Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-13
CATTLE AS BREEDERS OF TuBEn-
CIIOSIS

The report OF the president OF Cornell
university for the present year contains
a valuable review OF the recently estab-
iished New York state Veterinary col
lege. In his message TO the iegisla-
ture IN 1898 and again in 1894, Governor
Flower showed the need OF such an in
sItutlon and It's great value TO the live
stock interests. as well as the general
health OF the citizens Of that state.
Modern science has demonstrated that
large proportion OF human disease
is traceablc TO diseases of animals con-
vcyed through milk, meats. eggs. and
other animal food. Among these may
be mentioned tuberculosis, diphtheria.
CHAMBERS, hydrophobia. tetanus, milk
sickness. pyaenia, erysipelas. gangrene.
Aslntlc cholera, etc. or these the most
dangerous to the human race IS tuber-
culosis, and every animal is possI-
bic dHseminator OF the Infection. Cat
tie are the most susceptible to this dis
case, and Or. James Law. veterinar-
ian OF wide experience thinks per
cent OF all tho dairy herds are affected.
In herds actually infected he has found
the maximum OF diseased to be es per
cent and tho minimum per cent.
''From thu animals, and especially
from cattle--oftenest through milk and
meat-tuberculosls Is conveyed to
man." says cornells president. ut is
tho most deadly single disease which
attacks the human family. Cholera,
yellow eeyer and smallpox occasionally
invade our borders. and they create uni
versal dismayi and war. plague and
famine suddenly decimate panic
stricken nations; but all these holo-
causta Of human life taken together are
Insignificant when compared with the
constant and uniform havoc Of tuber-
culosls. This white plague OF the
North, as II has been aptly termed. Is
always present and always active; and
It's frighlul prevalence may be Inferred
from the fact that In New York state
every eighth person dies Of IT, In New
York city Il carries OF between 5000
and 5000 persons annually. and In most
cities from 30 to 80 per cent OF Tho pop
ulotion contraet It at some period or
life"
Were this language used by person
OF less public esteem and In whom the
greatest confidence is not reposod-such
as the president Of Corucll--it would
likely bo considered sensational. Com
ing from such an eminent authority it
challenges consideration. There Is not
a state veterinary college In the United
statea outside OF New York. ana here
In Texas, where the live stock interests
are 80 great, and millions upon mill
Ions Of dollars arc invested In the bus
iness, almost no attention has been
paid to this important question. Aside
from the Importance TO the public
health such an Institution would no
doubt prove OF special value 10 the
breeders, dairymen and owners OF the
great herds on our Western plains. II
a veterinary college can be established
In New York with such vast benefits
to the general public. then the condi-
lions are even more imperative that a
similar college be fostered and estab-
lishcd In Texas. The present may not
be an oppQrtune time--in vlow OF the
declaration OF Governor-elect Culbcrson
to lop Off all possible expense to the
stste-to urge such an undertaking.
but these facts should demand the at
tention OF tho legislature,