The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-23
tuberculosis and Efforts of state Agri-
cultural Board 10 kxterminate IL.

Tuberculosis and Efforts of State Agri-
| cultural Board TO Exterminate IL.
| To THE EDITOR or THE NEWS;
| sIR-In May, 1872, an act Chapter 1852 OF
the Public Laws was passed by the General
Assembly, defining the work of the board,
| giving special instruction in relation to the
suppression Of tuberculosis and appropriating
| $4,000 to enable the board to carry out the
several provisions of the act. The act de-
| clares:
| Frst-That the board shall issue an annual
report This report costs about $500. Ow-
ing to an oversight in drawing the act this
must be paid from the appropriation for the
board and not from the appropriation for
printing, from which appropriation the ex'
penses of printing and binding OF reports OF
| other State departments are paid.
| Second-The board is directed 10 hold at
! least one institute in each county annually,
and as many more may be practicable In
| stitutes have been in such demand that 70
! were held in 1893 and 20 in 1894. The lectures
| delivered at the institutes and the discussions
that followed are printed in the annual report
| OF which, In 1894, 300 copies were distributed
| free to the farmers of the State
Third-The board Is directed to find, con-
denim, kill, remove, and bury glandered
horses. In 1894 l2i glandered horses were
| disposed Of.
Fourth-The act provides that the board
shall find. kill, and bury cattle. sheep, and
| hogs. or other animals infected with tuber'
| culosis or other infectious or contagious dis
| ease For this purpose, cattle inspector Is
appointed in each county, whose duty II is to
examine animals and report TO the board.
J An appraiser and veterinarian for the State
| are also appointed, according to the provisions
| of the act.
In the year 1892 systematic work began in
| the suppression Of tuberculosis in June as the
act making an appropriation Of $4,000 was
not passed till May 10. During the year 1892,
| the board caused 200 tuberculous animals TO
be killed; in 1893, the number was 26l, and in
| 1894 the number was 40l. Thus far this year.
1893 tuberculous cattle, hogs, and sheep have
been slaughtered by order of the board max
ing total OF 1902 tuberculous animals killed
since June, 1892; of this number, 09l were
cows. The law provides that the owner OF
tuberculous animals shall receive onehalf Of
the appraised value-half value of the animal
in normal condition.
In May. 1893, the law was amended to allow
the board TO seize tuberculous carcasses found
in slaughter houses on their way 10 market.
This added TO the work of the board land to
it's usefulness. too) and increased its expenses.
BY this provision Of the law, 100 carcasses Of
cattle and hogs were sent TO the rendering
works, instead of going to markets as food for
the people.
But the chief work of the board is among
the live animals of the State 20 find those in
feeted with tuberculosis, other infectious
or contagious disease, and to cause them to be
slaughtered The suppression Of tuberculosis
Is now receiving the attention of medical ex-
perts. of state governments, and local authori-
ties in this country, in Great Britain, and on
the continent of Europe. In New England,
owing TO climate and perhaps to conditions of
milk production, tuberculosis finds oongenial
soil. apparently. In every one of the New
England states, the suppression of tuberculo-
sis is considered an important question-of
the highest Importance to the preservationDof
the public health. IL has been established
conclusively, beyond reasonable doubt, that
the milk from a tuberculous cow or the flesh
from "A tuberculous animal may cause tuber-
culosist stconsumption) in man. IL is claimed
that so long as consumptivos throw their
spittle broadcast in the streets where the sun
dries and the wind distributes, il is useless to
contend with tuberculosis in animals. There
Is nttle IN lndIt III OF
cholera menace the people, the authorities are
not Indifferent, because there are many cases;
on the other hand, vigilance increases to keep
pace with the spread of the disease.
The board has caused 09l cows infected
with tuberculosis. to be killed. A good scow
gives 10 quarts day for 300 days, or 800
quarts year. II the 99l cows slaughtered
gave half of the amount-flve quarts day for
,la N "a,
has caused /, l,4s5, so quarts of tuberculous milk
TO be- taken out of the markets of the State;
for, in most cases. the milk from the tuber-
culous COWS went to malSet up to the day of
slaughter. If tuberculous milk cause con-
sumption, then consumption must decrease If
the supply of such milk is diminished.
The farmers of the State, generally. are in
hearty accord with the board in this work.
and are trying 10 weed out of their herds all
tuberculous animals.
In May, 1892. $1,000 was appropriated for
the use of the board. Work began in June.
and at the end Of the year about half of the
appropriation was expended in 1893 the APP
preparation was exhausted at the close of tho
year in 1894 the board spent the whole OF the
appropriation. and drew ON the appropriation
for 1895 for S2553.l2. Up TO the first of May,
this year, the board had expended, with the |
S2753. IL borrowed from the appropriation Of |
1895 10 pay the bills OF 1894, S9J2998, leaving,
for eight months work OF tho board, $500 ~ |
OF this amount, $4,000 or $500 must be paid |
for the annual report. now in the hands Of the |
State printer.
The board of agriculture does not touch a |
dollar of its appropriation Every bill against |
the board is audited by u committee consist |
ing of Obadiah Brown. Arlon Mowry, and |
Horatio W. Potter. The bills then go TO the |
Governor for his signature, and then are sent |
TO the State Auditor payment is made by the
State Treasurer direct to the claimant.
In view of the increased interest in the sup
preston of tuberculosis on the part of pro-
ducers and consumers of milk. beef and pork,
and the co nsequont increase In the expenses
Of the hoard 10 meet all demands, the General
Assembly was asked 90 grant an additional
Of $1,000, making the annual
appropriation S25,0o0
The amendment passed the Senate. but the
finance committee Of the House reported non.
and tho Housp 40 vOted and tho |