The Portland daily press., 1895-01-21

would call attention to their complete
change of basen as the only vindication
we shall ever need, that our cause
was just and has finally prevailed"
single case in point will serve as an
example of what our quarantine against
Massachusetts means:
On Novem ber 23d, 1884, the Maine Cen
trail Railroad sidetacked at Westbrook
junction car containing three COWS that
had come over the Boston q Maine Rail-
road from Beverly, massachusetts,, with
out any permit from our board as re-
quired by us, or any inspection before
shipment. The owner and cons1gnee, as
well as the Boston & Maine agents, were
at once notified, but the cattle were al
lowed to remain IN quarantine untll
Decem ber S9th, when they were tested
with tuberculin, and one of them having
reacted was condemned and destroyed
without appraisal, and found upon an
autopsy to be thoroughly diseased. The
other two were shipped to Rockland, as
originally billed. advance charges having
been paid by order of the Boston & Maine
railroad.
Another object lesson in proof of it's
efficiency was the final inspection and
disposal last June of the Jersey herd at
"Mountain View Farm" South Paris.
where we condemned and paid for SIX
COWS, making in all fifteen head paid for
by the State out of herd of twenty
animals that had come to us out OF one
of the largest, and supposed to be sound
est herds in Massachusetts,.
The Bay State now realizes that dis
eases desperate grown. by desperate APP
pliances are relieved or not at all, )" and
in organizing such radical measures for
the removal have only encountered such
opposition as in all great reforms, that
it is the first step that is hardest, and
that when substantial advance is once
made in the new methods of dealing
with the disease, it's visible b enefits will
secure for it the united approval and sup
port of the public and the farming COM
munities. The farmers should realize
that long suffering people have some
rights as we'll as themselves and strive
TO free their minds of a whole generation
of false teachings, under all methods, now
that they have board of commissioners
of scientific and business men, who
have 1.-THE courage of their convictions,
and will surely do their duty if they receive
sufficient enc engagement and support Inc
subject should be treated as one OF GRAVITY
one demanding that full light be thrown
upon it whether that light Jeopardlze prl-
yate interests OF favor them.
The presence Of tuberculosis among COWS
has had its most serious eide Tor Ihose VINO iit
whether tuberculosis may not De intro
duced into the human system by the use OF
milk has doubtless enormously lessenea tne
use of this most nourishing and # from
sound animals most healthfu1 food. Ihls
decrease in use of milk has necessarily In
jured all dairy interests: It has INJURED
hardly less the interests OF all lock breed
el s, for while this nightmare rested over the
country no one could tell where the disease
might next spread. Exponents of farm In
dustry have antagoniZed he testimony of
experts to the wide prevalence OF bovine
tuberculosis and its meanoe to the human
family There are times that demand un-
selfishness and patriotism in an industry.
Does the presence OF, tuberculosis in our
midst form one of these occasions?
The startling information from Boston
that Is or more per cent OF cattle rom
states that appeared on her cattle markets
were affected by tuberculosis. in addition
to previous information, finally WlthdraWs
the question from the arena where doubt
has the right to be passive and into that
demanding action. and action on !oftIer
grounds than individual interests. where
life. the latter must give way. the right of
the former being supreme when his vitality
and highest good are at stake. Ours. as an
industry must take the high ground OF the
pubic veal first and agriculture second.
The dogma of personal liberty as. opposed
to public good is dead. except when it is
or demagogues. We must be honest with
ourselves and with he public, and II per-
sonal frankLess tells us that the evidence
sustains the claim that tuberculosis Is prey
good let us join the effort to hunt out and
TO root ont this disease.
II reference to the fact>that 15 or more
per cent. of the cattle concentrating week
ly at Brighton Market from mort herh states
are affected with tuberc ulosls. the fact has
developed that not one OF these that mas
been so far sent from Maine has proved to
be diseased, while they have all been sub
mitsed to the same searching tests OF Cattle
from neghboring states. since the 10Th OF
last November when inspection under the
ne a w hogan. three COWS taken there Dy
our droyers for sale have been killed as sus-
poets which proved upon post mortem eX-
animation TO be absolut ely sound, and their
owners were paid full appraisal and COM
pensat1on.
Brigh, on Market. while they have no bear
ing upon the actual percentage of Massa-
chusetts cattle affected with the disease
where whole herds throughout the state are
being tested and condemned. have most
important bearing AS affecting the low per-
centage of disease among Maine bred cattle,
which shows by our present report as IN
all previous ones. to be less than one per
cent. of our bovine population.
The Massa husetts, commissioners have
just made their annual report in which they
join in the recommendation that the
ssowner in the future receive full compensa-
tion for all neat cattle slaugh Uttered. In do
ing so they call the attention Of the legisla-
ture to the fact that while the cattle may
be diseased. and should not be allowed to
live. and even though the owner shares the
burden OF the eradication of the disease he
has to submit to the quarantining of his
cattle while an inspection anda test are
being made. and for this Inconvenience.
which is in a. sense loss to him. he re-
ceiyes no compensation: and because of this
fact there is strong argument in favor of
full compensation for animals killed.
cit will be remembered that under the ex-
listing law. which has governed the actions
of the board for year, the farmer is en-
Titled to only one-halt compensation. Be-
cause of this fact, many of the owners of
cattle have felt that they were being COM
pelled to share too great part of the bur-
den.
'iIhere has been feeling of dissatisfaction
since the board began its work. but with
full payment he board is of the opinion
that the farmer will have what he deserves.
and he work of the board will go on wit h
ont obstacle in the future. Since the work
began the board reports that more than 6OOO
ANIMALS have come under its inspection,
and considers that it has made great PROCESS.
1t recommends that the plan adopted be
kept up the coming year. and asks the
sum OF S212.000.''
This brings us to consideration of what
we believe to be of vital Importance to our
state if we are to continue to maintain
that high standard of health We now enjoy
in the control of our animal diseases. With
600 already expended the past season
in Massachusetts Ghe larger portion of it
since October lst their commissioners now
0kl1D D f01I.