Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-08-22
WORK OF CATTLE COMMISSION
Letter from v. i. Spear, Giving val
liable lnformation.

MR.. EDITOR:-C0mplyl WIN
request and my promise 81 some
weeks ago for statement OF inc wo o.,a
done under my direction as cattle
commissioner, will say that from
March 8 to the present time-Augus.
15-in the eastern half Of the state 90
catt,e have been tested with tuberculin.
Six per cent or 81 animals reacted 70
Ills test and have been killed and were
ali found tuberculous and were pala
for at one-half the appraised value.
The total amount paid for the y an.
mails is 1857 an average OF nearly
SIG per head, representing an up
nraised value Of nearly $32 eacn.
The herds tested have been those IN
which the disease was suspected; anu
of the As herds tested, disease was
found in only IL, which indicates
something Of the deceptive nature q
the physical symptoms Of the disease.
Tn ali cases where tuberculosis mas
been found, the source Of the disease
has been investigated and in every m
stance SO far it has been possible 70
trace it to the bringing into the herd
~ some animal which has come from
a tuberculous herd.
In no instance has tuberculosis Deeh
found where there was any reason 70
believe that it had been generated ~
fhe herd. Our own experience in this
direction was found to be fully sus-
tanned by Others at the recent meeting
OF the New England Cattle Commas
sioners in Boston. The testimony from
the commissioners Of all the states rep
resented, whose combined experience
covered thousands OF cases, was that
tbe disease had not been found UNI
less II had been introduced by other
animals or by consumptive persons.
The theory that has prevailed TO some
extent that tuberculosis was the result
of improper feeding, care or breeding
seems to have nothing in the way OF
evidence to stand upon. These fac
TORS of feed. care and breeding are
each important in the matter OF spread
inc the disease in herd when 1t has
once been introduced, but they do not
create 1t. AT least the evidence SO lar
collected shows this to be the case. II
further investigation establishes TINS
fact it renders the subject OF tuberculo-
sis easier to control than has been sup
posed and makes il practical to free
our herds from il by few years OF
care on the part of stock owners ana
by pursuing strong measures against
it when found.
TuBERCULIN.
| suppose no paper on tuberculosis
at the present time can pass the matter
of tubcrculin and the tuberculin test.
In our experience we have found II a
valuable test and know Of no way OF
detecting the disease OF tuberculosis
without this agent. ! am aware that
it is claimed by some persons that IL
will produce tuberculosis in healthy
animals and / have been search
inc for the past year and hall
10 find or hear Of a case produced
by it, but have so far searched in vain.
The testimony that comes from the
practical use of this agent is all in its
favor. SO far rs have seen it.
The claims made against it are
made on theory and | have seen no
evidence as yet put into the case. That
it has been used regularly in herds for
the purpose Of testing its harmful
qualities for four years and has been
used in thousands of the dairy ami
mails of the country without produc-
ing any OF the bad results predicted,
satisfies me for the present as to its
harmless character. ] am not inform
ed Of it if there is another medical
agent used which does its work SO GER
tainly and harmlessly as tnberculin
and am disposed to.consider its ac-
ton harmless until some proof is
produced to the contrary.
EXTENT or TIE DISEASE.
The state has reason to be grateful
that investigation has SO far revealed
so few cases, and though it is impos-
sible from the data yet obtained to es'
innate the percentage for the state, still
enough has been done to make It rca-
sonably sure that the percentage is a
small one.
The fears felt and expressed BY
many persons that the present law up
on this subject would prove weak and
useless because it did not permit the
use of tuberculin without the consent
of the owners of herds, seem to have
been without cause. In the work SO
far done the owners OF herds have CO.
operated with the Board and, with
very few exceptions, wherever the dis
ease has been suspected the owners
have requested and insisted upon hav-
inc the animals tested. The greatest
difficulty SO far met with has been a
want Of force sufficient to do the work
applied for.
QUARANTINE REGULATIONS.
Finding that a very large proper
ton of the tuberculosis in Vermont
could be traced to animals which had
been brought into the state from 9TH
er localities, the Board has ordered a
.x..,n,c,,t;,,o ,,,1ou al fhn hor1nVc of