The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-05
DR.HARBAUGH ON HIS METTLE
Makes a Vigorous Reply to the CIlll-
cismS Of ID. S. B."
IMPORTANCE OF DRINKING PURE MILK.
seyenty-One Per Cent. OF "a Her" oil Lon
Cattle Near This City Ahected WI"
Observation-Disclosures from State
Veterinarian l.. T. Miles,


81. $. 49, This "oid man Of the woods
seems 10 p. excited over the subject
and losses his temper which he calls
me names which are possibly up
plicable To himself, as evidenced w H's
own letter. Mere il not for the TACT thal
the assertions contained Ia his letter arc
80 ridiculous that they become amuslns'
l would treat the whole letter as JVhe'
al il deserves TO be treated, bu''
as the main question involved IL one
OF vital inheritance 10 humanity, ana es-
pccially 10 the consumers OF i"eat az"
milk i'm Tie larger towns ana clues
am particularly pleased when even stcn
a relic OF the dark ages as D. >. D.
seems DESTROYS Of proving mhiset 70 90
is reused from his lethafgy ana comes
out IN print 10 exhibit MS p'V'o""p -
uorarce and thereby let the pubi1c hho"
thar the d..p,r is one that really exists
unknown 90 a venerable and honest farm
er. who has spent seyenty-elght years
among his cattle, and never knew ono VI
them 10 be- Infected with tuberculosis.
Herein lies the great danger In lhe
existing conditions. TINS disease pTc'"l'S
10 greet extent ana c"tl'S IA or
parently prime condition are aiiev"t
with il, and capable OF transmitting ~
10 other cattle and TO human, uo.nb.
without there being any Suspicion 'HHS
they are not healthy. Even II one Oh
y. 5. BIS" cattle died with tupercu'os'S
he would tn an probability attribute lho
death 10 hollow horn or 'wolL IN the
tall" or some other mythical or traul-
tIonal. or imaginary condition, instead OF
10 the true cause. Even II -. D Is.
examined the animal post-moriem, NE
would know DO more about H. NAT
does he know aDout tuberco4oalA SuppOsc
be has hauiled thousands of cattle, what
knowledge OF medical science would that
fact give him? y general OF an army
handles thousands OF men much IN Tue
same manner. but De gains no khoWieuse
of disease in handling men.
j. s. b." exhibits better ability
10 huri harmless epithets at long range
than he docs 10 discuss q subject wherein
a scientific knowledge Is required but as
his letter helps TO call public attention TO
the discussion. it is a welcome addition
70 what has been said by others.
However. the language OF this KIP
Van Wrinkle" i5 mild In comparison 10
that used by Others in the dis custom OF
this question Threats are freely made
as to what viii happen, but me goou
work goes on all TIE same, ana l nope
IL VIII eventually result IN giving Us
pure food supply free from the danger
carries of more human beings than an
other contagious and infectious diseases
! combined.
The honest f1rmer and the honest
dairyman may proclaim their herds tree
from tuberculosis. but the fact still re-
mains that our milch-cows are anected
! with it 10 an alarming extent. / have
| repeatedly demonstrated this fact by post
norton examinations in the presence OF
/ medical men. businessmen. dairymcn,
/ newspaper-rcpOrtcrs and other interested
| persons. 90 the satisfaction OF all OF
/ them. and there can be no excuse for
denying its existence. except the one
| which is at the bottom Of all such de-
/ niais-self-!ut-lc
No pers1n who is acquainted with the
| facts will claim that all herds are ar
| feetcd. we know that some stock IS ar
| foctcd to lesser extent but we know
| that mich COWS are affected 20 great
! extent iu this vicinity. and hence the
/ necessity Of 81 Official Inspector VINO VIII
| honestly guard the public health from
| this source of Objection. We know that
| eNperts from the United States Depart.
! mcnt OF agriculture examined one nerd
| near this city, HHI pronounced seventy
ole per cent. OF the herd OF l@i cattle az
fcrtel with tuberculosis. and the fact
| remains t.at the products ~ this here
are sold daily m this city.
u ONueIa Of cattle who dispose ol
their products. meat. milk. and butter
ate honest in their claims that their cat
tie are free from tuberculosis. why should
they fear the tubcrculin tcstl If there b
no tuberculosis i'm their herds. they vii
Doe tine eaiuers 10 q great extent, by al
increased sale of their products, and n
| better prices than now prevail. But tn
public can rest assured that the tubcr
culin test is tho only means OF detecting
au cases OF the disease, and no othe
method can IT, depended upon as a guar
autee Of safety.
Interested persons may use any mean
I'm their power 10 cry down the prcsen
efforts TO institute official dairy inspec
ton. but the fact has already been pub
lcly emphasized. and by many scientist
I'm al parts of the civilized world. tina
the use Of milk containing the germ
az tuberculosis is more dangerous 10 man
kind, who dovour IL, than powdcr-maga
zines on every square in our city woul
be.
The State authorities are willing t
move i'm the natter the State Boar
OF Health IS taking steps, also, and ther
is no reason Why our city authorize
should not act Immediately and put u
end 10 the AGITATION which is bound I
terminate sooner or later I'm the inst
tuition Of official dairy inspection. I'll
dairymcn viii undoubtedly further the
% own interests hy uniting with the gene
raj public in the demand for such actor
Us some Of them are most willing 10 ID
70 Tn conclusion I will add that it Will a
i ford me great pleasure I'm having OF
, We rahlc critic. -. s. b." present
7 ,ost-mortcm examination OF condemns
"a 7 nlmals so that be can return 10 u
home and say that DE has not lived, Soy
- onty-cight years ana learned nothing.
o. Respectfully. w. III. HARBAUGH.
{ Richmond, Va. May 4, 1895