The record-union., 1894-05-29
INSPECT TIE DAIRY HERDS.

The discovery that eight out of eleven
COWS giving milk for use in the asylum
at Stockton had tuberculosis in its worst
form has created much excitement in
and around Stockton. The eight cows
we're promptly killed. But the question
is how many of the milk-giving COWS in
that section, and for the matter of that,
in this and all other parts of the State are
affected?
Tuberculosis is that disease in which
tubercules form on the interior organs,
chiefly the lungs, and results in what is
commonly known as pulmonary con-
sumption. To this affection COWS are
peculiarly susceptible and the worst of it
is that they may be affected and to the
ordinary observer and often to the skilled
veterinarian the presence of the disease
not be known.
The milk of such animals carries the
germs of the fatal disease, and there is no
preventive of it known except steriliZa-
ton of the milk, or the killing of the
animal The COWS used at the asylum
were young, apparently healthy and
choice selected stock. Yet these animals
were, for how long a time no one knows,
fountains of deadly disease.
It would seem to be the dictate of the
commonest prudence for the Board of
Supervisors of this and every county in
the State to set on foot the most thorough
inspection of all milk herds, and indeed
of all herds in domestic confinement. No
matter what the cost this inspection
ought to be had. and the people will
gladly and unanimously approve it.
Moreover there should not be sent out
to make this inspection one skilled man
in district, since it places upon an indi-
vidual too great a responsibility and be-
sides it opens the door of suspicion that
heartless owners may six" the in
spector. So not less than two should be
set to work together, and there ought to
be at least two of these groups in this
county.
If such inspection of Sacramento herds
should result in the discovery that all
milk cows here are free from disease, the
compensation will be ample for all the
cost no matter how great and the people
will not regret penny of the outgo. If,
on the other hand, diseased animals are
discovered. under the law they may be
killed, and all animals that have been in
the herd with them will be isolated, and
the people viii be doubly thankful for
the inspection and only experience regret
that it was not earlier ordered.
The Supervisors ought to act at once,
There are no economic considerations
that should estop them. The failure to
act because there may be no immediate
fund to draw upon will not be accepted
as an excuse. The matter is too impor-
tant to child and adult life to be post
poned or put aside or quibbled over. In
deed. tuberculosis among dairy COWS is
greatly more common and dangerous
thing than the majority Of people sup
pose and more serious by far than we
have undertaken to indicate. There is
no need to alarm the public, but 1t would
be criminal folly not to warn it that fail
ure to examine milk herds occasionally,
as is done in New York with success,
is inviting one of the greatest of dangers
to the human race. In the absence of in
spection there is but one thing to do to
make assurance sure, and that is to use
no milk for any purpose until it has been
being to bring the milk 70 the boiling
point-it is not necessary that it should
more than ''strike the boiling point" as
the saying goes.
The Secretary Of the State Board of
Health expresses the opinion that in
spection will not be satisfactory except
there is application of the tuberculosis
test that is used to discover the presence
of the tubercle bacillus in the animal
The Tuberculosis Committee of the
United States Medical Association. A. w.
Clement, V. s., Chairman, recently re-
ported that tuberculosis is worldwide in
its distribution and affects nearly all
classes of animals; that the disease is no.
toriously hard to discover in living ami