily granted.
IMPRESSIVE OBJECT LESSON.
Upon arriving In the stable-yard at q
suburban residence the scribe's attention
was called to a hollow cough. accompanied
by a slight moan of distress from the cow
she'd On entering the house two hne;
looking Jersey cows were seen battered
aide by side in two OF the stalls. The
DISPATCH man had no idea which was the
sick beast. The Doctor pointed her out.
A very irregular and hard breathing was
noticed. She seemed to be suffering
through the chest and her shoulders were
greatly contracted. The cough was very
lad and the least exertion seemed to tire
her considerably. She was taken out into
field and killed and post-mortem was
made.
The liver was found 10 be spotted with
small tuberces while many larger ones were
growing to the inner side Of the ribs. The
lungs were ono great mass Of disease. The
left was entirely gone, while the right was
nearly SO. 1ubercles had formed and
spread in the lungs until almost every
pore was closed by the horrible disease.
NECESSARY FOR HEALTH.
DR.. w. s. Gordon was asked If he con-
sidered milk and meat inspection neces-
sary for tho health of the city. Most as
suredly," replied the physician. those
whose lives are spent IN studying the ell
ology and prevention of disease, and who
are best qualified to express an autnorlta-
tive opinion, have proved that tGbercu-
losis can be communicated from ooylneS
TO other animals by means of milk and
meat containing the morbific princlple.
AS man Is one OF the animals susceptible
to tuberculosis, there Is no reason why an
exception should be made in his case so
far as the infection OF his system IN the
same manner is concerned"
is there as much danger from meat as
from milk"
Il think not" said the Doctor, be
cause most OF the meat consumed IS, IN
the process of cooking. subjected TO the
destructive or modifying action OF heat
upon the injecting agent. but the risk IN
CURED Is none the less real"
FAyoRs THE MEASURE.
Are other diseases caused by impure
milk 2"
Bayond all doubt. Epidemics of cho-
lera. enteric (typhoid) fever, diphtherla,
and other diseases have been traced to
contaminated water and milk. 1t is need
less for me to emphasize the lmpor-
lance of having these supplies free
from all suspicion. Milk Is rapid ao-
sCrber and propagation of d'sease-germs.
Think OF the infants and young children
who are nourshed exclusively on milk.
Think OF the number who die OF lntestl-
nal tuberculosis We do not realize the
jeopardy IN which our lives are placed.
DaIrymsn and owners or cows are often
unable TO detect tuberculosis. / am hearth
ly in favor of any measure directed TO the
prevention of a scOLrge which destroys
such q large portion Of the human race"
THE COUNCIL DIDN'T KNOW.
DR.. Landon b. Edwards was also seen bv
the reporter, and during the talk which
ensued he said
Every physician is interested in this
subject. as all our citizens ought to be.
OF the forty-elght members OF the City
Council not one Is physician. Yet II
they could be made 10 appreciate some OF
the certainties being developed by the
science of medicine they would act
promptly and favorably upon the recon-
mendation of our City Board of Health
q. TO the appointment of competent
veterinarian with full powers 90 inspect
milk, cattle. etc. Had DR.. Harbsugh laid
before the City Council such mass OF
diseased tissue as he showed mo the other
night-taken that day from a cow that
was supplying milk for food, yet which
the owner did not even suppose MAS
diseased-no word of print would be
needed to persuads them that. in tabilng
the ordinance proposed, they delayed
performing plain and obvious duty.
"Ot course, many diseases IN cattle
communicable to man can DO readily re-
c0gnlzcd by the competent veterinarian.
Tuberculosis Is common III cattle. 1t is
falr TO presume that buyers of bOvlnes for
the dairy or for the slaughter-hOuSes do
not believe them to be diseased. yet the
United States Veterinary Inspector IN Bal
timore reports that one case OF tuOercu-
losis was found Ia every thlrty-three cat
tie slaughtered in Maryland. Remember.
] am confning this talk to the one disease
which is 50 fatal to our race, for shore are
other diseases IN cattle etc., easily recog-
nized by the veterinarian. which are com
municable to man when their flesh or milk
is used as food, such as bloody murraln,
aohnomycO3is. etc.
AGAINST RARE STEAK.
"Of course, thorough cooking destroys
the vitality Of most disease germs. Some
good authorities. however. among them
Dr. Billings. of the United States army,
asserts that the flesh of tubereulous
animals Is somewhat dangerous. ere7I ,ohen
cooked But how often Is it that rare