The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-04-11

sumptive cattle that have Deen con-
demned and killed, his reasons for his
dictum are entitled to considera-
ton. That is an economic question
which he is competent to discuss.
But when he says tuberculosis "can-
not be communicated from one animal
to another, or from animals to man,
unless the subject is predisposed to
consumption, 1t is very much like say
ing that man or animal cannot be in
iured by blow on the head unless
predisposed to such injury.
Common people will feel inclined to
ask the chairman of the board of agricul-
ture to show his DOCTORS diploma, or to
present other evidence of his authority
to speak, when he makes statements
like the foregoing or like the follow
ing: GA perfectly healthy and strong
constitution is proof against contagion
in man or CATTLE" Possibly there are
no perfectly healthy and strong con-
situations in man or CATTLE" and that
this is the reason why constitutions
that appear to be perfectly healthy and
strong often become the victims Of
contagion or infection-and tuberculo-
sis is an infectious rather than conta-
gious disease, if we understand the
terms correctly. Certain il is, however,
that medical authorities of the highest
repute for wisdom, supplemented by
large experience, declare that tubercu-
losis may be communicated from ami
NAL to animal, and, when the disease is
discovered in a herd of cattle, stables
are deliberately disinfected before
healthy cattle are again CHARTERED
there. AS to communication of tubercu-
losis from animal to man, high medical
testimony is to the effect that " it has
been abundantly established that tuber-
culosis may be transmitted by meat or
milk from tuberculous animals. The
milk glands in mich cows often become
affected with the disease when their
lungs are involved, and the milk from
such animals is capable of producing
the disease" 1t will be observed that
tubercles were found in the udders of
several of the animals killed at the
Pratt estate on Long Island, as de-
scribed in the article on page two of
this paper. Apropos of this fact, it
is reported in recent issue of the New
York Press that a great grandson of
Henry Ward Beecher has recently died
near Yonkers from tubercular menin-
gifts presumably contracted by using
the milk of cows now believed to be
tainted with similar disease.
Chairman Winslow says further: cit
is still question how dangerous to the
human family the use of meat and
dairy products from tuberculous cattle
may be. There is so much uncertainty
that we do not feel warranted in spend
ing large sums of money in extermina-
ting the disease until more is known
about it," There is no question about
the fact that no one will knowingly eat
the flesh or use the products of cattle
known to have pulmonary consump-
He won't wait for
hair-splitting discussion of this ques-
ton. He will decide it without debate,
spew such food out of his mouth and
"disinfect his system internally and
externally. There is no question in
his mind as to show dangerous " to so
much of the human family as he repre-
sents the flesh, milk aud butter of
consumptive COW is. The board is not
expected "to spend large sums of
money in exterminating the disease ";
but it is its duty to remove "uncer-
tainty" by systematic and thorough in
vestigation as to the extent of the
prevalence of the disease, the conditions
under which it exists and is fostered.
Chairman Winslow and his colaborers
have a high commission and an impera-
tive command to do so much at least,
whatever the cost Considerations af-
fecting beasts of labor have no weight
when applied to food animals of any
kind. 1t may be true, as Mr. Winslow
argues, that this disease works very
slowly and the animal may live many
years. This may be reason why a
mans horse or his OK or his ass might
be allowed to live, but not his COW. No
pains should be spared to maintain food
animals in perfect health and there
should be no parleying over the dis
position to be made of diseased ami
NAL of this class. The question whether
the individual or the state shall bear
the loss of the condemned animals is of
secondary importance.
A Protection Mugwump's Views.
Henry Charles Lea of Philadelphia